Seoul, Korea

• Korean War (1950)
• Massive growth, urbanization
• Population: 10M (20% of S.Korea’s population)
• Wider metropolitan area: 25M (48% of S.Korea’s population)

Short Video on Seoul’s growth and Public Transportation

Public Transportation in Seoul

• 2004 BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) reform
  • bus route redesigns and bus lane expansions
  • frequent network of priority bus lines
  • seamless, free transfers between bus and subway

Result

• Bus Ridership increased by 14% (2004), and 20% (2010)
• Bus speeds doubled
• Faster travel times for cars

More Space for People

• overpaths and elevated freeways gone
• more walk paths and nature

Cheonggyecheon

• 3 mile stretch of elevated freeway built over a stream
• restored in 2005, uncovering nature
• less air polution
• lower temperature in nearby areas during summer
• “car-oriented city to a human-oriented city”
• number of fish species 4 -> 25
• bird species 6 -> 36
• insect species 15 -> 192

Seoul-ro

• elevated highway near Seoul Station
• built in 1970 to accomodate growing traffic congestion in Seoul (1970)
• Project 7017
  • turn a highway into a pedestrian walkway
  • people-friendly city
  • boost in local economy (connectivity and access to small shops)

Research Questions

What is the relationship between the bus network and spatial inequality in Columbus?

• Income levels
• Low access (food deserts)
• Race

Bus Stop Data

Source: Smart Columbus Data

COTA Bus stop data (Sept. 2018)

• geocodes
• bus lines passing through the stop

Create Network

1. Arrange the stops by each lines
2. Connect the stops (nodes) in each lines (forming ties)
3. Calculate Centrality

Centrality

• Measuring the importance of a node
• Having the most ties to other actors in the network
• More access to other parts of the city

Food Access Research Atlas Data

Source: USDA

• tract-level data on food access (supermarket accessibility)
• Low income
• low vehicle access
• by various demographic groups (race, age)

Key Variables

• Median Family Income: tract median family income (standardized)
• Low Access Vehicles: more than 100 households without vehicles & beyond 1/2 mile from supermarket
• Low Access Population(%): Share of Low Access(1/2 mile) population in tract
• Low Access Race/Ethnicity(%): Share of Low Access(1/2 mile) in tract population by race/ethnicity
• WILL BE ADDING URBAN/RURAL VARIABLE

Results

• WILL BE MAKING CHANGES