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Travelling using sustainable modes, such as active transport and public transport, improves students' well-being and mental health, and bolsters sustainability. This study aims to investigate factors that encourage students to use sustainable modes which are public transport and active transport. The random parameters (mixed) logit was employed using the Victorian Integrated Survey of Travel and Activity (VISTA) data from Victoria, Australia to comprehensively explore trip attributes, socio-demographics, and built environment factors impacts on school travel mode choice. The inadequacy of model validation in previous research was addressed with the inclusion of the model accuracy test, which arguably is as equally important as behavioural inference. The result showed that travel distance and destination to primary school were the biggest contributors to mode choice probability, negatively affecting sustainable mode choice. The model produced an excellent overall accuracy (85.80%). This research elaborated on the inference of factors affecting mode choice and thus provided recommendations to help develop policies supporting sustainable transportation plans to improve students' well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the factors determining the competitiveness of transportation sectors, those associated with travel time play a crucial role. Constant availability of transportation services over time is a key factor. Inland waterway transport is believed to exhibit seasonal fluctuations in cargo flows, implying limited service provision during specific periods in the annual cycle. This article compares the variability of cargo transport over time in inland waterway shipping with that in other land transportation modes. The hypothesis is that the periodic fluctuations in cargo transport during the annual cycle in inland waterway shipping are not significantly different from those in other transport sectors. The analysis of transport variability over time is based on the indicators of periodic fluctuations in land transportation modes from 2005 to 2022. Statistical inference was conducted using variance analysis. As the conditions for applying the ANOVA procedure were not met, the Kruskal–Wallis test was employed as a nonparametric alternative to variance analysis. The research results indicate that there is no basis to reject this hypothesis in the group of examined Western European countries. Different results were obtained in Poland, where cargo transport in inland waterway shipping exhibited more significant variability over time than other transport modes. The results obtained from this research can serve as a source of knowledge for entities and institutions responsible for implementing the concept of sustainable development in transportation. The proposed European Green Deal concept in December 2019 states, "The role of rail and inland waterways in land freight transport should be significantly increased first and foremost...". Despite limited service availability during specific periods of the annual cycle (due to seasonal and random factors), the research results confirm that in countries with well-developed waterways, inland water transport remains competitive compared with other land transport modes. These findings can also be a significant signal for policymakers in countries with extensive inland waterways (e.g., Poland) that may need to fully appreciate the advantages of this mode of transport, partly due to its susceptibility to periodic fluctuations in transport. The research results and formulated conclusions can also be addressed to existing and potential shippers. The confirmed higher or comparable capability of inland navigation to achieve consistent transport volumes during different periods of the annual cycle can be an encouraging factor for incorporating this mode into supply chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cycling has emerged as one of the most important green transport modes in recent years, with cities increasingly prioritizing cycling in their sustainable policy agenda. However, the associated traffic dynamics, especially the evolution of bicycle flow at bottlenecks, have not been extensively studied. In this study, real-world experiments were conducted to investigate the dynamics of bicycle flow at bottlenecks under various cycling demands generated by the cyclist unloading and loading processes. Upon the activation of the bottleneck, its capacity remained largely constant. For the same physical system, the bottleneck capacity of the cyclist loading process exceeded that of the unloading process, indicating the occurrence of capacity drop and hysteresis. Statistical analyses demonstrated that the capacity drop was attributable to the difference in speeds of the two processes for the same cycling demands after the bottleneck activation. These findings could potentially be explained by behavioral inertia. Further analysis revealed that, compared with the unloading process, the cyclist loading process was associated with higher cycling speeds owing to the higher overtaking rates. The outcomes of this study can advance our understanding of the physics of bicycle flow dynamics and provide valuable insights for transport planning professionals involved in facility planning and control of existing networks. Funding: This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grants 71931002 and 72288101], the University of Hong Kong [Francis S Y Bong Professorship to S. C. Wong], the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Joint Laboratory Program of the 2020 Guangdong New Innovative Strategic Research Fund, Guangdong Science and Technology Department [Grant 2020B1212030009], and Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities [Grant JZ2023YQTD0073]. Supplemental Material: The e-companion is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/trsc.2023.0193. