The equity impacts of bus rapid transit: A review of the evidence and implications for sustainable transport

Abstract

The paper offers an analysis of empirical evidence on the equity impacts of operational Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems in the Global South. The focus is on vertical equity, i.e. whether BRT systems achieve progressive benefits for poorer segments of the population. Findings from Africa, Asia and Latin America all suggest that BRT does offer significant benefits to lowincome groups, in terms of travel time and cost savings, access enhancement, and safety and health benefits. However benefits are often skewed towards medium-income users and thus less progressive than they might be. Two primary reasons for this are insufficient spatial coverage, and inappropriate fare policies. While many features of BRT potentially allow it to deliver pro-poor outcomes, such outcomes only materialise if BRT implementers pay specific and sustained attention to equity. The paper identifies key issues that need to be addressed to steer BRT implementation towards more socially sustainable outcomes, critical amongst which is to improve integration with other transit, paratransit, and non-motorised transport services, and with the housing sector.

Short-Term Solutions to a Long-Term Challenge: Rethinking Disaster Recovery Planning to Reduce Vulnerabilities and Inequities

“…For instance, equity impact assessments could be required as part of permitting processes during rebuilding. Urban planners have used these assessments when planning for issues related to climate change, regional land-use planning, transportation, and road construction [85,106,107]. The assessments can be done at a micro-level (examining the impacts of specific policies or programs) or at a macro-level (assessing the mix of policies and programs) [108,109].…”

“…Assessing equity impacts aids the development of recommendations on how to mitigate any negative impacts and maximize positive impacts and how to improve programs or services to be more responsive to specific populations. Case studies have shown that equity impact assessments can change decisions, enhance plan content, and improve plan implementation [106,110]. However, the assessment must be conducted in a timely manner prior to a plan's completion and have a clear definition of the scope, purpose, underpinning values, and what is hoped to be learned [111].…”

Distributive Justice and Transportation Equity: Inequality in accessibility in Rio de Janeiro

“…Other principles include the ideas of formal equality, which requires that individuals who are alike in a relevant manner and belong to the same social group should be treated equally, and the principle of substantive equality, according to which people from different groups can be treated differently in order to promote equality of opportunities or outcomes. These principles of formal and substantive equality are often referred to as the principles of horizontal and vertical equity and have become the most common conceptual basis used in the transport equity literature in recent decades (Delbosc & Currie, 2011;Levinson, 2002;Litman, 2002;Manaugh & El-Geneidy, 2012;Sanchez et al, 2003;Venter et al, 2017).…”

Operational Challenges and Mega Sporting Events Legacy: The Case of BRT Systems in the Global South

“…Additionally, BRT requires a specific urban density profile to be financially viable that many Global South, and in particular, African cities lack [27]. Furthermore, whilst BRT has the potential to improve mobility for low-income users, evidence suggests that the benefits are skewed towards middle-income users [28,29]. From an environmental perspective, BRT is a road-based transport system that causes air pollution and emits greenhouse gases contributing to climate change (noting however that there are various pilot projects underway testing the viability of zero emission BRT bus systems).…”