A territorial approach to assessing public transport accessibility
The term ‘accessibility’ has a plethora of meanings. While there is general consensus around the concept of mobility potential in spaces and societies, we need to differentiate between the multiple dimensions of systems used to provide territorial accessibility (theoretical approach). This article focuses on measuring one of those dimensions, the structural accessibility created by a territory’s public transport system. To this end, we developed a multi-criteria indicator that combines criteria reflecting the travel time needed, the closeness of community relations and the difficulties encountered in the use of public transport. Our aim was to carry out a more precise assessment of the accessibility potential of public transport (methodological approach) and to interpret (operational approach) the (im)balances in access to the economic clusters of the territory of the Lille metropolis. The results obtained using the MUSLIW multimodal calculation software developed by the CETE (Centre for Technical Equipment Studies) of Northern France provide an opportunity to discuss the strategic policies of the Lille Métropole Community (LMCU) and thereby contribute to the decision-making process. The approach described in this article was confronted with the British PTAL (Public Transport Accessibility Level) method, employed for strategic planning in the UK. This combination of paradigms enabled us to carry out a more effective assessment of the performance of the public transport network of the Lille Métropole Community and thereby contribute to the choices city planning authorities need to make in terms of urban planning and parking standards.