How Mobility-as-a-service affects Social Equity

Mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) applications may have mixed impacts on measures of social equity. Research on the impact of digital apps to facilitate ride-hail shows they lowered transportation inequities for seniors in Japan [1], but maintained existing regional rural-urban disparities in Finland [2]. Unbanked users and those without smartphones may also be left out of use, as well as non-native English speakers, which may exacerbate barriers to mobility faced by those groups [3]. Market dominance by private MaaS companies may also lead to monopolization and price discrimination, which may impact those most reliant on public transportation [3]. Public transportation is crucial for low-income groups, who, paradoxically, find it harder to access than people in wealthier neighborhoods. While MaaS presents an opportunity to enhance accessibility and equity, it's essential for policy makers to address and eliminate barriers that maintain the status quo of exclusion for these communities [4].

References

  1. T. Chinbat, N. Fumihiko, M. Mihoko, T. Shinji, and A. Ryo, “Impact assessment study of mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) on social equity through nonwork accessibility in rural Japan,” Asian Transp. Stud., vol. 9, p. 100109, 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.eastsj.2023.100109.

  2. J. Eckhardt, L. Nykänen, A. Aapaoja, and P. Niemi, “MaaS in rural areas – case Finland,” Res. Transp. Bus. Manag., vol. 27, pp. 75–83, Jun. 2018, doi: 10.1016/j.rtbm.2018.09.005.

  3. Committee for Review of Innovative Urban Mobility Services, Policy Studies, Transportation Research Board, and National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Between Public and Private Mobility: Examining the Rise of Technology-Enabled Transportation Services. Washington, D.C.: Transportation Research Board, 2016, p. 21875. doi: 10.17226/21875.

  4. K. L. Fleming, “Social Equity Considerations in the New Age of Transportation: Electric, Automated, and Shared Mobility,” J. Sci. Policy Gov., vol. 13, no. 1, 2018

Related Literature Reviews

See Literature Reviews on Mobility-as-a-service

See Literature Reviews on Social Equity

Note: Mobility COE research partners conducted this literature review in Spring of 2024 based on research available at the time. Unless otherwise noted, this content has not been updated to reflect newer research.

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