Personal Vehicles Research Articles

Implications of Green Technologies for Environmental Justice

There are large disparities in access to green technologies between countries and among different demographic groups within countries. Unless carefully managed, the energy transition risks exacerbating some of these inequalities, for example, by burdening those who are excluded from efficient new technologies with the costs of maintaining legacy infrastructure. The energy transition will create new interdependencies between sectors—for example, between buildings, the power sector, and transportation—requiring integrated design of policies and infrastructure in different sectors. The equitable adoption of new technologies is contingent on broadening access to enabling technologies such as the Internet and payment systems. Decisionmakers must focus on new technologies that remove disparities in access to services but do not replicate current inefficiencies in providing those services (e.g., equitable access to mobility—not only to motorized personal vehicles). Data at higher resolutions and with broader coverage are needed to design equitable technology deployment strategies and evaluate their success.

Willingness to Consider Pooled Rideshare?: An Exploratory Study on Influential Factors

Rideshare use has grown significantly, beginning with solo riders and evolving to pooled rideshare. Pooled rideshare involves sharing a ride with stranger(s). Despite the growth in rideshare services worldwide, the use of pooled rideshare in the U.S. is relatively low within all rideshare trips and compared to other forms of transportation, e.g., driving one's personal vehicle. A national survey of 5,385 individuals was conducted to identify factors influencing riders' willingness to consider pooled rideshare. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed. The survey results indicated five factors: service experience, time/cost, traffic/environment, privacy, and safety. Understanding these factors is crucial for the future of dynamic ridesharing services in the U.S.

Feeling Your Way with Navibar: A Navigation System using Vibrotactile Feedback for Personal Mobility Vehicle Users

Navigating routes using navigation systems while using Personal Mobility Vehicles (PMVs) like bikes or scooters can lead to visual distraction in outdoor environments, creating possibilities for an accident. This article proposes a new navigation system called NaVibar for PMVs that uses vibrotactile feedback on the handlebar to enhance route information delivery and reduce visual distraction. The study aims to answer four research questions about visual distraction, route recognition, mental workload, and usability. The results of the study showed that vibrotactile feedback can be an effective and useful addition to the PMVs navigation system, reducing visual distraction, and enhancing the user experience. Also, vibrotactile feedback did not affect the participants' route recognition, but it positively affected the participants’ lower workload levels. Therefore, our study demonstrates that the addition of vibrotactile feedback could enhance the usability and safety of PMV navigation systems.

Factors Influencing Adoption of Pooled Rideshare An Explorative Study on User-Centered Design and Services

The rise of real-time information communication through smartphones and wireless networks enabled the growth of ridesharing services. While personal rideshare services (individuals ride alone or with people they know) initially dominated the market, the popularity of pooled ridesharing (individuals share rides with strangers) has grown globally. However, pooled rideshare remains less common in the U.S., where personal vehicle usage is still the norm. Vehicle design and rideshare services may need to be tailored to user preferences to increase pooled rideshare adoption. A national U.S. survey ( N = 5,385) used exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to identify four key factors influencing riders’ willingness to consider pooled rideshare: comfort/ease of use, convenience, vehicle technology/accessibility, and passenger safety. Understanding and implementing these user-centered design principles and service-related factors may be critical for increasing the future use of pooled rideshare services in the U.S.

Assessment of drivers and barriers in the adoption of Mobility as a Service (MaaS): a case study of Noida, India

