Evaluating the impact of Free Public Transport using agent-based modeling: the case-study of Luxembourg

Abstract

Public transport (PT) is essential to fulfill travel needs in urban areas. Predictors of PT ridership and satisfaction provide a good understanding of how new users can be attracted and existing users can be retained. Among these predictors, perceived safety and built environment (BE) attributes of stations and their surroundings still require further research. Using data from a tailor-made survey on train trips in East Denmark (1,004 respondents), we investigate the relationship between perceived safety, satisfaction and PT ridership and highlight the influence of BE attributes. Based on a structural equation model, we find a significant relationship between (i) perceived safety and satisfaction with trip-ends, and (ii) satisfaction with trip-ends and overall trip satisfaction. Lighting, maintenance and wayfinding are some of the essential attributes of stations, and their surroundings should not have isolated areas. No significant effect was found for trip satisfaction on PT ridership, but further research will consider this relationship.