Public Transport, Accessibility, and User Satisfaction: Improving Equity and Social Well-being

This chapter focuses on various aspects of local public transport (LPT) with bus services in Italian regions, focusing on the interaction between public transport utilization, user satisfaction, and access to essential services. It highlights the critical role of efficient public transport systems in promoting sustainable development and social well-being in the context of increasing urbanization. Using data from the 2023 ISTAT multi-purpose survey, the study combines variables through the unweighted z-score method to construct three indices: satisfaction, utilization, and ease of access. Spearman’s rank correlation is applied to analyze the relationships among these indices. The findings reveal significant regional disparities in public transport satisfaction and accessibility. Regions such as Trentino Alto Adige/Südtirol and Friuli-Venezia Giulia demonstrate high performance across all indices, serving as examples of best practices. In contrast, regions like Molise and Sicilia face notable challenges in both utilization and satisfaction. The results underscore the importance of improving accessibility to enhance user satisfaction and promote greater public transport usage. The study concludes by emphasizing the need for targeted investments in public transport infrastructure and services to address regional inequalities. By improving accessibility and service quality, policymakers can foster social equity and support sustainable urban development.