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Failure to meet road safety targets has necessitated urgent actions from stakeholders worldwide, especially in developing countries like India. Road safety of motorized two-wheelers (MTWs), one of India's most preferred travel modes for urban commutes, is in danger and witnessing threatening figures of fatalities and injuries. Most of the studies in the domain of MTW safety were conducted in developed countries, with very limited research in countries having a significant proportion of MTWs. The present work investigates police-reported crash data to identify the contributory factors of motorized two-wheeler crash severity. Data from MTW crash-prone areas were selected from Delhi, which is leading in road traffic fatalities among the million-plus urban cities in India. A binary logistic regression model was developed using the data for 2016–2018 period. The model results show that the odds of fatal motorized two-wheeler crashes increase when the following circumstances apply: crash occurs on underpasses; involves bus, truck, heavy motor vehicle (lorry, crane) as the striking vehicle; when hit-and-run type of crash occurs and when older age-group (> = 55) riders are involved. Finally, based on the findings, countermeasures were suggested to facilitate policymakers and traffic enforcement agencies, in improving the road safety situation of MTW users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines how mobility-challenged persons (MCPs) navigate the limitations of transportation systems, using an integrated choice and latent variable (ICLV) model. Building on the experience of MCPs in a South Asian megacity context, that of Dhaka, Bangladesh, the empirical strategy accounts for perceptions of mode-specific challenges, which arguably vary by mobility impairment. These perceptions are posited as latent variables. Drawing on survey data collected from 400 MCPs living in Dhaka, the latent variables were constructed via a factor analysis of 18 statements about the experienced severity (ranked on a scale from 1 to 5) of mode-specific challenges. Holding socio-demographic and travel-related factors constant, we find that perceptions of mode-specific challenges significantly influence mode choices – while the degree of impairment alone, and related mobility aid needed, do not. Perceived limitations of the walking infrastructure shift MCPs' travel demand towards the bus, whereas bus fare-related issues encourage the use of non-motorized and powered three-wheelers. We recommend that mode choice models include latent variables related to MCPs' perceptions of various modes to more accurately inform universal access policies. • Mode-specific challenges significantly influence mode choices. • Perceived limitations of the walking infrastructure encourage MCP to use bus. • Bus fare-related issues encourage the use of rickshaw and auto-rickshaw. • Mobility aids have a significant relationship with mode-specific challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bicycling is a healthy and environmentally beneficial mode of transportation. Despite substantial benefits of bicycling, it is mostly overlooked as a daily form of transportation. Due to urbanization and development in the motorized industry, commuters are attracted to motorized transport modes. The present study was carried out to evaluate the bicycle users' behaviour corresponding to the decision to use a bicycle as a commuter mode and contributing factors in the decision to bicycle in developing countries. To achieve the proposed objectives, an offline face-to-face survey was conducted at a selected stretch in Nagpur city, India. To understand the user's behaviour and attitudes towards bicycling, a Structural Equation Model (SEM) was proposed. The study has revealed that important factors like environmental factors, a lack of existing infrastructure facilities, personal norms, and specific socio-demographic characteristics are responsible for influencing the users' decision to use a bicycle as a commuter mode. From the result, it is concluded that the absence of alternative (motorized) transport modes encourages users to cycle. The lack of cycle infrastructure, the distance, and the purpose of the trip significantly impact the decision to choose a bicycle as a commuter mode. Additionally, it also found that the hot climate and heavy rains demotivate commuters towards cycling. The findings of this study might be useful for transport planners to help them promote sustainable transport modes such as bicycles in the Indian context. • The absences of motorized transport modes encourage users towards cycling. • The hot climate and heavy rains negatively impact commuters towards cycling. • The lack of cycle infrastructure impacts decision to choose bicycle as a commuter mode. • The distance to travel impact decision to choose bicycle as a commuter mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

E-scooters have exploded in popularity across the United States in recent years. Understanding the effects of shared micromobility on society, as well as understanding how one shared micromobility mode can affect other travel modes is valuable for decision making and evaluation. In this study, the effects of introducing E-scooters on a preexisting bike-sharing system were evaluated using real-world data. A no-ride zone policy for E-scooters around the University of Arizona (UA) effectively created policy-based control and treatment groups to observe the effect of E-scooters on the bike-sharing system. A difference-in-differences regression model was used to estimate the change in the number of bike-sharing trips after the E-scooters were introduced for nonmembers and members, finding that after the introduction of E-scooters, member bike-sharing system trips were decreased by 1.5 trips per station per day in the area where E-scooters were introduced. Furthermore, a temporal and spatial analysis was conducted to evaluate the behavioral change exhibited by bike-sharing users after the introduction of E-scooters. E-scooter data was used to compare the similarity between bike-sharing and E-scooter usage patterns, indicating that E-scooters reduced the number of spontaneous trips taken by bike-sharing users. The number of nonmember bike-sharing trips decreased for all