ABSTRACT Mobility as a Service (MaaS) has emerged as a transformative concept in urban transportation, integrating multiple modes of transportation through digital platforms to provide seamless travel experiences. By utilizing smartphone applications, MaaS simplifies trip planning, real-time information access, and consolidated payment systems, offering convenience to users. However, MaaS research has primarily focused on developed countries with well-established transport systems, making it crucial to explore its potential and challenges in developing cities of the global south, such as Noida in India. In this study, Noida, a satellite town of NCT Delhi, was chosen as only case study to gather data on user behaviour and preferences regarding app-based mobility services. A comprehensive survey collected information on socio-economic factors, personal vehicle ownership, commuting patterns, public transport usage, and attitudes towards digital ecosystems and app-based mobility services. Principal Component Analysis and K-means Clustering techniques were applied to identify distinct user types and categories, providing insights into user preferences and expectations. The analysis of the collected data revealed user clusters and their respective characteristics. The sustainability aspects of on-demand mobility services were evaluated, comparing user perceptions with private vehicle usage. The study also examined the impact of app-based mobility services on public transport and identified barriers and constraints specific to different user clusters, contributing to a better understanding of the feasibility of implementing MaaS. The findings will provide valuable insights for policymakers and transportation authorities, enabling the development of strategies and interventions to enhance urban mobility and foster MaaS adoption. By addressing the specific needs and preferences of users, MaaS can play a significant role in improving the efficiency and sustainability of transportation in complex urban environment cities like Noida in India.

Crabgrass confinement: Housing and transportation challenges of low- and moderate-income suburban residents in the San Francisco Bay Area

The relationship between housing and transportation costs has been the focus of much research, with classic urban theory positing that housing costs decrease and commuting costs increase as households move away from city centers. The growing population of low and low-moderate (LMI) households in suburbs may be taking advantage of lower housing costs, though research shows that housing cost savings in suburbs are offset by higher transportation costs. Our research explores dimensions of housing and transportation cost burden on LMI households in Contra Costa County in the San Francisco Bay Area using qualitative data from online/in-person surveys (n = 208) and interviews conducted in English and Spanish (n = 25).We found that housing burden is high, suggesting that LMI households choose to live in suburbs for diverse reasons, including rising rents and other requirements (e.g., credit score, rental history) in core cities, and desire for home ownership and a safer environment for children. Yet LMI suburban residents are still vulnerable to rising rents and housing instability in suburban areas. In addition to high housing costs, transportation costs are higher in suburbs due to longer commutes and higher reliance on personal vehicles. Car access is necessary, especially for households with young children. Reliance on cars becomes an issue as LMI households often encounter maintenance issues of used cars or inability to make car payments. When faced with lack of car ownership, households rely on social networks or public transit, and in some cases, forgo trips or relinquish their vehicles entirely. The lack of quality transportation alternatives in suburban contexts, as existing public transit services have long headways and are not well-suited to serving off-peak trips between suburban areas, leaves LMI households vulnerable.

What matters to program partners when implementing a community-based exercise program for people post-stroke? A theory-based qualitative study and cost analysis.

Community-based exercise programs integrating a healthcare-community partnership (CBEP-HCP) can facilitate lifelong exercise participation for people post-stroke. Understanding the process of implementation from multiple perspectives can inform strategies to promote program sustainability. To explore stakeholders' experiences with undertaking first-time implementation of a group, task-oriented CBEP-HCP for people post-stroke and describe associated personnel and travel costs. We conducted a descriptive qualitative study within a pilot randomized controlled trial. In three cities, trained fitness instructors delivered a 12-week CBEP-HCP targeting balance and mobility limitations to people post-stroke at a recreation centre with support from a healthcare partner. Healthcare and recreation managers and personnel at each site participated in semi-structured interviews or focus groups by telephone post-intervention. Interviews and data analysis were guided by the Consolidated Framework of Implementation Research and Theoretical Domains Framework, for managers and program providers, respectively. We estimated personnel and travel costs associated with implementing the program. Twenty individuals from three sites (4 recreation and 3 healthcare managers, 7 fitness instructors, 3 healthcare partners, and 3 volunteers) participated. We identified two themes related to the decision to partner and implement the program: (1) Program quality and packaging, and cost-benefit comparisons influenced managers' decisions to partner and implement the CBEP-HCP, and (2) Previous experiences and beliefs about program benefits influenced staff decisions to become instructors. We identified two additional themes related to experiences with training and program delivery: (1) Program staff with previous experience and training faced initial role-based challenges that resolved with program delivery, and (2) Organizational capacity to manage program resource requirements influenced managers' decisions to continue the program. Participants identified recommendations related to partnership formation, staff/volunteer selection, training, and delivery of program activities. Costs (in CAD) for first-time program implementation were: healthcare partner ($680); fitness coordinators and instructors ($3,153); and participant transportation (personal vehicle: $283; public transit: $110). During first-time implementation of a CBEP-HCP, healthcare and hospital managers focused on cost, resource requirements, and the added-value of the program, while instructors and healthcare partners focused on their preparedness for the role and their ability to manage individuals with balance and mobility limitations. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03122626. Registered April 17, 2017-Retrospectively registered, https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03122626.

