Measuring the integration of micromobility and public transport – the development of a new network analysis tool

Abstract

The integration of micromobility and public transport is an increasingly relevant and desirable strategy to promote more sustainable alternatives to private car travel. For it to be successful, however, adequate infrastructure to facilitate intermodal trips needs to be provided, at stops and in the catchment areas surrounding them. In this study, a methodology is proposed to holistically assess the quality and availability of such infrastructure using Open Data. The proposed methodology combines a network analysis of the catchment areas with an assessment of the public transport stops. The assessment results in an index that objectively quantifies the quality and availability of infrastructure that is necessary for a successful integration of micromobility and public transport. The methodology has been applied to the case study of the light rail network in Dublin, Ireland, showing that the index is a straightforward combination of datasets which allows to compare public transport stops in terms of their suitability for the integrated use of micromobility and public transport. Overall, the methodology is a valuable assessment tool to objectively determine the integration of micromobility and public transport, applicable in any geographical context – for which the required open datasets are available – and to inform decision-making processes relating to improving the accessibility of public transport services.