Background

The study aim was to validate the relationship between different aspects of service quality, safety perceptions, and perceived accessibility of public transport. Perceived accessibility refers to the ease of living the life one wants by help of the transport system(s). Low service quality and low perceptions of safety may be barriers for the use of specific modes, such as public transport, and thus affecting the ability to use these modes for participating in daily activities (e.g. accessibility). In the transition toward sustainable travel, determinants of perceived accessibility become increasingly important to address in order to find ways to counteract inaccessibility and related outcomes, such as social exclusion, low well-being and inequality.

Method

We analyzed survey data from 2018 of 4944 participants, aged 16-65, from 5 European cities (Helsinki, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo, Bergen), on self-assessed levels of perceived accessibility, 4 service quality dimensions (functionality, comfort, information/staff, and price), travel safety perceptions, mode use, age, gender, and car-use.

Results

PLS-SEM modeling show that all the service quality dimensions directly and indirectly (through safety) influence perceived accessibility, with a stronger direct link from functionality and stronger indirect links for comfort and information/staff on perceived accessibility. Price and gender are more moderately related to perceived accessibility (weaker links). Public transport use has a negative relationship with perceived accessibility, except in Helsinki, where, surprisingly, the relationship is positive.

Conclusions

Service quality is an important attribute of public transport, which also affects perceptions of accessibility and safety. The higher the quality, the higher the feelings of safety and perceived accessibility. Safety in turn, appears to be an important mediator between service quality and perceived accessibility. Safety in turn, appears to be an important mediator between service quality and perceived accessibility. Thus, both service quality and safety are significant aspects to consider when designing for accessible public transport systems that promote sustainable mobility.