Sustainability Assessment of Bus Low-Fare Policy Considering Three Stakeholders of the Public, Bus Enterprises and Government: A Case Study of Shenzhen, China

Abstract

In order to quantitatively evaluate the sustainability of bus low-fare policy, this study establishes a sustainability evaluation index system for bus low-fare policy by using the PSR (Pressure–State–Response) model. Based on the matter–element extension model and entropy weight method, the sustainability evaluation model of bus low-fare policy is constructed. Finally, taking Shenzhen as an example, this study compares and analyzes the sustainability changes of bus fare policy in 2006, 2012 and 2016. The results show that the sustainability of the bus fare policy does not depend on the attribute of the fare (profit-making fares or public welfare fares): the sustainability of bus low-fare policy is closely related to the supporting fiscal subsidy system. Compared with the cost regulation subsidy system, the quota subsidy system is more conducive to the sustainability of bus low-fare policy. This study provides a decision-making reference for the sustainable development of urban bus low-fare policy.