Evaluación de la accesibilidad al transporte público en la parroquia Barbones

Abstract

Public transportation accessibility in rural areas is a critical challenge in Latin America and Ecuador, affecting the economic, social, and territorial development of communities. In the rural parish of Barbones, located in the El Guabo canton, poor mobility has been identified on Avenida 6 de Agosto, caused by factors such as a lack of planning and vehicle control. This situation restricts pedestrian and vehicular traffic, impacting connectivity and the quality of life of its residents. This study aims to assess public transportation access in the Barbones parish by gathering information on collective transport to propose strategies that optimize mobility conditions in the area. To achieve this, a mixed-method approach was applied, combining qualitative and quantitative methodologies through field observation and surveys conducted with 365 people. Public transportation access was evaluated using the PTAL method and the Accessibility Index (AI). The results revealed significant deficiencies in public transportation infrastructure, with inadequate bus stops that fail to meet INEN 2292 regulatory standards and unequal access to the service. Consequently, many residents must walk more than 1 km to reach a stop. The accessibility level analysis yielded an average score of 1b, classified as “very poor,” indicating low efficiency and coverage of public transportation in the area. To address this issue, it is necessary to improve the planning and distribution of public transportation services in Barbones, prioritizing route expansion, bus stop improvements, and the implementation of measures that ensure more efficient and equitable mobility.