Authors: J Zhu, J Liu, HXH Bao
Year: 2026
Journal / publisher: Cities
DOI: 10.1016/j.cities.2026.107714
Abstract
Spatial equity in public transportation services (PTS) is a key metric for assessing the quality and sustainability of transportation development within a specific region. However, research lacks comprehensive comparisons of spatial equity across global and local scales, as well as horizontal and vertical dimensions. The influence of economic development and built environment factors on PTS equity also remains underexplored. To address these gaps, this study develops a cross-level diagnostic framework to assess PTS spatial equity in the Pearl River Delta (PRD). Using the Spatial Equity (SE) index and a supply-demand matching index, it evaluates both overall PTS distribution and local-level supply-demand mismatch patterns across the PRD. Furthermore, we employed Multi-scale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWR) model to investigate the spatially heterogeneous associations between economic development, built environment characteristics, and PTS supply-demand mismatch. The findings provide evidence for differentiated planning interventions and offer insights for improving PTS equity and supporting sustainable, high-quality transportation development in urban agglomerations.