The relations between freight trip generation and gravity accessibility: An exploratory analysis

Abstract

This paper proposes an assessment of the relationships between freight trip generation (FTG) rates and accessibility. First, the paper introduces the context and motivates the proposed framework. Second, the framework is presented, which combines an FTG model, two accessibility indicators and a linear regression to relate them. The FTG model is presented and calibrated on the basis of surveyed data. The two accessibility indicators proposed here follow a potential and an exponential mathematical relationship, respectively. Third, the framework is applied to the urban area of Lyon, were no surveys are available. The FTG rates are estimated and the accessibility indexes calculated, then both descriptive statistics and linear regression analyses are performed. The potential accessibility index seems to have a better correlation to FTG and could be a good decision support indicator. This work, which remains exploratory, finishes by proposing practical implications and further development areas.