Assessing Climate-Responsive Public Transport Accessibility in Riyadh: A GIS-Based Seasonal Buffer Analysis

Introduction: Traditional analyses of public transport accessibility usually use fixed walking distance limits that may not properly reflect how people walk in hot-arid climates. In this study, seasonal variations in the accessibility of public transport in Riyadh are assessed using walking distances that are responsive to the climate and based on regional evidence.

Methods: A GIS-based accessibility analysis was carried out in ArcGIS Pro using metro stations, bus stations, district boundaries, landmarks, and population data. Two service areas, reflecting the seasonal nature of walking (500 meters in the summer and 1500 meters in the winter), were created and combined with the spatial datasets to evaluate transit coverage and identify poorly served areas.

The results showed great seasonal variations in accessibility. In the summer case, there were large coverage gaps, especially in the quickly developing northern, western, and southeastern districts, while in the winter case service coverage was greatly increased. In all seasons, the central areas and the major historical sites kept a high level of accessibility. In contrast, some areas of residential expansion and various recreational spots still lay beyond a practical walking distance from the present transit services. These findings show that extreme weather conditions have a significant effect on effective public transport accessibility and should therefore be taken into account in transit planning.

Conclusion: By including climate-responsive walking thresholds in a GIS-based accessibility analysis, it is possible to conduct a more realistic assessment of the areas served by public transport in hot-arid regions. The suggested framework can support evidence-based planning by highlighting locations that should have priority for network expansion, improvements to pedestrian infrastructure, and better last-mile connectivity.