Uncovering the Gaps: Analyzing Public Transport Pricing with Operator Insights and AHP

This study investigates public transportation pricing from the perspective of five experts to ensure a comprehensive understanding of sustainable transportation. Previous research often focuses solely on user benefits, which can result in pricing systems that impose financial and environmental burdens on operators. This study addresses this gap by considering both operator and user priorities, revealing significant discrepancies. The study uses AHP to evaluate four main criteria and thirteen sub-criteria related to transportation pricing systems, chosen for its systematic approach, clarity, and ability to handle qualitative features. The findings indicate that the Transportation Aspect is considered the most crucial criterion by experts, followed by the Social Aspect, with Political and Cost Aspects being of similar importance. Among global priorities, "Switch to a Personal Vehicle" is deemed the most significant due to its impact on societal and urban costs, followed by "Decentralization of Cities" and "Public Acceptability." These results highlight the need for a broader, interdisciplinary approach to evaluating public transportation pricing systems, extending beyond simple ticket tariffs or user costs. Future research should explore these preference differences across various transportation systems and utilize diverse methodologies to enhance the evaluation of transportation pricing systems.