A Study on Intelligent Traffic Monitoring System

Urban traffic has become increasingly congested in recent years due to the prevalence of personal vehicles. As a result, one of the major issues in major cities around the world is traffic. Congestion, accidents that take a lot of time and result in property damage, and environmental pollution are some of the traffic- related issues. In this research paper, an automated and intelligent traffic control system that makes use of computer vision and image processing techniques is designed and put into operation. The algorithm counts the number of vehicles on each route and provides an optimal waiting period based on the number of vehicles loaded onto each road. A dynamically managed traffic system can take the place of the traditional fixed-time, present traffic system using this completely automated approach. Low-cost image processing and traffic load balancing are the main topics of this study.

Empirical Study on the Development of Driving Environments for Personal Mobility Vehicles

Personal mobility vehicles (PMVs) are the potential future travel mode, typically for “first-mile and last-mile trips,” in urban areas. Accordingly, the popularity of PMVs is increasing, and the purpose of using PMVs is diversifying in South Korea. Before revision of the law concerning PMVs, the driving ways and roads for PMVs were not defined by regulations in South Korea. Therefore, most PMV users preferred to drive on sidewalks and bicycle lanes to avoid collisions with larger vehicles. Furthermore, PMVs have been involved in many accidents. To solve these problems, the government of South Korea revised the Road Traffic Act to permit PMVs to travel on bicycle lanes and considered building a new type of lane for PMVs based on the results of field experiments conducted in this study. In these experiments, the minimum turning radius with various speeds, driving performance on roads with vertical alignments, lateral placements in curved sections were examined. In addition, conflicts and inconvenience of PMVs driving on bicycle lanes were tested. In the experiments, three different types of PMVs—electric scooter (e-scooter), electric unicycle (e-unicycle), and segway—were used. Through the experiments, the feasibility of using PMVs on bicycle lanes was assessed, and the design criteria for PMV lanes were derived.

Method to Define Whether the Road Network is Sufficient for the Region

An assessment of the state of the region’s core road network is necessary to determine the level of transport accessibility and mobility of the population in a particular area. The core road network is the roads along which goods and passengers are transported by personal, public and commercial vehicles. Currently, the assessment of the road network is carried out using geographical, economic, mathematical and general technical parameters. The disadvantage of these assessment methods is the lack of a comprehensive analysis of both the level of development of the core road network and the transport accessibility of the region. The authors propose a method of additive multicriteria modeling using weight coefficients. The parameters have been considered and weight coefficients have been selected, which significantly affect the reliability of determining the sufficiency of the road network. The analysis of individual criteria for the quality of the transport network has been carried out. Based on the use of statistical parameters, the values of the weight coefficients of the additive model have been determined. The proposed method using an additive multi-criteria model is reliable and universal, which makes it possible to comprehensively evaluate the core network of roads in conjunction with other means of communication (railway, air and water transport). In addition, the method can become part of the methodology for substantiating the inclusion of the designed roads in core network of the region.

