Beyond the Desert Label: A Pathway Diagnostic for User-Centered Smart Mobility Service Design

Existing smart-city mobility platforms utilize simplistic 'transit desert' labels that often fail to differentiate between varying user problems in public transit. This research introduces a new diagnostic tool that provides a pathway-based, data-driven approach to distinguish between localized service mismatches and basic service failures. It identifies specific service attributes contributing to these classifications, offering a more nuanced understanding for user-centered service design.

This diagnostic offers a more granular understanding of public transit deficiencies, enabling a strategic shift from broad labeling to targeted interventions. It allows decision-makers to allocate resources more effectively and design services that directly address the specific needs of dependent users, thereby improving overall urban mobility and equity.

Current 'transit desert' labels are insufficient, masking diverse user problems in public transit.

Forward consideration, not a verified fact.