Panacea or Band-Aid? First-/Last-Mile Connection in Public Transit Systems

First-/last-mile (FMLM) services have become an increasingly popular strategy intended to improve transit travel in the United States. However, empirical results about their benefits remain mixed. In this Viewpoint we critically examine the underlying mechanisms that steer decision making toward FMLM services and highlight the reality that in many community contexts, FMLM services do not effectively cater to rider needs. We argue that FMLM services are often band-aid solutions to improving transit services and do not address persisting systemic challenges, especially in low- to medium-density areas, and advocate for a holistic reform of transit planning in the United States.