locations, indicating that E-scooters became the more popular option for leisure activities. Furthermore, member bike-sharing system users were found to travel less on weekends than nonmembers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the development of alternative modes of urban transport, the private car is still the most popular transport option in many regions around the world. Various spatial and socio-economic characteristics of metropolitan areas (MAs) seem to be generally correlated with levels of car use, and thus with car dependency. In this research, we study car dependency in a subgroup of global MAs, that are characterized profiles of car dependency, and are therefore considered outliers. Drawing on data that are available from the Mobility in Cities Database (MCD), we consider 56 MAs and use Mahalanobis distance to identify 7 outlier MAs that are either more, or less car dependent than anticipated by the regression model. We investigate the driving forces behind unpredicted levels of car use and position the outlier MAs in a catalogue of mobility profiles. A combination of urban form, convenience of car use, availability of alternative modes to car and car ownership characteristics were found to contribute to the level of car dependency in these MAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Plurinational Cycling Revolution in Santiago de Chile is a social movement that brings together cyclists in large numbers. Using the prism of mobility justice, we identify and analyse four ranges of demands of the Plurinational Cycling Revolution. It first calls for recognition of cycling as a mode of transport in its own right. It is also a vehicle for political, environmental and feminist demands and participates in the protest that has resonated across Chile since October 2019. We show that these demands relate to several crises of mobility. They highlight inequalities in the ability to move in the city according to social class, gender, sexual orientation, national origin or mode of transport. They critique the structures – the political system, neoliberalism, the patriarchy or the automobile system – that perpetuate these inequalities and crises of mobility. The bicycle appears to be a resilient mode of transport in the context of the crises experienced by Chile and its capital. By focusing a multiplicity of demands, it is used as a vector for systemic change in Chilean society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To promote the domestic economy and reduce transport costs, it is necessary for Chinese express companies to adopt the integrated air-rail freight transport mode. Thus, a major challenge is to determine how to efficiently use three kinds of transport vehicles: cargo aircraft, passenger aircraft bellies and high-speed train (HST) bellies. Therefore, in this paper, a bi-level model is constructed to allow an express company to optimise its integrated air-rail transport network and parcel delivery scheme. A hybrid algorithm is developed for solving the model. Data from the logistics company SF Express are used for a case study. From the calculated results, we find that the HST transport mode plays the main role, it can replace the passenger aircraft transportation to a large extent. Moreover, the total transport cost depends on the rental price of HST space largely. Furthermore, the timeliness requirement can largely influence the HST transportation ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public bus is one of the major green transport modes in most cities, and a proper analysis of public bus can enhance its sustainable development. Hence, the analysis of public bus is always a hot research topic. Generally, to consider the heterogeneity in the studied area and reduce the computation difficulties, the study area is divided into multiple zones and then various analytical methods are applied. However, an improper zone division could lower the quality of the analysis results and then probably mislead the improvement strategy design. This study examines the influence of the two commonly used zone division methods (the grid-based method and the natural-boundary-based method) on the spatial analysis of public bus service using the analytical example. The result shows that the impact of zone division exists. Therefore, this study aims to identify the possible approach to reduce the negative impact and suggests a new zone division method, the bus-service-based (BS-based) method, for the spatial analysis of public bus service. The BS-based method is compared with the commonly used zone division methods using the real-world data, and the comparison results demonstrate that the BS-based method can be more efficient to support the spatial analysis of bus service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Place-based accessibility measures communicate the potential interaction with opportunities at a zone that populations can access. Recent research has explored the implications of how opportunities are counted by different accessibility methods. In conventional measures, opportunities are multiply counted if more than one zone offers access to the same opportunity. This multi-count of opportunities leads to values of accessibility that are difficult to interpret. A possible solution to enhance the meaning-making of accessibility results is by constraining the calculations to match a known quantity. This ensures all zonal values sum up to a predetermined quantity (i.e., the total number of opportunities). In this way, each value can be meaningfully related to this total. A recent effort that implements this solution is spatial availability, a singly-constrained accessibility measure. In this paper, we extend spatial availability for use in the case of multiple modes or more generally, heterogeneous population segments with distinct travel behaviors. After deriving a multimodal version of spatial availability, we proceed to illustrate its features using a synthetic example. We then apply it to an empirical example of low emission zones in Madrid, Spain. We conclude with suggestions for future research and its use in evaluating policy interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first-mile service (FMS) refers to the modal choice for the first part of a commuting journey. A well-designed FMS can provide a seamless travel to access public transport services. This research was driven by the efficiency of different travel modes (e.g. taxi, shared bike, bus) in the FMS. Based on realistic travel experience, an expected utility model for each travel mode was developed. Then, a framework based on evolutionary game theory was designed to deal with the issue of passengers' dynamic interactions during the FMS. Both infinite- and finite-population scenarios were considered. The simulation results showed that walking is the first choice for passengers in comfortable weather and taking a taxi is the first choice in adverse weather. After the implementation of effective strategies, passengers' travel efficiency increases simultaneously. As such, effective strategies such as shared electric bikes, customised buses and taxi-sharing behaviour are encouraged in FMS planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cargo bike sharing contributes considerably to car ownership reduction. • Motives to use cargo bikes are compared with motives to use cars. • Cargo bike sharing users tend to rate cargo bikes superior on most attributes. • On some instrumental attributes, cars are still rated superior to cargo bikes. • Structural measures could increase competitiveness of cargo bikes compared to cars. The transport sector and especially private cars pose environmental, economic, and social challenges. For this reason, cargo bikes and shared mobility are considered viable alternatives for road transport. In order to understand the potential and barriers of alternative transport modes, it is essential to analyze underlying motives. Moreover, comparing sustainable alternatives (such as public transport) to cars in terms of motives has been established as a research approach (Steg, 2003). Despite increasing interest in cargo bikes and cargo bike sharing, research on this topic is relatively rare. Particularly, there exists a lack of research addressing the impact of cargo bike sharing on car ownership. Against this background, this study quantifies the car ownership reduction effect of cargo bike sharing. In addition, it is investigated how cargo bikes differ from cars with regard to the underlying motives of users which also helps understanding potential barriers. To answer these research questions, this study is based on a large-scale survey with n = 2,590 cargo bike sharing users. The results imply that cargo bike sharing has a notable impact on car ownership. In general, cargo bikes are rated superior in regard to affective, symbolic, and environmental motives as well as on flexibility and price. However, discrepancies to cars do exist in terms of other instrumental aspects (traffic safety, travel speed, comfort, weather-independence). Notably, users who reduced car ownership tend to rate cargo bikes superior compared to car-dependent users. The results imply that cargo bikes can play a marked role in reducing car dependency. Improving infrastructure and cargo bike technology as well as stimulating favorable social norms for cargo bikes have been identified as beneficial conditions that could help to leverage this potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The causal impact of the built environment on travel behaviours is a subject of debate. This debate especially concerns the independent effect of the built environment on the observed travel patterns after taking into account residential self-selection arising from pre-existing travel-related attitude. This study argues that travel attitude varies over time, and thus, is also reshaped by residential built environment and interrelated with residents' travel behaviours. Focusing on the event of residential relocation in the Netherlands, this study longitudinally investigated the interrelations between travel mode choices and preferences before, immediately after and a year after the relocation. Results from the random-intercept cross-lagged panel models substantiated the residential self-selection based on the pre-relocation preferences for motorised means of transport, including cars and public transport. Moreover, travel mode preferences varied to a greater extent than travel mode use pre–post relocation, and especially, frequent use of public transport or bicycles stimulated by the new place of residence had a one-year lagged effect on developing the mode preference. Therefore, the structural role of residential built environment manifests as (re)shaping travel mode choices as well as mode-specific preferences in the process of residential relocation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Walking and cycling are considered sustainable transport modes, promoted as a means to reduce car traffic. In the scientific literature, they have mostly been investigated separately, but should be considered jointly to enable a modal shift. Both daytime and dark conditions need to be studied, to improve understanding of how environmental features are affected by temporal variation. A conceptual model is introduced to advance understanding of the significance of different environmental factors for walking/cycling, and serves as the basis for the design of an empirical study. A between-subject design was used, comparing two pedestrian/cycle paths located in two mid-sized Swedish cities during daytime and after dark. Pedestrians (n = 90) and cyclists (n = 74) responded to questionnaires assessing environmental parameters hypothesized to be of importance for walking and cycling. Three-factor ANOVAs indicated differences between the two locations (perceived stimuli), between pedestrians and cyclists (environmental appraisal, affective response, behavioural intention) and between daytime and dark conditions (visual accessibility, restorative potential). The conceptual model helps identify the importance of various environmental features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper will present the evidence for two newly discovered words, gawzag