Investigating two-wheelers risk factors for severe crashes using an interpretable machine learning approach and SHAP analysis

The use of two-wheelers (TWs) has gained popularity as an alternative to personal vehicles due to their flexibility, fuel economy, ease of parking, and size, especially in congested cities. However, TWs are considered vulnerable road users due to their higher riding risk compared to other modes. This study proposes a novel framework to extract latent and dependent heterogeneous risk factors that affect the crash severity of TWs. By combining eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) and SHapley Additive exPlanation (SHAP) analysis, this study investigates the factors affecting TW crash severity, providing both local and global interpretability. The XGBoost method is employed to model crash severity, while SHAP analysis facilitates the derivation of explanations from the model, enhancing our understanding of the contributing factors. The French crash dataset for TWs between 2014 and 2017 is utilized for this analysis. The findings highlight that the department of the crash, road category, urbanization level, TW category, and age of the user significantly influence TW crash severity. Furthermore, severe injuries are more likely to occur in TW crashes associated with rural areas, older riders, riders not wearing helmets, run-off-road crashes, and crossing roads. The insights derived from this study can be leveraged to develop targeted interventions that address the identified risk factors and promote the safety of TW riders. By focusing on these key factors, policymakers and stakeholders can implement effective measures to reduce the severity of TW crashes and enhance the overall safety of TW users.

Can gain motivation induce Indians to adopt electric vehicles? Application of an extended theory of Planned Behavior to map EV adoption intention

With the rising demands for personal vehicles of the growing middle class in India, their increasing quest for comfort and social status, the emissions from road transportation are increasing manifold times. To fulfil the dual need of increasing personal demand as well as lower vehicular emissions, it is important to replace all future vehicle purchase with purchase of electric vehicles (EVs). This study analyses the socio-psychological determinants of the process by which an individual might develop an intention to buy an EV in the near future. Using Structural Equation Modeling and mediation analysis, the interrelationships between the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) constructs along with three additional constructs, ‘‘cost’, ‘herd behavior’, and ‘personal norm’ are analyzed and several direct and indirect pathways in which intentions possibly form in people's mind are outlined. Subjective norms followed by perceived behavioral control emerge as the significant and direct intention formation pathway. Though cost, herd behavior, and personal norms alone do not influence intention formation, these factors mediates the TPB variables in forming intention to adopt EVs. Hence, the current EV promotion policies, primarily focused on subsidies need to be complemented with other attitudinal and norm-based nudges to promote faster EV adoption in India.

AutoReserve: A Web-Based Tool for Personal Auto Insurance Loss Reserving with Classical and Machine Learning Methods

In this paper, we developed a Shiny-based application called AutoReserve. This application serves as a tool used for a variety of types of loss reserving. The primary target audience of the app is personal auto actuaries, who are professionals in the insurance industry specializing in assessing risks and determining insurance premiums for personal vehicles. However, the app is not limited exclusively to actuaries. Other individuals or entities, such as insurance companies, researchers, or analysts, who have access to the necessary data and require insights or analysis related to personal auto insurance, can also benefit from using the app. It is the first web-based application of its kind that is free to use and deployable from the personal computer or mobile device. AutoReserve is a software solution that caters to the needs of insurance professionals where only a few existing web-based applications are available. The application is divided into three parts: a summary of the loss data, a classical loss reserving tool, and a machine learning loss reserving tool. Each component of the application functions differently and allows for inputs from the user to analyze the provided loss data. The user, in other words, individuals or entities who utilize the Auto Reserve application, can then use the outputs for these three sections to improve his or her risk management or loss reserving process. AutoReserve is unique compared to other loss reserving tools because of its ability to employ both traditional, spreadsheet-based and modern, machine-learning-based loss reserving tools. AutoReserve is accessible on the web. The app is currently usable and is still undergoing frequent updates with new features and bug fixes.

Can economic policy be praised for its environmental policy in the field of transportation?

