“How Far Is the Closest Bus Stop?” An Evaluation of Self-Reported versus GIS-Computed Distance to the Bus among Older People and Factors Influencing Their Perception of Distance

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

References should be numbered.

The abstract should contain two sentences connected with the final results.

The introduction should be more with the technique of obtaining accessibility data. Authors should also describe accessibility more (isodistance, isochrones, economic etc.)

Please add the scheme of your method.

Does the author check the network? Actually, OpenStreetMap inlude also has roads where walking is not allowed. There is a lack of information about it in the article.

The authors do not describe a method for GIS data.

There should be a maps with examples in that version. There is only data from surveys.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

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Author Response

Please see the attachment, pages 2-3

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear Authors, 

Your paper provided for peer review looks very interesting. It combines routing analysis in combination with additional socio-attributes, which is really important. 

I have mainly comments on the idea of using OSM data for routing and distance measurements. OSM data are inconsistent in routing ready quality and depend on source data for the database in each area. Especially in the case of Sweden, I would expect the use of national datasets. You present a problematic case in the Supplementary Materials - Figure A.14.

A cartographic comment to maps in the Supplementary Materials - Figures A.1, A.2, A.3, A.10, A.11, A.12, and A.14 need several improvements to be called "maps". On the other hand, a map put into the main text would also be very useful. 

Formatting comments:

- review usage of Harvard citations in the text - standardized pattern "(Surname of the first author et al., Year of publication)" is not used in all cases, e.g., r. 38, r. 66, 431

- check the usage of the name for Göteborg in the whole text, mainly "Gothenburg", but in some cases "Goeteborg", e.g. r. 309-310, 474, 498.

 

Author Response

Please see the attachment, pages 4-5

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The paper demonstrates a commendable commitment to addressing a important gap in the existing literature. The inclusion of a substantial sample of 2,398 older individuals from multiple cities in Sweden strengthens the generalizability of the findings, and  identification of key variables that influence distance perception, such as age, gender, living arrangements, health status, and public transport usage, significantly enriches the understanding of this issue. Notably, it uncovers valuable insights into the effects of frequency of public transport use and satisfaction with the local walking environment on bus stop distance estimation, with potential implications for urban planning and public health strategies. \

This paper's well-structured approach and innovative methodology make it a valuable contribution to the field, providing a strong foundation for further research and practical applications.

Author Response

Please see the attachment, page 6

Author Response File: Author Response.docx