Transportation-geographical analysis of the public transportation system: a case study of the Sesvete District and the municipalities of Gornja Stubica and Marija Bistrica

Public transportation is a fundamental societal service that directly affects spatial development. In order to ensure a high level of functionality and sustainability of the public transport system, as well as even spatial development, a good planning framework for its development is a necessity. This paper analyses the distribution and functional characteristics of the public transportation system in the northeastern part of the Zagreb Urban Agglomeration: the Sesvete district and the neighbouring municipalities of Gornja Stubica and Marija Bistrica in Krapina-Zagorje County. The goal of this paper has two parts: to analyse the public bus and train transportation systems in the study area, using relevant traffic, demographic, and functional data; and to create a typology of public transport quality of the settlements of the research area. Based on the results of the analysis, potential measures to aid the development of public transport in the study area, as well as their potential impact for the entire area of Zagreb, have been detailed in the discussion section. The results of the analysis indicate that public transport is more available and of better quality in the southern part of the study area and in Sesvete and the smaller settlements surrounding it, but it is less frequent and less available throughout the majority of settlements in Gornja Stubica and Marija Bistrica.