Transport Modes Research Articles

A Spatial Accessibility Study of Public Hospitals: A Multi-Mode Gravity-Based Two-Step Floating Catchment Area Method

The multi-modal two-step floating catchment area (MM-2SFCA) method is an extension of the two-step floating catchment area (2SFCA) method that incorporates the impact of different transportation modes, thereby facilitating more accurate calculations of the spatial accessibility of public facilities in urban areas. However, the MM-2SFCA method does not account for the impact of distance within the search radius on supply–demand capacities, and it assumes an idealized supply–demand relationship. This paper introduces the gravity model into the MM-2SFCA method, proposing a multi-modal gravity-based 2SFCA (MM-G2SFCA) method to better account for distance decay and supply–demand relationships. Furthermore, a standardized gravity model is proposed based on the traditional gravity model. This model imposes constraints on upper and lower limits for distance decay weights without compromising the fundamental curve characteristics of the gravity model, thereby avoiding extreme weight scenarios. The accessibility of public hospitals in Shenzhen is evaluated through the integration of basic geographic information data, resident travel data, and official statistical data. The findings demonstrate that the standardized gravity model effectively addresses the issue of excessively high local distance weights in the traditional gravity model, making it more suitable as a distance decay function. The MM-G2SFCA method improves the consideration of distance and supply–demand relationships, thereby facilitating a more rational distribution of accessibility on a global scale. This study discovers differences in the spatial allocation of public hospital resources across the Shenzhen’s districts. Accessibility within the metropolitan core is significantly higher than that outside the core. Additionally, there is a notable difference in the level of accessibility among the districts. Accessibility is found to be better in district centers and along the main traffic arteries.

Research on the Synergistic Evolution of Comprehensive Transportation Network System in the Yellow River Basin Aimed at High-Quality Development

The high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin is still facing the issue of imbalance and inadequacy, and it urgently requires the backing and assistance of a well-coordinated and efficient comprehensive transportation network system. Based on this purpose, this study uses a composite system synergy degree model incorporating “mode dimension + regional dimension” to analyze the evolution of this network. The results indicate the following: (1) Railway and air transportation surpass highway transportation in growth and synergy, though overall system synergy is still low. (2) Downstream areas are gradually taking the lead, and the orderliness of each subsystem is gradually becoming consistent. The complexity and variability of the composite system’s synergy are high, with an overall low level of synergy. Overall, despite improvements in service capacity and quality, better integration of different transport modes and enhanced cross-regional cooperation are needed. This study reveals and analyzes in depth the complexity of the comprehensive transportation network system in the Yellow River Basin and its spatiotemporal characteristics of synergistic evolution. We propose suggestions for high-quality development at national, regional, and industry levels, fostering the continuous improvement of the system structure, which aids in overcoming the tangible obstacles faced by the high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin.

35 Associations between transport modes and site-specific cancers: A Systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Purpose Transport choices may influence cancer risks through their effects on physical activity levels, sedentary time, and environmental pollution. This review synthesizes existing evidence on the associations of specific transport modes with risks of site-specific cancers. Methods Relevant literature was searched up to 17th February 2023 in PubMed, Embase, and Scopus, and results were meta-analyzed for cancer sites where two or more studies were identified. Results 27 eligible studies (11 cohort, 15 case-control, and 1 case-cohort) were identified, which reported the associations with 10 site-specific cancers (breast, endometrial, colorectal, testicular, prostate, ovarian, lung, renal, liver, gallbladder and biliary tract). In meta-analysis, 10 Metabolic Equivalent of Task hour increment in transport-related physical activity per week (∼ 150 minutes of walking or 90 minutes of cycling for commute) was associated with a 7% reduction in risk for endometrial cancer (95% CI: 0.89 – 0.98), 5% reduction for colorectal cancer (95% CI: 0.91 – 0.99) and 2% reduction for breast cancer (95% CI: 0.89 – 0.996). Compared to motorized modes, cycling was associated with a lower risk of overall cancer incidence and mortality. Conclusion Active transport appears to reduce cancer risk, but evidence for cancer sites other than colorectum, breast, and endometrium is currently limited.

Revealing Commute Choice Factors: SEM Analysis of Public Transport and Active Modes in Hyderabad, India

Revealing Commute Choice Factors: SEM Analysis of Public Transport and Active Modes in Hyderabad, India

S10 How can HEPA research contribute to shifting modes of transport towards active mobility?

S10 How can HEPA research contribute to shifting modes of transport towards active mobility?

