Demand elasticity of local public transport in Polish cities Cover Image

Elastyczność popytu na lokalny transport zbiorowy w polskich miastach
Demand elasticity of local public transport in Polish cities

Author(s): Agata Brzóska, Paweł Swianiewicz
Subject(s): Politics, Economy, Human Geography, Sociology
Published by: EUROREG - Uniwersytet Warszawski, Regional Studies Association - Sekcja Polska
Keywords: local public transport; demand elasticity; price flexibility; local government; Poland

Summary/Abstract: After 1990, the number of local public transport passengers has been systematically decreasing at the expense of individual transport, which led to an increase in traffic congestion and deterioration of air quality in cities. However, for the last few years, a reversal of this trend has been observed in some cities. The article, using the data on the present number and recent changes in the number of passengers in nearly 100 Polish cities, discusses regression models to explain the factors influencing the diversity of demand for public transport services and its dynamics. The independent variables of the model refer both to the characteristics of cities (their socio-economic environment) and the organisation of services (e.g. organisational and legal forms of local transport companies, tariff policies, etc.). The results show that the density of the public transport network is the most significant factor explaining variation of the demand, while the level of ticket prices is almost insignificant. Demand in the largest cities has also recently been on the increase, but the relationship between the demand and the population size of the city is not a linear one.

  • Issue Year: 21/2020
  • Issue No: 80
  • Page Range: 67-91
  • Page Count: 25
  • Language: English, Polish