Ensuring Rural Mobility through Demand Responsive Transport, Experiences from Austria

Embedded in an INTERREG IVc project called Flexible Transport Services （FTS） and Information and Communication Technology （ICT） platform for Eco-Mobility in urban and rural European areas （acronym： FLIPPER）, the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences in Vienna, Austria, analysed impacts of Flexible Transport Services focusing on Demand Responsive Public Transport （DRT）. This includes the analysis of site characteristics, the existing mobility demand, accessibility, area needs, current environmental impact, operational, financial and organisational constraints; designing of the service and definition of the supporting organisational measures required. Examples of realised services in Alpine areas in Austria confirm the effects on people＇s daily mobility and all its consequences towards society and environment. Main effects are the decrease of public funding needs and ensuring a basic transport supply even in rural areas. Additionally, there is a strong component of social inclusion in this service, increasing the quality of life capable to contribute to the deceleration of the out migration. As secondary effects, economic effects and environmental effects can be observed. The potential of these services are not fully utilised today and can be achieved through further extensions of service area as well as technical developments.

Estimating walking access area for rail transit station based on discrete choice model

The discrete choice model is used to estimate the walking access area of rail transit stations while considering the influence of existing competition from other traffic modes. The acceptable walking access area is determined according to the willingness of passengers to walk who prefer rail transit compared with bus and automobile. Empirical studies were conducted using the survey data of six stations from the rail transit in Nanjing, China. The results indicate that the rail transit is more preferable compared with bus and private automobile in this case when excluding the influence of individual and environmental factors. It is found that passengers tend to underestimate their willingness to walk. The acceptable walking access area of every rail transit station is different from each other. Suburban stations generally have a larger walking access area than downtown stations. In addition, a better walking environment and a scarcer surrounding traffic environment can also lead to a larger walking area. The model was confirmed to be effective and reasonable according to the model validation. This study can be of benefit to the passenger transportation demand estimation in the location planning and evaluation of rail transit stations.

Market segmentation and its applications intransit industry

The role of marketing in the transit industry has undergone numerous changes in past morecomplicated. The paper identifies application of market segmentation, including its definition,characteristics, functions and limitations. Its applications in transit system are extensively reviewed,including travel demand analysis, transport policy, transport planning and management, travel pattern and behavior, transit marketing and mode choices, etc.

Factors affecting electric vehicle acceptance,energy demand and CO_(2)emissions in Pakistan

This work aims to investigate the factors accelerating electric vehicle(EV)acceptance at the consumer end in Pakistan and analyzes the implications for policymakers for a fast-track EV transition.The study further in-vestigates the high EV penetration scenario resulting from the technology acceptance model(TAM's 80%EV)and its impact on energy demand and CO_(2)emissions.The study design used a quantitative analysis method with the survey as an instrument for data collection regarding EV acceptance.The model under investigation was adapted from the famous Technology-Acceptance Models(TAMs)and modified with other significant predictors evidenced in the literature.Correlation and stepwise regression were performed with a multicollinearity check for model hypothesis testing.Out of six predictors,only four factors were significant in accelerating the EV transition.Financial policies were found to be highly significant,followed by environmental concern,facilitating conditions and perceived ease of use.The research then used exponential smoothing forecasts for transport demand and developed an EV penetration scenario based on modified TAM results.The results highlight the significant in-crease in transport demand and the opportunity for Pakistan to limit passenger transport emissions to 36.6 MT instead of 61.6 MT by 2040.

Analysis on Beijing's Policy of Restricting Motor Vehicle Usage

Along with the increase of car ownership,the problem of traffic congestion has appeared more and more serious since the 1990s in Beijing.In order to deal with the problem of traffic congestion,the policy of restricting motor vehicle usage,as a measure of transportation demand management by decreasing the total number of on-road motor vehicles,was firstly implemented in 2006 in trial,which continued from 2008 during the period of Olympic Games up to day.Starting with an analysis on policy motivation,this paper describes the practices of restricting motor vehicle usage in Beijing since 2006,analyzes the effects on the performance of the city's transportation,and concludes after a comparative analysis that,in spite of the positive effects on relieving the traffic congestion,the policy of restricting motor vehicle usage could only constitute a temporary measure of traffic demand management,rather than a fundamental one,because the comprehensive effects would decrease along with the continuous growth of motor vehicle possession.