# Perceived Accessibility: Impact of Social Factors and Travel Modes in Melbourne's West
## 1 Introduction  
Accessibility is commonly assessed using objective indicators calculated from spatial data, which are linked with the ability to move, distance to stations/stops, and travel time to destinations [1]. According to [PERSON] et al. (2021), these types of calculated measures can only be viewed as proxies for the actual accessibility that individuals experience [2]. Thus, such understanding overlooks the need to evaluate accessibility based on the opportunities it creates for different groups of people and the contributions to daily life activities and well-being from individual perspectives. Disregarding this could lead to reduced mobility for particular groups of travellers with respect to factors, such as age, gender, family profile, and modal choice [3]. When travel obstacles cause difficulties for some people to participate in daily activities, this may result in social exclusion [4]. Given that having access to necessary daily activities is essential to a person's wellness [5], which is positively connected with transport-related social inclusion [6], there is a need to understand and consider perceived accessibility in achieving sustainable and accessible transport systems. Perceived accessibility is defined in terms of \"how easy it is to live a satisfactory life using the transport system\", which includes accessibility while using the transport system per se, ease of getting to the transport system, and the perceived possibilities and ease of performing usual daily living activities with the help of the transport system [7]. Although perceived accessibility has been acknowledged as an important aspect of transport policy, there are still very few empirical studies to investigate its application to transport planning and policies, and these are mostly Eurocentric [7; 8; 9; 10], affecting the possibility of drawinglessons from other regions with different settlement patterns and travel characteristics. This study contributes to this topic in an Australian context. Large-scale infrastructure projects, referred to as \"big build\" or \"major infrastructure\" projects, have been created across Australia as a result of a population boom and the resulting spatial expansion. These initiatives aim to promote socioeconomic growth and community viability in large cities. However, the contribution of these initiatives in creating values for society in ways that support lifestyles and well-being has not been explored. Meanwhile, one of the primary goals of transport investments is to enhance the accessibility to opportunities and daily activities to improve standards of living and create well-being dividends for users and the community in general [7; 11; 12]. Satisfaction with and use of public transport are also driven by perceptions of safety and service quality [13; 14], and yet an exploration of how public transport infrastructure and services influence perceived accessibility, safety, and service quality from the perspectives of residents, travellers, and workers at the locations they are provided has been limited in Australian cities. [PERSON] et al. (2016), who examined objective and perceived accessibility in Perth, Western Australia, only explored this in relation to one public transport station [15]. Since the purpose of public transport is to support daily activities and enhance quality of living, a better comprehension of the entire travel experience is necessary, including individuals' perceptions of service quality of public transport and infrastructure features around stations and stops for walking and cycling [16], together with associated perceived safety and security [17]. In light of this, this study seeks to (1) explore the perceptions of accessibility, safety, and service quality of public transport in supporting daily activities, and (2) examine whether these perceptions are shaped by social and travel factors such as gender, age, and travel mode.