Analysis of the Relationship between Zhengzhou Subway Passenger Flow and Weather

Abstract

Nowadays, subways have become the primary mode of transportation due to their various advantages, such as large carrying capacity, convenience, speed, and low cost. Zhengzhou, a new first-tier city known as a transportation hub, is primarily populated by young working professionals. The young group has a fast-paced commute and high demand for transportation efficiency, so they tend to prefer the subway as their daily commuting mode. Different weather conditions also affect people’s choice of transportation mode. Weather, as an important factor of daily change, also influences people’s choice of transportation mode. Based on this social reality, this paper employs a combination of correlation analysis, multiple linear regression analysis, and stepwise regression analysis to study the impact of weather on subway ridership. Through data analysis from April to September 2025, it was found that there is a negative correlation between subway ridership on the same day and both minimum temperature and total precipitation. When the minimum temperature or total precipitation increases, subway ridership on the same day decreases accordingly. The study confirms that minimum temperature and total precipitation have a tangible impact on daily ridership. This research can provide reference suggestions for subway dispatch management, ridership prediction, and emergency management.