• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.83-93
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• 2022

Recently, controversy has been a growing over senior ride-free programs that provide free rides on the subway for those aged 65 or older. In this study, we compare and analyze changes in awareness levels about senior ride-free programs over the past ten years, targeting local government officials in Busan and Gimhae. Busan and Gimhae support an operational deficit of the Busan-Gimhae light rail system, which is the only subway that does not permit senior citizens to ride for free in South Korea. This study traces changes in the level of awareness of local government officials and presents administrative and policy recommendations. We conducted surveys in September of 2011 and April of 2021, finding that the level of awareness clearly differed before and after the opening of the Busan-Gimhae light rail system. We found that positive and negative responses arrived at similar percentages as time passed. Additionally, we found that the percentage of positive statements decreased over time if respondents did not have transportation-related work experience. Also, over time, we found that examining alternatives took priority as opposed to maintaining the current senior ride-free program.

• The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.1-14
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• 2023

This study derives quantitative data on how much the fiscal deficit of subway operation agencies can be reduced in the process of charging free rides for the elderly in metropolitan subways during peak periods. In smart card data, every trip of elderly is recorded except fares. Therefore, it is required to establish a methodology for estimating the fares of elderly passengers and distributing them to subway opertation agencies as income. This study builds a simultaneous dynamic traffic allocation model that reflects the assumption that elderly selects a minimum time route based on the departure time. The travel route of the elderly is estimated, and the distance-proportional fare charged to the elderly is calculated based on this, and the fare is distributed by reflecting the connected railway revenue allocation principle of the metropolitan subway operating agencies. As a result of conducting a case study for before and after COVID-19 in 2019 and 2020, it is analyzed that Seoul Metro's annual free loss of 360 billion won could be reduced 6~8% at the morning peak (07:00-08:59), and 13~16% at the morning and afternoon peak (18:00-19:59).