Role of centres in public transport networks
Abstract
A well-functioning public transport network is the foundation of sustainable urban mobility. However, the term 'well working' is difficult to define and may be subjective. This paper introduces a network-analytical approach to show the correlation between usage, which reflects the quality of a public transport service, and the structure of its network. This approach is based on Barabási's definition of a scale-free network and physicists' observations of network structures. Ultimately, the paper will show that scale-free public transport networks are more efficient in terms of usage, as modelled by the modal split of the observed cities.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Urban Design and Spatial Analysis
Transportation Planning and Optimization
Urban Transport and Accessibility
Publication details
- Journal / source
- European transport studies.
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Volume
- 3
- Pages
- 100055–100055
- Publication date
- 7 February 2026
- Language
- EN