Examining the impact of bicycle-oriented multimodality on accessibility and transport equity in the metropolitan area of Athens, Greece

Bicycle-oriented multimodality (cycling and fixed-route public transport) could be considered as an efficient tool in developing a sustainable transport system offering adequate transport services to everyone. This study, therefore, explores whether multimodality can support transport equity in a metropolitan urban environment. To this end, a combinatorial approach is adopted; specifically, spatial accessibility as well as horizontal and vertical equity measures related to four scenarios illustrating different transport futures are estimated. These scenarios are the following: (a) existing fixed-route public transport, (b) addition of a new metro line, (c) existing fixed-route public transport and addition of a new metropolitan cycling network, and (d) both a new metro line and a metropolitan cycling network. This method is applied to the Athens Metropolitan Area (AMA) in Greece which comprises a challenging example of a car-oriented metropolis. The main results indicate that bicycle-oriented multimodality influences accessibility positively; however, when it comes to equity (both horizontal and vertical), results require further analysis. Fully multimodal scenarios (Scenario 3) do not lead to better horizontal equity, or they do not support low-income groups; on the contrary, balanced multimodality solutions (Scenario 2) illustrated the most equitable conditions. These findings are indeed surprising, indicating to researchers and practitioners that urban and transport planning should embrace holistic ways to achieve transport equity.