and shagar , meaning "two-horse chariot/mail coach" and "wagon" respectively in the eastern Arabian dialect of Qaṭrāyīth (Syriac for "in Qatari") of the seventh and eighth centuries ce. They reveal the continued local knowledge of wheeled transport in Arabia and possible use long after its supposed disappearance in the Near East between the fourth and sixth centuries according to Richard Bulliet's well-known thesis in his seminal work The Camel and the Wheel (New York: Columbia University Press, 1990). The fact that this vernacular maintained two specific words for two different modes of wheeled transport likely suggests a practical need for them in everyday communication among the inhabitants of the Beth Qaṭraye region (Syriac for "region of the Qataris" in north-eastern Arabia). Moreover, their use in an Arabic dialect reveals that native words were developed for wheeled vehicles in the local language spoken by the inhabitants of the area well before the adoption of markabah as a neologism to mean chariot in nineteenth-century Arabic, according to Michael Macdonald's stimulating article "Wheels in a land of camels" (Arabian Archaeology and Epigraphy 20/2, 2009). Thus, the various rock drawings of two-wheeled carts and chariots in northern Arabia may in fact not only have been known but also used nearby in eastern Arabia, rather than being inaccurate representations reflecting a distant awareness of the existence of chariots elsewhere such as in Mesopotamia and Egypt as had been previously thought. This is a literary, philological. and historical study that aims at presenting newly discovered vocabulary in context for further analysis by linguists and others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) technology has been developing rapidly in recent years. Electric Vehicles (EVs), as an emerging mode of transport, also benefit from the WPT technology. Various EV manufacturers have different coupling structures, which can lead to incompatibility problems between the coils. Meanwhile, due to the human parking, misalignment between the transmitting and receiving coils may occur. To solve these problems, this paper proposes a reconfigurable bipolar coil structure with both interoperability and misalignment tolerance. A 200-W experimental prototype is built, which can achieve 84.33% and 84.76% system transmission efficiency with vertical and horizontal bipolar coils. The effectiveness of the proposed reconfigurable bipolar coil is finally verified by comparing the computational and experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three different hovering modes, namely, the caudal fin, pectoral fins, and multi fins, were utilized to achieve the standing-and-hovering behavior in robotic dolphins. A three-dimensional dolphin model, consisting of body, caudal fin, and symmetric pectoral fins, was used as the virtual swimmer to implement three hovering modes. A novel paddling motion was proposed, and a symmetric shape was designed of the pectoral fins. The hovering mechanisms of different modes were revealed, and the mapping relationships between different motion and performance parameters such as hovering height, efficiency, stability, and rapidity were established. The respective advantages of the three hovering modes were compared. The results showed that the caudal fin mode had the best hovering stability, while the pectoral fins mode had the best hovering rapidity. Moreover, it is worth noting that the multi fins mode had both the good hovering stability and rapidity. Therefore, the optimal hovering mode and motion parameters can be selected based on different expected objectives to achieve the best results. This study provides a new approach to break through the spatial barriers to movement of underwater robots and provides a solid hydrodynamic theoretical basis for the development of cross-medium robots with multiple hovering modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mode choice modeling has shown a significant crowding effect over travel time perception. But the recent COVID-19 pandemic and the related sanitary measures have changed perceptions of overcrowding on the mode choice. This study aims to quantify these changes through a hybrid discrete choice model using data collected through a revealed preferences survey applied in two time periods in Santiago, Chile. Although the overcrowding aversion was included in the choice model as a latent variable, that had a significant effect on the mode choice of people only for the set of responses belonging to the first time period, which implies a reduction of the initial pandemic impact. Results also show that women and people younger than 35 years old have higher levels of crowding aversion. By analyzing the disutility generated by each alternative mode, it is determined that the bicycle is preferred over the car for trips of distances less than 4 km. In the same way, for trips of less than 3 km, the walk has a preference over public transport. Regarding the marginal rates of substitution between travel and walking time in public transport, for trips of 30 min with an overcrowding level of 6 pax/m2, women over 35 years are willing to trade 2 min of travel for 1 min of walking. When comparing the rates obtained in a pre-pandemic study, it is obtained that for trips of less than 9 min, people in the pandemic have more preferences for walking over spending time inside public transport. • Women and people younger than 35 years old have higher levels of public transport crowding aversion. • Contagion risk affected crowding perception at early stages of the pandemic; this effect dissipated once vaccination began. • Vehicle density affects the perception of in-vehicle time through crowding multipliers that varied during the pandemic. • Cycling is preferred over car for trips shorter than 4 km. Walking is preferred over public transport for trips shorter than 3 km. