​Factors Influencing Green Transport Mobility in Shenzhen-Hong Kong Cross-border Commuting: Evidence from the High-speed Rail "Flexible Pass" Policy

Factors Influencing Green Transport Mobility in Shenzhen-Hong Kong

Cross-border Commuting:

Evidence from the High-speed Rail "Flexible Pass" Policy

Li Yan' Fu ¹Chengzhe² Qiu Chaowei²

(1. Faculty of Social Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China 999077;2.School of Politics

and Public Administration, South China Normal University, Guangzhou S10006, Guangdong, China.3. Hong

Kong-Macao-Taiwan Development Research Association, Macao SAR, China)

Abstract: With the advancement of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area integration,cross-border rail transit between Shenzhen and Hong Kong is shifting from long-distance intercity travel toward short-distance, high-frequency daily commuting. The "Flexible Pass" policy of theGuangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link enhances ticketing flexibility by allowingpassengers to change trains multiple times free of charge on the day of travel, thereby providing agovernance innovation scenario for the quasi-commuterization of cross-border public transport. Froman ESG perspective, this study defines green transport mobility as commuters' capacity to achieveaffordable, reliable, and sustainable mobility between Shenzhen and Hong Kong through relativelylow-carbon public transport modes. Using grounded theory, this study conducts semi-structuredinterviews with 21 Shenzhen -Hong Kong cross-border commuters and incorporates public online textanalysis for triangulation. Through open, axial, and selective coding, the study identifies the keyfactors shaping green transport mobility. The findings show that green transport mobility is notdetermined solely by the convenience of train rescheduling, but is closely associated with publictransport service satisfaction and public transport accessibility equity. Both interview data and publiconline texts indicate that service satisfaction and accessibility equity are intertwined, jointly shapingusers' perceived feasibility of routinizing cross-border public transport in daily life. Based on thesefindings, this study develops a conceptual relationship framework of Shenzhen-Hong Kong greentransport mobility from an ESG perspective and proposes policy optimization directions in terms oflow-carbon potential, transport equity, and cross-border collaborative governance.

Keywords: Grounded theory; Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link; Cross-border commuting;Flexi-trip; Green transport mobility; ESG

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