Urban air quality comparison on bike and driving routes: a case study for UK

Air quality in cities is very important in both tackling climate change and promoting healthy sustainable urban living. Understanding the air quality around cities has been a challenge faced by local authorities around the world. With the new net zero targets in place, government and charitable organisations across the UK have been trying hard to both monitor and control air pollutants to influence citizen behavior towards environmentally friendly living. This study looks at urban air quality in two UK cities with the idea of understanding air quality and its relation to the mode of transport, health and well-being. This case study compares the urban air quality as Particulate Matter (PM 10 and PM 2.5) and gaseous pollutants (NO 2) on the bike and motor driving routes in Cambridge and Colchester. The study designed experiments and data collection campaigns to understand the factors leading to air quality fluctuations in urban traffic routes. The resulting measurements show that NO 2 concentrations are higher in motor driving routes and in certain locations on the bike routes that are part of (or very close to) the motor route. The PM concentrations are generally higher near parks and open greenspaces but can be argued to be within the recommended limits. Finally, this paper proposes steps to improve the urban infrastructure to tackle emissions and spread awareness among the citizens.

Economic and environmental assessment of the Korea urban railway and its greenhouse gas mitigation potential

Railways can simultaneously transport large quantities of freight and passengers, making them energy-efficient and economical modes of transportation. Changing the materials that constitute a significant portion of rail track systems can help mitigate climate change. Gravel and concrete trackbed methods are commonly employed in railway construction. This study proposes the utilization of the asphalt concrete trackbed method, which is currently being researched and developed in South Korea, in addition to traditional gravel and cement concrete methods, and presents its economic feasibility and environmental benefits. The asphalt concrete trackbed method, which has already been implemented in regions such as China, Australia, and Europe, can also be applied in other areas. This study analyzed the carbon emissions and economic feasibility in the construction, usage, and disposal stages of cement concrete and asphalt concrete trackbeds. Previous research on carbon emissions analysis has faced challenges in applying geographical and climatic, as well as energy sources, to individual cases in the context of construction in Korea. Using the Korean Life Cycle Inventory database, this study indicated that asphalt concrete exhibits approximately 2.65-times lower carbon emissions than cement concrete. In Korea, railway construction involves 1,998 tons of asphalt concrete mixture, 1,820 cubic meters of cement concrete, and 59 tons of rebar per kilometer. Furthermore, the asphalt concrete trackbed method shows potential cost savings of approximately 29,000 EUR when converted to the 2021 EAU value. Thus, asphalt concrete trackbeds not only provide environmental benefits, they are also economically viable. However, further research is required to establish precise standards for on-site construction. This study is expected to provide foundational data for promoting the widespread adoption of asphalt concrete trackbeds in areas that produce asphalt concrete.

Therapists’ perspectives on experience and treatment of mobility-related anxiety disorders

In this paper, we explore how psychology professionals understand and treat the mobility issues of people diagnosed with anxiety disorder, based on 13 in-depth interviews. All interviewees regularly treat clients facing challenges using various modes of transportation due to anxiety disorders. Their clients exhibit a range of mobility issues, with some struggling with driving or being a passenger in a car, while others encounter difficulties when using public transport, cycling, or being a pedestrian. The mobility problems their clients experience affect their daily lives. Next to applying individual Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) adopted by most interviewees, they also suggest that adjustments in the mobility system could assist individuals with anxiety disorders to participate more fully in society. Hence, we advocate for more research on the mobility system that integrates psychological perspectives on mobility-related problems caused by anxiety disorder to support a more inclusive mobility planning, design, and organization of the system. Inclusive planning implies (1) designing mainstream infrastructures and services enabling people with anxiety disorders to move around independently while reducing anxiety-triggering situations without them becoming disclosed; (2) enhancing walkability and cyclability through both transport and land use planning, since having destinations within a short distance from home seems to be especially beneficial for people with anxiety disorders.

Mitochondrial phylogeography of grassland caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Lymantriinae: Gynaephora) endemic to the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau.

