On the Computation of Accessibility Provided by Shared Mobility

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel spatial-temporal statistical method to quantify the accessibility provided by shared mobility services, addressing the lack of empirical measurement techniques for dynamic SMS systems.

Contribution

It presents a new method to empirically measure SMS accessibility using observed trips and graph-based indicators, filling a gap in current evaluation approaches.

Findings

Method successfully applied to DRT in Paris-Saclay

Provides comprehensive accessibility metrics for SMS

Enhances understanding of SMS impact on mobility

Abstract

Shared Mobility Services (SMS), e.g., Demand-Responsive Transit (DRT) or ride-sharing, can improve mobility in low-density areas, often poorly served by conventional Public Transport (PT). Such improvement is mostly quantified via basic performance indicators, like wait or travel time. However, accessibility indicators, measuring the ease of reaching surrounding opportunities (e.g., jobs, schools, shops, ...), would be a more comprehensive indicator. To date, no method exists to quantify the accessibility of SMS based on empirical measurements. Indeed, accessibility is generally computed on graph representations of PT networks, but SMS are dynamic and do not follow a predefined network. We propose a spatial-temporal statistical method that takes as input observed trips of a SMS acting as a feeder for PT and summarized such trips in a graph. On such a graph, we compute classic accessibility indicators. We apply our method to a MATSim simulation study concerning DRT in Paris-Saclay.