The effects of public transport subsidies for lower-income users on public transport use: A quasi-experimental study

To increase public transport use, especially for individuals with lower incomes, many cities worldwide have introduced subsidies systems. However, quantitative evidence of their effects on actual ridership remains scarce, in Global South countries. Using a quasi-experimental regression discontinuity design (RDD) combination administrative data all personalized travel cards users during the years 2017–2019 Bogotá, Colombia, present paper assesses causal effect subsidy focused low-income number trips that undertake. Our results show subsidy, equaling 32% regular fare, significantly and substantially increases total monthly trips. suggest size subsidy's has decreased over time, while also evidencing more pronounced among economically active compared to inactive ones. Overall, our can be an effective way increasing use this population segment, which may translate into improved well-being because access local labor markets recreational activities.