Accessibility to the mass transit bus system: Indicators for the municipalities of the metropolitan periphery and zones of Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Abstract

Buses are currently the most import means of transportation in Brazil’s main metropolises. In order to evaluate bus accessibility in the Metropolitan Area of Belo Horizonte, the article presents accessibility indicators regarding the number of lines, frequency of routes, and total connections to the peripheral municipalities and zones of Belo Horizonte (spatial units of the origin-destination research). Results show a high regional variation, with higher levels of access in larger municipalities influenced by the capital, such as Betim and Contagem. Lower figures prevail in Belo Horizonte, except for the Central Business District (cbd) and the western zones (toward the industrial area). The indicators evince a high regional level of inequality regarding accessibility and reconfirm the need of investments in order to make the system more efficient and equitable.