Sustainable Mobility Indicators: People Near Rapid Transit
The People Near Rapid Transit (PNT) indicator measures the proportion of urban population within half a kilometer of a rapid transit station.
The People Near Rapid Transit (PNT) indicator measures the proportion of the urban population within half a kilometer of a rapid transit station. This proximity indicator is gauged using walking, biking on designated bicycle lanes, or riding an electric scooter. Moreover, the relevant transportation infrastructure must enable near rapid transit for commuters.
Near rapid transit refers to a distance that can be traversed in approximately 10 minutes. Hence, the maximum distance for near rapid transit changes depending on the transportation method used:
- When walking, it involves persons residing within a third of a mile (around 500 meters). This marks an average commute of 10.41 minutes at a speed of 48 meters per minute.
- When cycling on a designated bicycle lane, the area expands to over 1.5 miles (2,500 meters). Hence, the average cyclist bikes at 248 meters per minute, albeit limited to routes with protected bike lanes.
- When riding an electric scooter, the coverage stretches to more than 3 miles (5,000 meters). A person using a standard e-scooter can zoom at approximately 500 meters per minute. Furthermore, most cities allow electric scooters on the main road and bicycle lanes, enabling riders to take the shortest route to their destination unaffected by traffic congestion.
In addition, using high-end e-scooters can further magnify the designated area. For instance, the Flash Motors Infinity X hyperscooter can reach 1,250 meters per minute.
People Near Rapid Transit is among the most popular sustainable mobility metrics because it can indicate destination availability and is easy to measure, even when there is a severe lack of data. This also assists in expounding the connection between rapid transit services and the urban population.
It is safe to conclude that when more people live near a rapid transit station, more commuters will use the transport services. However, this indicator does not cover all public transportation or measure people’s ability to reach their destinations using rapid transit.