Grassland caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Lymantriinae: Gynaephora) are the most damaging pests to alpine meadows in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP). Here, we conducted extensive sampling from 39 geographic populations covering almost the entire distribution of the eight QTP Gynaephora (Hübner) species to investigate phylogeographic patterns and speciation based on two mitochondrial genes (COI and ND5). A total of 40 haplotypes were detected in the 39 populations, with >70% of all haplotypes not shared between populations. The monophyletic QTP Gynaephora migrated from non-QTP regions during the Pliocene, corresponding to the uplift of the QTP, suggesting a mode of transport into the QTP. Among the eight QTP Gynaephora species described by morphological characteristics, two species (G. alpherakii and G. menyuanensis) were recovered as monophyletic groups (Clades B and C), while the remaining six formed two monophyletic clades: Clade A (G. qinghaiensis, G. jiuzhiensis, and G. qumalaiensis) and Clade D (G. aureata, G. ruoergensis, and G. minora). These results suggested that the number of the QTP Gynaephora species may be overestimated and further studies based on both morphological and nuclear gene data are needed. Genetic differentiation and speciation of the QTP Gynaephora were likely driven by the QTP uplifts and associated climate fluctuations during the Pleistocene, indicated by divergence time estimation, suggesting that isolation and subsequent divergence was the dominant mode of speciation. The Sanjiangyuan region (i.e., Clade A, characterized by high genetic diversity) may have been a glacial refugium of the QTP Gynaephora, as supported by analyses of gene flow and biogeography. High levels of genetic diversity were found in QTP Gynaephora, without population expansion, which may explain the high-altitude adaptation and outbreaks of grassland caterpillars in alpine meadows of the QTP. This study provides the largest phylogeographic analysis of QTP Gynaephora and improves our understanding of the diversity and speciation of QTP insects.

Evaluation of the potential of infrastructure funds: The case of inland waterways in Germany

Given the critical need for sustainable transportation solutions, inland waterways (IWs) constitute a crucial yet underfunded mode of transport. This study examines deficiencies in current infrastructure funding and analyzes infrastructure funds (IFs) as an alternative funding mechanism and potential means to revitalize German waterways.Central to this investigation is the analysis of the German population's willingness to pay (WTP) for such funds. To this end, a comprehensive online survey of German households was conducted, and multivariate regression analysis was employed to identify key factors influencing public support for various fund designs.The results reveal that personal experiences with flooding significantly affect WTP and underscore the role of socio-economic variables in shaping public attitudes toward infrastructure funding. The findings indicate that well-designed IFs, combined with effective communication strategies to raise awareness of the importance of waterways, could significantly enhance public support. The study demonstrates that IFs have significant potential as a strategic tool for mobilizing public funding, thereby supporting the sustainable development and maintenance of essential yet underfunded infrastructure. IFs present a promising solution to the financial challenges facing critical public goods such as waterways.

Sustainability Challenges: How Public Transport Supports Eco-Tourism Industries

Abstract The public transport system is an essential aspect of the management of sustainable tourist destinations. A more efficient public transportation system enables better optimization to maximize economic earnings and support environmental and resource conservation. This paper presents a study analyzing the design of public transportation modes to support Eco-tourism industries in Gianyar Regency. This study employs the distribution of tourist destinations, tourist potential demand, and route optimation in eco-tourism tourist destinations using Vehicle Routing Problem. Additionally, a comprehensive analysis is undertaken to determine the emission cost of private vehicles and public vehicles. The results suggest that the planned tourist transportation involves using a medium size bus to travel from the tourist destination Yeh Pulu to Pura Tirta Empul with a total distance of 26.7 kilometers in the northern direction. Furthermore, the utilization of public transport in tourist destinations plays a vital role in mitigating traffic congestion and reducing the carbon footprint within the area. This is supported by the significant annual financial losses amounting to USD 341,303, which can be directly attributed to the emissions generated by private vehicles.

Evaluating the influence of cyclists’ route choices incorporation into travel demand modelling: A case study in greater Helsinki

Cycling is a sustainable transport mode that endorses an active lifestyle. While cycling shows great potential, it is essential for urban planning to consider attributes influencing the choices that cyclists act upon. Cyclists’ route choices have been studied since the Eighties with knowledge being applied in cycling network planning. Yet, the role of cycling as a sustainable transportation mode has been largely absent from travel demand modelling. This paper researches cyclists’ route choice preferences and evaluates the opportunity of incorporating route choice modelling into travel demand modelling to improve the accuracy of cycling route choice. To this end, a route choice framework is developed in which a stated preference survey for data collection is conducted, a multinomial Logit model is applied to the data to identify the factors that significantly influence cyclists’ route choice behaviour. The generated route choice utility models are further integrated into an existing regional travel demand model to evaluate the performance of cyclists’ route choice modelling in the presence of additional factors. Then, the route choice model outputs are validated against two sets of external data. The results show that bike facilities, traffic volume, and trip length are the key factors influencing cyclists’ route choice preferences, and the generated route choice models can be an applicable improvement in incorporating the influences of cyclists’ preferences into travel demand modelling.