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although modal shift from private motorized vehicles to public and active transport is regarded as crucially important for a sustainable society, such a shift has not been successful in Japan. One reason may be that measures have not satisfied the latent factors underlying people's transportation mode choices. Moreover, these factors may have changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study is aimed at ascertaining what workers have emphasized in transportation mode choice, and how those emphases have affected their actual mode choice. We also examined how changes in individuals' emphases during the pandemic have affected their actual mode choices. We used a four-time panel survey with 1377 respondents from Japan that asked participants about important items related to their transportation mode choice and activity patterns at four time points before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. After conducting a factor analysis to ascertain the latent factors behind mode choice, we applied a logistic regression model showing whether or not the respondents used each transportation mode at each time point. A conditional logistic regression model with individual fixed effect was applied to the relationship between an individual's change in emphasis and actual mode choice. Factor analysis results indicated four latent factors: usability and reliability, personal time–space, attitude toward the environment and health, and ease of use and convenience. A higher emphasis on personal time–space encouraged car use and discouraged public transport use at any time points. This trend became stronger during the pandemic. Changes in the emphasis level of this factor for an individual also affected the actual mode choice. A higher emphasis on usability and reliability also discouraged public transport use. Ease of use and convenience encouraged public transport use, and attitude toward the environment and health neither encouraged nor discouraged actual mode choice at any time point. Emphases related to transportation mode choice changed over time. However, changes in individuals' emphasis altered the actual mode choice at some time points but not at others. These results should be considered in transportation planning in order to prompt desired modal shifts by transportation users. • Latent factors of transportation mode choice have changed during COVID-19 era. • Greater emphasis on personal time-space discourages public transport use. • COVID-19 pandemic increased the importance of personal time-space in mode choice. • Emphasis on attention to the environment and health does not affect mode choice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The outbreak of COVID-19 has caused unprecedented disruptions to public transportation services, passengers' mode choice preferences, and their behavioral pattern. Recent studies have updated the systemic shift from shared travel to private mode due to the perceived higher health risk of shared mobility. However, findings from these studies may not be applicable to public transport-oriented cities with very low rate of private car ownership. In the long term when we arrive at a stabilized 'New Normal', the need to promote public transport is likely to be re-emphasized with high priority. This study presents insights into the factors affecting public transport (PT) preferences and potential modal shifts within various modes of PT when proactive and reactive health control measures are implemented. An online stated preference survey was conducted in Hong Kong, where public buses, public light buses, MTR, and taxis are the popular modes of public transport. The regret-based panel mixed multinomial logit model was applied in this study, aiming to capture individual's regret aversion psychology in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of our random regret model suggest that travelers generally have lower regrets for the chosen mode when having passenger temperature screening, COVID tracing app, and more frequent disinfection, while seem to be unaware of the in-vehicle air quality. Interaction effects between health control measures and personal characteristics (e.g., age and risk attitudes) were also considered. Trip characteristics, including in-vehicle crowding level, fares, in-vehicle travel time, waiting time at a station, walking time, and trip purpose, were found to influence passengers' choices of travel modes. Policy simulations of possible changes in public transport modal preferences in the presence of various health control measures have also been undertaken. The findings suggest that overall health control measures are appreciated by passengers and do align with promotion of a return to public transport use. However, their effects are quite moderate and should be selectively used for different transport modes. Increasing service frequency can be a promising solution, which reduces crowding and waiting time of passengers using public transport modes, and reduces virus transmission risk. This study contributes to a better understanding of public acceptance and preference toward health control measures in public transport, and call for in-depth cost-benefit analysis in the related fields so that better response can be made in possible future public health crisis. • This study focusses on the public transport-oriented city. • Effects of proactive and reactive health control measures implemented for public transport are evaluated. • Travel modes of public buses, public light buses, MTR train, and taxis are considered. • Mixed random regret model with interaction effects is applied to capture individual's regret aversion psychology in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. • Influences of trip characteristics, including in-vehicle crowding level, fares, in-vehicle travel time, waiting time at a station, walking time, and trip purpose, are examined. • Policy simulations of possible changes in public transport modal preferences in the presence of various health control measures are conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of autonomous buses (ABs) in many countries addresses traditional bus operation challenges, but overlooks critical perceived risks, like functional, safety, and security issues, affecting autonomous driving technology acceptance. This research uses the