The Role of Transport Organisers in the Integration of Passengers and Goods Flows Within Urban Areas

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Due to the high rate of urbanization all over the world, the importance of the processes taking place within cities is increasing, Cities all over the world are growing rapidly with ever more intensive human interactions, dense vehicular flows and vigorous commercial activities. Thus the importance of city logistics is still growing. City logistics tends to be an important area, and it involves several levels of complexity. It consists of planning, coordination and controlling of logistics processes and various flows within urban areas. Logistics activities within cities, or especially city centres, generate externalities, therefore, looking for solutions improving the quality of life within cities is needed. The vast majority of studies on logistics flows within the cities, focus on analysing passengers flows and goods flows separately. Comparatively little is known about cumulative treatment of passengers’ and goods’ flows organization. Thus there is a particular need for a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of all flows within the city areas. It is possible to state that the objectives of city logistics are quite difficult to achieve in terms of the improvement in flows in urban areas, without their coordination provided by a specialised entity. Such an entity should be a coordinator, an organizer of the integrated system of urban transport, which would not differentiate its operation in terms of transported objects, but which would comprehensively make all its implemented functions universal in the administrative area in which it operates. Aim: The paper is aimed at developing a workable model of an entity organizing passengers and goods flows within the city areas. The proposed model could be an effective tool for local authorities to improve flows of the passengers and goods in the urban space. Methods: The research is mostly based on the analysis of practical solutions in the field of goods and people flows in European urban areas, documents of the European Commission and the publications prepared by industry associations. Moreover, the studies have been carried out on the basis of investigating public transport administrators, managers of transport and forwarding companies and city board representatives within the Pomeranian region. The theoretical part of the paper is based on the existing materials taken from public resources and the author’s research experience. Good practices within organization of passengers and goods transport in cities have been a subject of research and analysis, but – due to volume restrictions of the paper - haven’t been quoted. Results: The study result is an authorial framework of goods and passenger transport organiser within metropolitan areas, with the conceptual modelling of its functions. Thus, the organiser’s specialisation does not depend on the subject of transportation, its range comprehensively covers goods flows as well as passenger transportation. Conclusions: The main conclusion of the paper focus on highlighting future needs in the area of urban transportation. On the basis of the solution analysis relating to the flow of passengers and goods in metropolitan areas and the research carried out among the key stakeholders, it can be concluded that the involvement of a specialized transport and logistics integrator into such processes appears to be most advantageous. The article also presents a model of the integrator’s features.