Person-Based Accessibility in MATSim: Demand-Responsive Transport's Potential for the Elderly Population in Rural Japan

Abstract

Older adults in rural areas are vulnerable to transport exclusion, particularly when they lose access to a car. We assess whether Demand-Responsive Transport (DRT) can mitigate these inequities in the largely rural Gunma Prefecture, Japan. We introduce two methodological extensions to the econometric accessibility module in the agent-based transport model “MATSim.” First, accessibility is reformulated from a location-based to a person-based framework, allowing outcomes to depend on individuals’ home locations and sociodemographic characteristics. Second, the DRT accessibility calculation is refined to capture spatial variation in service levels, especially waiting times. We analyze supermarket accessibility for residents aged 85+, and observe substantial disadvantages among older adults, particularly rural women. Introducing a pooled DRT system (1000 vehicles) can substantially reduce disparities in accessibility across sociodemographic groups (age, gender, home location); this holds even when driver’s licenses are revoked at age 85 to improve road safety.