mental accounting theory to investigate both the positive and negative effects of the intention to use ABs. A hybrid discrete choice model captures latent and observed factors and considers COVID-19's impact on travel mode preferences. Results show that both latent and observed factors significantly affect AB adoption intention, including compatibility, relative advantage, safety/security risks, perceived risks, in/out-of-vehicle time, and travel cost. Trial rides positively impact adoption intention. Familiarity with unmanned tech also affects choice of shared bicycles and ABs, allowing for tailored promotional programs. The conclusions herein offer insights for bus operators, manufacturers, and city governments to integrate ABs into public transport systems effectively. • Mental accounting theory to examine the positive and negative latent impacts on intention. • A hybrid choice model to estimate the effects of both latent and observed factors. • Analytical results show the perceived sacrifice outweighs the perceived benefit of using autonomous bus. • Segmented promotion strategies are designed specifically for certain passengers. • The proposed approach can be generalized in other cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban development, equity and sustainability cannot be concluded based on access to one type of urban service. This study goes beyond the usual approach of analysing a single type of urban service and provides a comprehensive overview of accessibility-related equity. A modified accessibility measure is used, which, in addition to travel time impedance, incorporates the aspect of connectivity of services with the transport infrastructure. This study evaluates mode-wise accessibility for jobs, schools, medical care units, hospitals, parks, supermarkets, and restaurants in Greater Mumbai. The spatial association and clustering of threshold-based accessibility are assessed using Global Moran's I. This reveals that the degree of spatial association and clustering is highest at 30 minutes travel time threshold for private mode and 45 mintues for public transport for urban services. The Gini index values indicate that spatial inequity is relatively higher for hospital services accessibility than other services. Social equity is assessed using the average accessibility ratio values for the urban services, which favours regions with moderate car ownership over low, indicating one of the undesirable urban development trends. This study helps understand the urban spatial structure and assesses the spatial and social inequities from the transportation/urban planning perspective. The developed decision framework can aid policymakers in prioritising the suggested measures effectively to address accessibility related inequities for different urban services. • Accessibility for 6 major urban services is evaluated using private and public transport. • Spatial and social equity is assessed using the accessibility to major urban services. • Spatial clustering of accessibility for services is analysed based on travel time thresholds. • Proposed policy framework to attain equitable distribution of accessibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared with the traditional travel mode, the increasingly mature autonomous driving and shared travel technologies can lead to a higher driving utilization rate and lower car parc; however, at the same time, they will bring unknown impacts to the trans‐energy system. As a new generation of vehicles, the behavior of electric vehicles will also be affected. This paper describes and models the behavior of electric vehicle group in the autonomous driving‐shared travel mode in detail, and uses the multi‐agent technology to establish a large‐scale electric vehicle group simulation model. This model fully considers the constraints of traffic network and charging station and the influence of fuel vehicles, which can simulate the actual scene well and be used to study the charging behavior of electric vehicle group. Finally, the simulation model is used to obtain the charging load curve of the electric vehicle group under the new travel mode and analyze the influence of travel upgrade and network topology on charging load. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective public transportation pricing strategies are critical to reducing traffic congestion and meeting consumer demand for sustainable urban development. In this study, we construct a dynamic game pricing model and a social learning network model for consumers of three modes of public transportation including metro, bus, and pa-transit. In the model, the metro, bus, and pa-transit operators maximize their profits through dynamic pricing optimization, and consumers maximize their utility by adjusting their travel habits through social learning in the social network. The reinforcement learning algorithm is applied to simulate the model, and the results show that: (1) as consumers' perceived sensitivity to different modes of travel increases, the market share and price of each mode of travel adjust accordingly. (2) When taking into account consumers' social learning behavior, the market share of metros remains high, while the market shares of buses and pa-transit are relatively low. (3) As consumers become more sensitive to their perception of each travel mode, operators invest more resources in improving service quality to gain market share, which in turn affects the price of each travel mode. Our results provide decision support for optimal pricing of urban public transportation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chances of a global hydrogen economy becoming a reality have increased significantly since the COVID pandemic and the war in Ukraine, and for net zero carbon emissions. However, intercontinental hydrogen transport is still a major issue. This study suggests transporting hydrogen as a gas at atmospheric pressure in balloons using the natural flow of wind to carry the balloon to its destination. We investigate the average wind speeds, atmospheric pressure, and temperature at different altitudes for this purpose. The ideal altitudes to