Assessing spatial accessibility of bus stops and user satisfaction with transportation services: a case of Dilla Town, South Ethiopia Region, Ethiopia

Bus stop accessibility is a vital component of a successful transportation system. This study aimed to investigate the network characteristics of bus stop locations and evaluate bus service users’ satisfaction. The road networks were digitized from aerial photographs and the locations of the bus stops were collected by Handheld GPS to assess the accessibility of bus stops. Additionally, an administered questionnaire related to service quality was collected to evaluate the bus transportation service quality provided by Dilla University. Network analysis techniques were employed to analyze the spatial distribution and accessibility of bus stops. The bus stop coverage ratio index was determined from the ideal access coverage and the actual access coverage of bus stops. The SCRI result indicates Getsmart Bus stop has the highest value (0.96), suggesting that it has a high level of functionality for its surrounding area. On the other hand, the bus stop with the lowest value (0.60) is ‘Molla Golja’. The findings of the study highlighted significant variations in bus stop coverage, indicating differences in accessibility among the stops. The questionnaire survey results showed that passengers were not generally satisfied with the bus service. In summary, the network analysis is useful for identifying areas with low accessibility and areas where improvements are needed.The significance of this study extends beyond providing solely to the needs of Dilla University administrators for creating a more efficient and user-friendly transportation system for their workers and the wider community. It is useful for the Dilla Town Administrative Road Transport Office and other organizations seeking to improve transportation systems.