Accessibility and space-time differences in when and how sustainably different groups (choose to) travel

Abstract

A fair distribution of accessibility to key activities is a central concern for distributive justice in transport planning. This implies that disparities in accessibility and the negative effects associated with a lack of accessibility should be mitigated. However, even though accessibility is not purely spatial or static, it is conventionally treated as if it were. Severals studies have significantly advanced the spatio-temporal representation of accessibility. However, there is still a lack of focus on how these dynamics affect different groups of people with differing socio-economic and demographic characteristics and how they might influence their travel mode choice. The aim of this paper is to analyse the differences in the distribution of accessibility to the workplace by public transport combined with walking during multiple departure time periods. This study draws on the spatio-temporal aspects of people’s real activities based on travel survey data for the Stockholm region. With this study, we contribute to the body of literature by (1) highlighting the differences in accessibility to the workplace by public transport across multiple departure time periods; (2) showing how these results compare with modal choice; and (3) revealing which socio-economic, demographic and geographical factors characterise these differences. This study is conducted from a transport justice-focused time geography perspective. This approach shows how this perspective could help researchers have a more detailed and nuanced understanding of the relationship between accessibility and sustainable travel behaviour, and how this relationship might change at different times of the day.