Toward mainstreaming care activities in transportation: a time use and mobility segmentation approach

ABSTRACT This paper assesses the importance of incorporating care dimensions into activity-travel segmentation to understand daily life mobility strategies. The data came from six neighbourhoods in Concepción, Chile, and included detailed information on activity-travel time use and interaction and classification schemes to identify care purposes. The study uses self-organizing maps to build incremental behavioural segments from weekly mobility and time use variables, adding care activities to assess their role in this segmentation. The results identify groups with a higher burden on care than others, emphasizing the role of transport mode and time use patterns. The result remarks caregiving activities hidden within other categories, identifying groups of caregivers, including domestic workers and women who work and have intense accompanying activities with children. The results highlight the differences between mobility patterns between different segments to make more invisible care and other related activities disproportionately performed by groups of women.

마이크로 모빌리티를 위한 접이식 헬멧 디자인 연구

Micro mobility, powered by electric energy for first and last mile transportaton, represents a futuristic mode of transport tailored to urban needs. Despite its innovation, helmets designed for micro mobility users have failed to depart from traditional norms. This study aims to explore the requirements for helmets within the context of micro mobility and propose innovative directions. Through preliminary research on micro mobility and its users, an investigation and analysis of currently available foldable helmets revealed insufficient volume reduction capabilities, posing portability issues. Consequntly, a design study was undertaken to address these shortcomings. This research underscores the potential coomercial viability of foldable helmets with significant volume reduction suitable for storage and portability in the context of micro mobility.

Unlocking the Wanderlust: Exploring Motivations and Barriers in International Student Travel among India’s Youth

This research examines the travel motivation and constraints experienced by international students enrolled in higher education programs in India, employing the Push-Pull Framework. Further investigates the potential factors influencing student travel and gains initial insights into their motivations, including pursuing personal rewards, escaping from personal and interpersonal environments, and the desire for interpersonal rewards, using motivation theory as a guiding framework. A sample of 300 international students studying in India was selected using purposive sampling techniques. Data was collected through a self-administered survey comprising 20 items measuring motivational factors on a five-point Likert scale, adapted from existing literature. The study provides empirical evidence of distinct patterns in international student travel, encompassing various profiles, travel motivations, and obstacles encountered by international students in India. Furthermore, the findings indicate that international students constitute a heterogeneous group of travellers engaged in travel for diverse reasons. The preference for affordable and budget-friendly modes of transportation was observed among international students. At the same time, their willingness to allocate additional funds towards a wide range of tourism offerings at their destination was evident. The implications of these findings and recommendations for future research are discussed, emphasising their significance for academic and tourism stakeholders.

Gender Issues, Social Equity, and the Sustainable Management of Urban Transport Networks: An Italian Case Study

The paper contains transport and environmental analyses for the Gallipoli area and presents results from a consultation process involving transport operators, citizens, tourists, public employees, and stakeholders. Through statistical analysis of the data, the paper provides insights into the needs of specific user categories, highlighting gender issues and social equity as key aspects of urban policies. This paper further investigates users’ potential willingness to pay for general improvements in bus service quality and environmental conditions using discrete choice modeling. This study aims to address the challenge of understanding urban travel patterns and the underlying forces influencing user attitudes, which are often found in city surveys. Specifically, a Random Utility Model was used to profile users based on specially collected survey data. The results indicate the potential to meet latent systemic transport demand with more sustainable collective transport modes, particularly among women aged 19-29 who own a car. Simultaneously, there is a willingness to pay higher public transport tariffs for improved service, which is also largely environmentally sustainable. The paper can serve as a valuable resource for professionals in the transport and environmental sectors as well as for policymakers.

A Mobility Justice Framework to prioritize areas for mobility interventions

Understanding, visualizing, and quantifying how resources are allocated and the fairness of distributions and access is significant for supporting decision-makers in incentivizing development and ensuring that future changes are widely beneficial and fair. By pointing out the need for mobility justice research to shift from state-centric to more society-centric frameworks and metrics, this study proposed a Mobility Justice Framework that integrated two important theories of justice: distribution and recognition justice. The proposed framework highlights the distribution of amenities and burdens in providing transport infrastructure. It also aims to identify those disadvantaged socio-economic groups more exposed to mobility inequalities. To make the framework applicable within the city context and guide decision-making, several metrics (variables) were identified to make principles of distributive and recognition justice operationalizable. Variables such as 1) accessibility by walking, 2) exposure to traffic negative effects, 3) frequency of use of transport modes, and 4) availability of transport infrastructure were used to identify neighborhoods and the different types of mobility resources/burdens that disadvantaged socio-economic groups are exposed to. To showcase its usability, the framework and methodology have been applied to the city of Munich to highlight neighborhoods with a higher proportion of older people and the transport disadvantages associated with these target groups. A higher negative correlation between older people and mobility resources/burdens can be observed for the following variables: accessibility by walking to activities, availability of walking and cycling infrastructure, and availability of car-sharing services. When measured against exposure to negative transport effects, a higher positive correlation was observed. The paper ends with a discussion section on the relevance and usability of the proposed framework for transport planning and policy and its limitations.