Car users in the European Union are facing concerning prospects regarding the costs and property value of their personal vehicles. According to EU documents, starting in 2035, the production of cars with internal combustion engines will cease. This has two main economic consequences for car users: firstly, they will be compelled to purchase electric vehicles, accepting higher entry costs for new vehicles with the same level of utility they have been accustomed to. Secondly, they will experience a significant loss in property value when parting with their personal vehicles, as their old cars will have to be sold at much reduced prices or even scrapped. From an emissions data standpoint, such a policy can be seen as an abrupt change in income distribution and a departure from the main principles of economic policy in a democratic society.

Child restraint systems: Understanding confidence in proper use and addressing the need for education

ObjectiveTo quantify the extent of proper local child restraint system (CRS) use and to better understand changes to the level of self-reported confidence with increased CRS installations. With the goal being to improve safety for children travelling in personal vehicles across London, ON and the region. MethodsPublic CRS clinics were initiated by Injury Prevention staff after they obtained the Child Passenger Safety Technician certification. Additionally, an online survey was commissioned targeting Ontario parents who had installed at least one CRS in the last five years. ResultsFrom September 2018 to September 2019, 96 comprehensive CRS checks were performed, with 29% of systems found to be installed correctly. Survey results showed a high level of reported confidence with CRS installation (N = 514, 70% female, 43% one child). Parents who had installed only one CRS reported higher confidence in their first install, compared to parents who had installed two or more systems. ConclusionsThe error rate with CRS installation and use seen in London, Ontario and the region, is similar to that reported in previous research. Survey results showed high levels of self-reported confidence in CRS use, especially for parents who have installed only one CRS. There presents a need to better understand the root cause of the discrepancy between level of confidence and proper CRS use and to expand our understanding of CRS knowledge retention and transferability to subsequent systems.

Analysis of Covid restrictions influence on road traffic crashes and related road users behaviour in the Czech Republic

The Covid pandemic and following restrictions worldwide influence various aspects -lockdown does not only have economic consequences but is also associated with a change in population mobility. As well as the spread of a pandemic and the associated numbers of infections and deaths, policy responses and restrictions have also varied from country to country. Despite all the negative impacts of the Covid pandemic, the decrease in crash-related injuries may be seen as one of the positive impacts of lockdown politics. The change in crash characteristics dur-ing the Covid lockdown may provide new insights and help design countermeasures for road safety improvement. It is not sufficient to generalize findings across individual countries, there were different trends in crash frequency and severity during the Covid lockdown The main purpose of this study was to investigate the Covid restriction's impact on road safety in the Czech Republic. The retrospective analysis was performed using data the Police crash statistics. In addition to data from the main Covid periods (2020 and 5 months of 2021 data), crash data from 2016-2019 as the period unaffected by the Covid pandemic, were used as a control group. The study focused not only on the overall crash frequency but also on the analysis of the crash frequency according to the individual crash participants. Crash data did not indicate significant changes in risky behaviour. The mobility decrease was associated with decreased crash frequency, especially of vehicles and pedestrians. The crash numbers also reflect changes in how people spend time, respectively an increase in leisure time activities in some age groups and a change in usage of transport modes. Two-wheeled vehicle users (cyclists, motorcyclists) crash frequency was more influenced by seasonality. While the crash frequency of vehicles (personal vehicles and HGVs) and pedestrians was better correlated with mobility data, the cyclists and motorcyclists crash frequency were better correlated with temperature.

Assessing the Impact of Public Behavior and Industrial Emissions on Ambient Air Quality in Pakistan

