A Spatial Analysis of Transportation Convenience in Beijing: Users’ Perception Versus Objective Measurements

Abstract

This study investigates the convenience of urban transportation in Beijing municipality area. The analyses reported here consist of three parts − the spatial patterns of urban transportation Level of Service (LOS) perceived as transportation convenience by residents in Beijing, the spatial patterns of urban transportation LOS as reflected by objective transportation and traffic data, and the comparison of these two sets of patterns and measurements. The spatial unit of analyses was Jie Dao (街道), which is the basic civil administration unit in Chinese cities. This is one of the first studies linking subjective assessment of transportation convenience in Beijing with objective measurement; it reveals the displacement between the patterns of transprotation convenience reflected from the two aspects. Further examination are needed to explain the discrepancy between the perceived and measured transportation LOS in different Jie Daos in Beijing. The related investigation shall shed light on better understanding the effectiveness of different practices of urban transportation management, planning, and project investment in different types of neighborhoods in Beijing.