Quantifying carbon footprint of salmon fillet processed in Vietnam: impact of transportation and improvement opportunities.

The carbon footprint of a product represents the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions released during its production, transportation, and consumption and is calculated as carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-eq). It should be integrated into different existing and future seafood awareness campaigns to create more holistic yardsticks by which consumers, retail businesses, and producers can assess the environmental impacts of seafood. This study used the life cycle assessment (LCA) method for the first time to quantify the carbon footprint of salmon fillet products processed in Vietnam for export. The carbon footprint of 1-kg salmon fillet at the factory gate ranges between 7.20 and 15.05kg CO2-eq, depending on transportation modes of head-on-gutted (HOG) salmon from Norway to Vietnam. Transportatiton by airfreight doubled carbon footprint of salmon fillet products processed in Vietnam compared to sea freight. Feed and electricity were identified as the two most respective contributing factors during the stage of cultivation, processing fresh salmon in Norway, and the stage of salmon fillet processing in Vietnam. They accounted for about 95% and 50% of the total carbon footprint in these stages of the production chain, respectively. To reduce the carbon footprint of the salmon fillet products processed in Vietnam, the company should (i) make a careful production plan to use sea freight transportation instead of airfreight and (ii) use more electricity from renewable energy sources. Furthermore, the carbon footprint of these products can be reduced by improving the cultivation process via changing feed ingredients and enhancing the feed conversion ratio (FCR).

Motion sickness and visual impairment

Motion sickness (MS) is caused by exposure to unfamiliar movements. The theory is that MS is due to a conflict between information perceived by the vestibular, visual, and somatosensory systems. This study examines the role of vision in MS by comparing MS susceptibility among individuals with varying degrees of visual impairments to sighted individuals. We hypothesized that subjects with no perception of light would be less susceptible to MS than less impaired subjects, who would themselves be less susceptible than sighted subjects. To address these, the Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire (MSSQ1) was administered to 340 subjects (170 visually impaired paired with 170 sighted subjects) to assess their susceptibility to various modes of transport under real conditions. Visually impaired subjects were divided into subgroups according to the presence (partially sighted) or absence (totally blind) of light perception, as well as the period of onset of impairment (congenital or acquired). Totally blind individuals are significantly less susceptible to MS than partially sighted (p = 0.001), and sighted (p < 0.001) subjects, with no difference between partially sighted and sighted subjects (p = 0.526). Additionally, acquired totally blind subjects are less susceptible to MS than congenitally blind subjects (p = 0.038). Thus, despite a lower susceptibility totally blind subjects may still be susceptible to MS. The absence of vision reduces MS susceptibility but does not completely prevent it. This suggests that vision is more a mediator, than an essential condition for MS appearance.

Exploring the association between multi-mode transport and the built environment: A comparative study of metro, bus, taxi, and shared bike use

Urban transportation plays a pivotal role in sustainable city planning, with multiple transportation modes coexisting to achieve sustainable goals. Despite the extensive use of various mobility datasets to analyze mobility behaviors, comparative studies focusing on multiple transportation modes for origin-destination (OD) trips remain scarce. This study, conducted in Shenzhen, presents three in-depth comparative analyses: (1) variations in the utilization of metros, buses, taxis, and shared bikes; (2) the clustering patterns of OD flows across different modes; and (3) the influence of the built environment at origins and destinations on OD flows. The findings reveal that the use of public transportation and taxis mirrors the city's polycentric layout, with each transportation mode fulfilling distinct roles in linking disparate urban areas. The nonlinear effect of the built environment on OD flows exhibits mode-specific variations, particularly in relation to thresholds. Additionally, network topology characteristics are identified as significant factors in explaining OD flows for all modes. Despite observed differences in weekday and weekend OD flow clustering, the built environment consistently correlates with daily OD flows. These findings provide valuable insights to inform mode-specific strategies that enhance sustainable urban development.