Selection Criteria for Public Transportation Priority Areas

Abstract

The purpose of public transportation services is to protect the basic rights of the public to "access." In Taiwan, there is a low demand for public transportation in remote areas, non-metropolitan areas, and areas with insufficient public transportation. The implementation of generalized transportation improvement schemes cannot effectively solve local problems. The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) has recently addressed this issue, but its definition of remote areas is based on content provided by the Ministry of the Interior and the coverage of public transportation services. In order to identify and analyze areas with inadequate public transportation services, this study reviews the definitions of remote areas in various ministries of the Executive Yuan and abroad, analyzes transportation parameters, and examines the characteristics of remote areas. Bus stop information, population density, elderly population, and income serve as screening criteria to analyze rural areas throughout Taiwan and to propose a definition of "public transportation priority areas." This definition can be used as a reference for the MOTC and related planning agencies to adjust and improve public service resources.

Keywords: Bus Service Gaps, Remote areas, Public Transportation service