Abstract
This paper is an initial exploratory study that provides recommendations for the sustainable development of future automated and connected transport (ACT) systems in Romania. To achieve this, our paper investigates the different factors that influence mobility behaviour related to ACT systems through two different themes. The first part analyses (i) the strategic framework that is relevant to future ACT deployment and (ii) the spatial development patterns of large cities in Romania that might influence future mobility behaviour based on ACT systems. We presumed, and the study confirmed, that there is currently a poor focus on ACT systems in strategic documents and that the current spatial patterns show some premises for unsustainable mobility behaviour based on ACT systems. The second part describes the results of our analysis on the WISE-ACT survey deployed in Romania. We explored how informed Romanian citizens are about AVs; whether they are ready to use them; and what perceptions, concerns, and attitudes might influence their mobility behaviour when using ACT systems. The present analysis mainly shows that the perceptions of Romanian citizens are widely similar to those of citizens from other countries and that, for Romania, the orientation towards unsustainable forms of individual travel is maintained in terms of the future use of AVs. The recommendations that are presented here primarily address the spatial and attitudinal factors that have been identified as prerequisites for unsustainable future mobility behaviour linked to ACT systems.
Highlights
IntroductionNew Automated Vehicle technology (AV) has made Automated Connected Transportation (ACT) the heart of the emerging paradigm of smart and sustainable mobility
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutralNew Automated Vehicle technology (AV) has made Automated Connected Transportation (ACT) the heart of the emerging paradigm of smart and sustainable mobility. it is in a very early stage, ACT has the potential to cause disruptive changes in mobility habits and behaviour, both in a beneficial manner and in a negative way if not well managed
The transition towards a fully functional market economy has been long, and though these countries are developing quickly, they still have Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per inhabitant and the national average income levels that are considerably lower than those found in the rest of Europe
Summary
New Automated Vehicle technology (AV) has made Automated Connected Transportation (ACT) the heart of the emerging paradigm of smart and sustainable mobility It is in a very early stage, ACT has the potential to cause disruptive changes in mobility habits and behaviour, both in a beneficial manner (transport optimisation and resilience, externality mitigation) and in a negative way (increasing the share and volumes of car-use and related unsuitable impacts) if not well managed. The smart mobility paradigm is the result of a continuous and ongoing process of reformulating principles, models, urban mobility planning methods, and transportation for social, economic, and environmental sustainability These changes started in the 1970s as awareness of negative environmental trends caused by pollution and as urban living quality deteriorated, both of which were created by car-centric mobility [1,2,3].
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