Abstract This paper investigates the circuity of transit networks and examines auto mode share as a function of circuity and accessibility to better understand the performance of urban transit systems. We first survey transit circuity in the Minneapolis–St. Paul, Minnesota, region in detail, comparing auto and transit trips. This paper finds that circuity can help to explain mode choices of commuters. We then investigate thirty-five additional metropolitan areas in the United States. The results from these areas show that transit circuity exponentially declines as travel time increases. Moreover, we find that the circuity of transit networks is higher than that of road networks, illustrating how transit systems choose to expand their spatial coverage at the expense of directness and efficiency in public transportation networks. This paper performs a regression analysis that suggests the circuity of transportation networks can estimate transit accessibility, which helps to explain mode share.

    Highlights We investigate transit circuity in 36 metropolitan areas in the United States. The comparison of circuity in transit systems for transit users and non-users help to explain commuters' mode choice. Transit users have significantly lower transit circuity than non-users. Average auto circuity is less than average transit circuity for the same sample of trips. Mode share depends on circuity and accessibility in road and transit networks.


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    Title :

    Circuity in urban transit networks


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Publication date :

    2015-09-07


    Size :

    9 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English




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