title: Using agent based modeling to assess the effect of increased Bus Rapid Transit system infrastructure on walking for transportation.
abstract: The effect of transport infrastructure on walking is of interest to researchers because it provides an opportunity, from the public policy point of view, to increase physical activity (PA). We use an agent based model (ABM) to examine the effect of transport infrastructure on walking. Particular relevance is given to assess the effect of the growth of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in Bogotá on walking. In the ABM agents are assigned a home, work location, and socioeconomic status (SES) based on which they are assigned income for transportation. Individuals must decide between the available modes of transport (i.e., car, taxi, bus, BRT, and walking) as the means of reaching their destination, based on resources and needed travel time. We calibrated the model based on Bogota's 2011 mobility survey. The ABM results are consistent with previous empirical findings, increasing BRT access does indeed increase the number of minutes that individuals walk for transportation, although this effect also depends on the availability of other transport modes. The model indicates a saturation process: as more BRT lanes are added, the increment in minutes walking becomes smaller, and eventually the walking time decreases. Our findings on the potential contribution of the expansion of the BRT system to walking for transportation suggest that ABMs may prove helpful in designing policies to continue promoting walking.
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, CeiBA Complex Systems Research Center, Carrera 3 #18A-10, Bogotá, Colombia; Centro Nacional de Consultoría, Bogotá, Colombia. Electronic address: pa-lemoi@uniandes.edu.co.
authors.forename: Pablo D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Lemoine
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, Carrera 3 #18A-10, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Juan Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cordovez
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, Carrera 3 #18A-10, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Juan Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Zambrano
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, Universidad de los Andes, CeiBA Complex Systems Research Center, Carrera 3 #18A-10, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Olga L
authors.initials: OL
authors.lastname: Sarmiento
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, CeiBA Complex Systems Research Center, Carrera 3 #18A-10, Bogotá, Colombia; Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Ibagué, Ibagué, Colombia.
authors.forename: Jose D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Meisel
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Física, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Centro para el Desarrollo de la Nanociencias y la Nanotecnología (CEDENNA) Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Juan Alejandro
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Valdivia
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, CeiBA Complex Systems Research Center, Carrera 3 #18A-10, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zarama
mesh_terms: D003105:Colombia; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011640:Public Policy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014186:Transportation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016138:Walking / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017132:Workplace
keywords: Agent based model; Bus Rapid Transit; Physical activity