Is the Bus the Solution to the 15-minute City?

Abstract

Amidst the excitement for the 15-minute city, where residents can meet their needs within 15 minutes, the reality for a less affluent neighbourhood is very different.  In this study, we will use GTFS (General Transit Feed Specification) bus schedule data from TransLink, along with qualitative data from a focus group of transit riders from South Vancouver Neighbourhood House, including destinations and the overall experience on transit.  Accessibility of selected destinations will be compared between the current route 49 and the modelled increased 49 service with signal priority and dedicated bus lanes. Validity checked by referring to focus group findings.   This research investigates how to improve mobility justice in South Vancouver, a historically underserved area with high transit ridership. Despite the recent effort of passing a motion in the City Hall, the accessibility in South Vancouver along the 49 has not improved. Our research takes a mixed-methods approach, including community-engaged focus groups and quantitative analysis of scheduled bus data.   The research is supported by South Vancouver Neighbourhood House and Movement: Metro Vancouver Transit Riders.