Abstract
Rural communities face a range of challenges associated with accessibility and connectivity which apply in both the physical and virtual sphere. Constraints in rural transport infrastructure and services are often compounded by limitations in the development and resilience of technological infrastructures. In this context there is significant disparity between urban and rural communities.This paper will examine the context for accessibility and connectivity in rural communities highlighting key transport and technology challenges. It also explores barriers and opportunities to bringing together transport and technology solutions to enhance rural accessibility and connectivity. This is an area where current understanding is weak as most research has been focussed on urban environments. The paper focuses specifically on two issues of current research; firstly, the role of information and associated technologies in supporting rural passengers on public transport, secondly, the use of technologies to support flexible and demand responsive transport services in rural areas.
Highlights
Access to health care, education, work and other services for people living and working in rural areas is a key issue around the world
This paper examines key transport and technology challenges relating to accessibility and connectivity in rural communities identified and explored within the context of the dot.rural Research Hub at the University of Aberdeen (Research Council UK, 2010)
Lack of public transport service availability and efficiency can provide conditions which are highly suited to the development of more flexible, demand responsive transport services which are often supported by transport telematics
Summary
Education, work and other services (e.g., shopping centres) for people living and working in rural areas is a key issue around the world. Examples include real-time bus arrival information at bus stops (such as Countdown in London), intelligent public transport systems (such as electronic fare collection and automated vehicle scheduling), and shared flexible transport management (such as dial-a-ride share taxi services) (Chowdhury and Sadek, 2003; Robinson, 2008; Nelson et al, 2010; Politis et al, 2010). Though such transport technologies have been widely deployed in urban and suburban areas in the developed world, their application in rural and remote rural areas has been very limited (Nalevanko and Henry, 2001). (6) Remote rural areas – settlements of less than 3000 people not within 30 min drive of a settlement of 10,000 + people
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