Definitions matter: investigating indicators for transport poverty using different measurement tools

Background: An individual’s inability to fully participate in social life due to limited means of transport options, in short, transport poverty, is a common theme in contemporary transport planning. However, due to the lack of a universal definition, identification and measurement of transport poverty can be challenging. Purpose: This paper aims to assess the implications of three widely used definitions and a newly developed measurement scale by comparing them in terms of scale levels, measurement dimensions and research contexts Methodology: This study first systematically reviews the literature on transport poverty and summarizes aspects of the transport poverty concept emphasized in previous studies. Using survey data from two Dutch cities, the study then measures transport poverty by means of a scoring system and an indicator derived from a new measurement scale by factor analysis. Finally, by performing a series of linear regression models on the generated scores, the predictors of each definition (measurement scale) are compared to identify which aspects of transport poverty are prioritized by each definition. Findings: Each transport poverty definition correlates with a different set of predictors, indicating that the used definition of transport poverty has an impact on how the concept is identified and implying in which contexts the definition (measurement scale) can be applied. The findings could help policymakers evaluate the applicability of different transport poverty definitions in specific contexts and help them select the optimal measurement tool for assessing the problem they are aiming to solve.