Abstract

Perceived accessibility plays a pivotal role in shaping individuals' decisions to utilise services and access opportunities. Poor management of this factor may result in reduced participation and increased disparities, particularly affecting marginalised groups. Consequently, this study sought to examine the influence of public service quality, safety and security measures, and the availability of public open spaces on the perceived accessibility of urban public transport services within smart cities. The study adopted a quantitative cross-sectional design to evaluate the effects of public service quality, safety measures, and public open spaces on perceived accessibility. Data were gathered from 320 public transport users in urban smart cities through self-administered surveys, employing a convenience sampling approach. The multiple regression analysis revealed that dimensions of public transport quality exert a positive and significant influence on perceived accessibility within smart city public transportation systems. Similarly, safety and security measures were found to positively and significantly impact perceived accessibility. Additionally, the availability of public open spaces demonstrated a positive and significant effect on perceived accessibility in these systems. Theoretically, the findings underscore the importance of incorporating service quality, safety measures, and public open spaces into accessibility frameworks, thereby contributing to the enhancement of existing public transport models within urban smart cities. Practically, these insights offer valuable guidance for policymakers and transport authorities in prioritising improvements in these areas to promote greater accessibility and enhance user satisfaction in public transport systems. This research demonstrates originality by systematically addressing multiple dimensions of public transport quality, safety and security, and public open spaces in relation to perceived accessibility. Its novelty lies in providing empirical evidence that informs targeted improvements in public transport systems to enhance user experience.