Air pollution is a growing environmental concern worldwide, and Pakistan is no exception. The study investigates the impact of industrial emissions, as well as public behavior, on air pollution in Pakistan. For this purpose, a questionnaire-based survey was conducted among a sample size of 100 participants, including students, professors, and government employees. The goal was to assess their attitudes, practices, and understanding regarding air pollution, as well as their perception and contribution to the relevant issues and their role concerning industries and vehicles. The findings revealed significant insights into the prevailing situation. The respondents recognized the contributions of industrial emissions to pollution levels. However, a substantial portion of the participants exhibited limited knowledge regarding specific pollutants and their sources. These responses clarified certain facets regarding public behavior, including transportation choices, waste management practices, and energy-efficient technologies. It was evident that sustainable modes of transportation, such as cycling or public transportation, were underutilized, with personal vehicles being the primary choice. Furthermore, significant challenges were identified as a lack of proper waste management practices and the low adoption of energy-efficient technologies. Based on these findings, it is crucial to implement targeted interventions and raise awareness to address air pollution in Pakistan effectively. The study highlighted that there is adire need for increased education and public outreach initiatives to improve knowledge regarding air pollutants and their sources. Policies that support environmentally friendly transportation choices and encourage industry adoption of cleaner technologies should also be developed.

Quality Analysis of Welds Made with an Automatic Battery Pack Spot Welding Machine

This paper presents quality testing of battery pack welds for different welding time parameters of an automatic resistance spot welding machine. Several quality testing methods commonly used in studies of welded joints were described. Finally, the breakage test destructive method was chosen and used in this research. To investigate the influence of welder parameters on the quality of the welded joints, the programmable resistance spot welding machine was designed and constructed. As the studied samples, the 18650 cell type and the 8 mm × 0,15 mm cell packaging nickel plated steel tape were chosen as the most commonly used for the construction of battery packs for personal electric vehicles. The impact of each time constants set on the spot welding process was measured by the self-designed and constructed strength testing machine. After a series of tests with different parameters of spot welding process, the final conclusions were formulated.

Factors related to under-triage of patients with acute coronary syndrome in the emergency department: A retrospective study

IntroductionThis study aimed to provide fundamental data to avoid under-triage in the initial severity classification of patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) by analyzing factors associated with patients who visited the emergency department (ED). MethodsThis retrospective study identified factors related to under-triage by comparing the characteristics of participants diagnosed with ACS and appropriately classified those who were under-triaged. ResultsThe probability of under-triage increased 5.402 times in patients who visited the ED immediately than in those who visited the ED through an outpatient clinic. The probability of under-triage decreased in patients who visited the ED by ambulance rather than using their personal vehicle. Furthermore, when patients experienced chest pain, the tendency for under-triage decreased. The under-triage tendency increased 8.315 times in patients with dementia. ConclusionsMedical staff training on the classification of non-specific symptoms accompanying diseases is needed. Patients with ACS need to be aware of the symptoms that require visiting the ED and the appropriate route and method. Therefore, it is possible to avoid under-triage for possible ACS during the initial triage, and triage can be performed quickly and accurately.

Exploration of sexual harassment practices among women using bus rapid transport service in Dar Es Salaam Tanzania

The study aims to gain a better understanding of sexual harassment acts experienced by female passengers on the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) operated by UDART in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and to recommend factors for reducing the practice. The study specifically investigated factors that contribute to harassment, passenger coping strategies with harassment, and strategies for alleviating harassment. In-depth interviews with approximately 30 women who regularly use public transport and two UDART/BRT officials were conducted using a qualitative design. The data was collected using a phenomenology strategy, and the data was analysed using a thematic analysis strategy. The Swahili transcriptions were translated into English and analysed using MAXQDA 10 [VERBI Software, Marburg, Germany]. The nature of sexual harassment experienced by female customers includes; unwanted sexual contact, unintended touching, abusive words, and unwanted gestures. Moral decay, mental disorders in some men, a lack of strong legal enforcement, poor transportation arrangements, and a patriarchy system are all factors that expose women to sexual harassment on public transportation. Women coped with harassment by owning and operating personal vehicles, hiring motorbikes (bodaboda), avoiding service during peak hours, and deciding to accept the consequences when there was no other option. Expansion and establishment of new BRT road routes, procurement and registration of more buses, and the establishment of student buses are all strategies for combating sexual harassment in public transportation.