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Rethinking the Accessibility and Sustainability of Public Transportation

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Transportation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 2388

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Martin Vojtek

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Guest Editor

Department of Transport Technology and Control, University of Pardubice, Studentská 95, 532 10 Pardubice, Czech Republic
Interests: transport; railway transport; transport economics; transport planning; passenger transport; transport services

Dr. Milan Dedík

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Guest Editor

Department of Railway Transport, University of Zilina, Univerzitná 1, 010 26 Žilina, Slovakia
Interests: transport; railway transport; public transport; transport accessibility

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue examines new approaches to improving the accessibility and sustainability of public transport. Current systems face challenges in balancing efficiency, inclusivity, and environmental impact. We seek to rethink existing models and develop evidence-based strategies that integrate ecological, economic, social, and institutional pillars of the sustainability.

The Issue will explore innovative policies, technologies, and planning methodologies to enhance public transport’s role in reducing emissions, improving affordability, and ensuring equitable access. It will also address governance frameworks that support long-term resilience and efficiency.

By critically assessing current practices and identifying gaps in research, this issue aims to provide a foundation for new models of sustainable mobility. Contributions will include interdisciplinary perspectives, empirical analyses, and case studies that inform future transport policy and practice.

Dr. Martin Vojtek
Dr. Milan Dedík
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

transport
planning
optimisation
accessibility
sustainability
public services

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Research

21 pages, 10016 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Built Environment Exacerbates Disparities in the Accessibility of Public Charging Stations: An Analysis Based on MGWR

by Shuxiao Ma, Yan Xu, Ziyu Wang, Lele He, Shengjie Hou and Yangyang Liang

Sustainability 2026, 18(3), 1586; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18031586 - 4 Feb 2026

Viewed by 605

Abstract

The disparities in accessibility of public charging stations (PCSs) have emerged as a critical bottleneck constraining urban social equity and sustainable development. This study focuses on PCS accessibility within the central urban area of Tianjin. Employing an enhanced Gaussian-based two-step floating catchment area method, spatial autocorrelation analysis, and multi-scale geographically weighted regression, the research investigates spatial configuration, spatial dependence, and influencing factors from three analytical dimensions. The study elaborates on the disparities in PCS accessibility among different income groups and examines the determinants contributing to these variations. Research findings indicate that: (1) PCS accessibility1 in the central urban area exhibits a core-periphery spatial structure, with notable heterogeneity in the spatial distribution patterns of PCS accessibility across different income groups. (2) The MGWR model demonstrates superior performance compared to conventional models, with an increase in R² explanatory power of at least 23.7% and a reduction in AICc values ranging from 3.94% to 47.45%. (3) Housing prices are positively correlated with PCS accessibility across different income groups, while per capita income and education and cultural services differentiated associations with PCS accessibility. From the perspective of different income groups, this study systematically analyzes the disparities in PCS accessibility and their associated factors, providing a theoretical foundation for sustainable urban planning and development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking the Accessibility and Sustainability of Public Transportation)

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16 pages, 968 KB

Open AccessArticle

Evolving Dynamics of Commuter Adoption Behavior of Metro: A Bayesian MCMC Analysis of Stated and Revealed Preferences in Emerging Urban Contexts

by Md Mahfuzer Rahman and Md. Hadiuzzaman

Sustainability 2026, 18(3), 1425; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18031425 - 31 Jan 2026

Viewed by 340

Abstract

Rapid motorization in Dhaka has worsened congestion, motivating the launch of Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) as a potential solution. However, metro adoption depends not just on infrastructure but on commuter perceptions, intentions, and actual behavior. To track the dynamic evolution of commuter adoption over time, the study employs a unique three-stage Bayesian framework—Pre-MRT Stated Preference (SP), Post-MRT SP, and Post-MRT Revealed Preference (RP) for MRT line-6. Bayesian logistic regression with Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) estimation captures posterior distributions and parameter uncertainty, offering insights into the shifting determinants of MRT adoption. The pre-MRT SP model (pseudo R² = 0.0668) identified affordability as an incentive but highlighted concerns around safety and reliability. Post-MRT, the SP model (pseudo R² = 0.186) found that socio-demographic factors, including gender and employment, strongly influenced preferences, while the RP model (pseudo R² = 0.502) showed that actual behavior was most influenced by proximity to stations, education, and security perceptions. Overall, the findings reveal that expectations and actual behavior often diverge, with adoption maturing over time. The evidence indicates that commuter adoption evolves with system maturity, requiring policies that first build affordability and integration, then strengthen safety and reliability, and ultimately enhance accessibility and long-term efficiency. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking the Accessibility and Sustainability of Public Transportation)

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27 pages, 2659 KB

Open AccessArticle

Technological Triangle—Making Public Transport Sustainable and More Accessible

by Petr Nachtigall, Marek Vyhnanovský, Lukáš Křižan, Jaromír Široký and Jozef Gašparík

Sustainability 2026, 18(2), 670; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18020670 - 8 Jan 2026

Viewed by 665

Abstract

The technological triangle is a non-mathematical representation of the relationship between the characteristics of transport infrastructure, modes of transport, and the operational concept in a specific region. It is only through the synergistic effect of these three vertices that the railway undertaking, infrastructure manager, and authority can achieve optimal resource utilisation. Concurrently, it is imperative to exert pressure on the authorities to implement conceptual, systematic, and predictable measures. The process of implementing changes to transport infrastructure is a protracted one, typically spanning several years from the initial stages of preparation through to the project’s execution. The application of the technological triangle is possible on various parts of the infrastructure. Based on previous research, the authors prepared this Article to address intermediate stations, which were identified as the key focus of this article. Therefore, the authors in this article answer the question of what typical solutions exist for intermediate station configurations in relation to the operational concept and financial costs. Twenty different configurations were selected, and each was examined from the perspectives of financial, operational, planning, automation, and user pillars. The weights of the individual pillars were then assessed from the perspective of the infrastructure manager, the carrier, and the customer. The result is a comprehensive assessment of all wayside station configurations from different perspectives. Each user of this workflow can determine the weights of the individual pillars according to their needs and financial capabilities. This also gives the article a general use. The final part of the article presents specific examples of existing structures in the Czech Republic, which were not built with the perspective of this article in mind. The authors point out that if our method were applied, not only would large platform stations be built, which is the case for many intermediate stations in the Czech Republic; instead, more efficient solutions would be developed and adapted to the specific case. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking the Accessibility and Sustainability of Public Transportation)

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