Space–time prisms in multimodal supernetwork - Part 2: Application for analyses of accessibility and equality

Abstract

Space–time prism (STP) is a fundamental concept in time geography and has been predominately constructed in unimodal transportation networks. Due to the vast trip chaining options by private vehicles and public transportation, it was challenging to construct STP over multimodal transportation networks. We previously put forward an efficient method to narrow down the action space for trip chaining and construct STPs effectively in a multimodal supernetwork. This study applies multimodal STP modeling to measure space–time accessibility and equality of daily activity opportunities. Two equality measures (Gini coefficient and 20:20 ratio) are derived from two space–time accessibility measures based on delineated STPs. We examine the equality of access to shopping and leisure opportunities in the Rotterdam–The Hague metropolitan area, the Netherlands. The results show the effects of various factors on accessibility and equality. It is found that although the study area has relatively low inequality using single modes, multimodal trip chaining further reduces inequality to access the distributed space–time opportunities.