Frequency of Transit Use and Access Characteristics: Case Study of Metro Manila

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between rail transit use and accessibility to the transit station. Specifically, the paper attempts to explain frequency of use by characteristics of transit station access trip. It is hypothesized that people who live within acceptable walking distance to the transit station will ride transit more frequently if certain aspects of access conditions are improved. The paper conducted a travel survey of households within 1,000 m of 42 transit stations in Manila. The analysis of the survey data shows that people who walk to access transit station, ride transit more frequently than those who use other modes of access, suggesting that improving walking environment to attract more walkers can in fact increase transit ridership. The paper also found that this factor is more important than car use. Consequently, walking environment improvement along the way to a station could be the best approach in order to increase transit ridership.