transport hydrogen with balloons are 10 km or lower, and hydrogen pressures in the balloon vary from 0.25 to 1 bar. Transporting hydrogen from North America to Europe at a maximum 4 km altitude would take around 4.8 days on average. Hydrogen balloon transportation cost is estimated at 0.08 USD/kg of hydrogen, which is around 12 times smaller than the cost of transporting liquified hydrogen from the USA to Europe. Due to its reduced energy consumption and capital cost, in some locations, hydrogen balloon transportation might be a viable option for shipping hydrogen compared to liquefied hydrogen and other transport technologies. [Display omitted] • A new approach to transporting hydrogen with balloons. • Possible paths for hydrogen balloon transportation. • Estimation of the optimum altitude to transport hydrogen in balloons. • The global potential for hydrogen balloon transportation is accessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A metropolitan area is a new form of urban development under the agglomeration effect and scale economy. The renewal and upgrading of urban spatial structures have brought new pressure to urban commuting. Under the new form of the metropolitan area, the process of regional integration has accelerated, and long-distance extreme commuting has increased. New changes have taken place in the travel structure. This paper constructs a travel behavior selection model for office workers based on the cumulative prospect theory, introduces the value of commuting travel time into the generalized travel cost function, uses the weight function and the improved generalized travel cost function as the basis of the transportation mode selection model, defines the reference point of the generalized travel cost in the model, and selects the prospect with the largest cumulative prospect value as the optimal decision for travelers. Based on the "expected utility maximization theory" and the "cumulative prospect theory," the commuter is simulated under four different travel scenarios to study the optimal traffic mode selection behavior. The results show that under the framework of expected utility theory, the travel mode choice behavior of commuters is not affected by travel scenarios, and the cumulative prospect theory is more suitable for the study of travel mode choice behavior. The construction of a transportation mode selection model with the value of commuting travel time as the core variable can help commuters to choose a reasonable transportation mode and provide a basis for the government and relevant departments to formulate traffic management plans and implement traffic congestion mitigation policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sharing economy, mobile Internet, and smartphones have been widely utilized in recent years to promote the development of bike-sharing services. Bike-sharing serves as a first/last mile travel mode to connect to public transit, which improves trip efficiency, alleviates traffic problems, improves environmental quality, and promotes public health. However, the substitution of public transit by bike-sharing and the decline in public transit ridership have raised concerns among city managers regarding the coopetition between shared mobility services and public transit. To understand the impact of bike-sharing on the decline in public transit and to formulate reasonable synergistic development policies, it is crucial to identify the coopetition relationships between the two. This paper uses a combination of database search and backward snowballing to review existing research. Three research themes were identified: macrolevel studies on bike-sharing and public transit interaction, studies on actual coopetition behaviors based on bike-sharing user surveys, and studies on potential coopetition relationships based on bike-sharing transaction data. The three categories of studies reveal the effect of bike-sharing usage on public transit ridership, the emergency function of bike-sharing in the event of unexpected transit shutdowns, and the substitution and connection relationships between bike-sharing and public transit and the factors influencing them. Finally, this study suggests many directions for future research. This review helps clarify the understanding of the coopetition relationships between bike-sharing and public transit, provides theoretical support to promote the synergistic development of both, and points out ways to deepen the research on the coopetition relationship between the two. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public transport accessibility to urban and regional services has been found to relate to various social and economic processes, such as unemployment, transport mode choice, property prices, and public health. A frequent type of measures representing accessibility are location-based. While these offer advantages, like flexibility and ease of interpretation, their estimation usually requires specialized skills and substantial computational resources. To lower these barriers, we have prepared a suite of accessibility indicators for key services across Great Britain at a spatially disaggregated level. The dataset includes ready-to-use public transport accessibility indicators for employment, general practitioners (GP, or family physician), hospitals, grocery stores, supermarkets, primary and secondary schools, and urban centres. It also includes the raw travel time matrix from each origin to every potential destination, a primary input for such indicator estimation. Altogether, this resource offers various levels of application, from direct input into a range of research topics to the foundation for creating comprehensive custom indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pakistan Railways is the largest federal organization to offer transport services for passengers and cargo. The significance of this enterprise is increased due to its characteristic of environment friendly mode of transportation. As the transportation work is run through some kind of fuel, mitigation of the adverse effects of the fuel on environment is a big challenge for the concerned authorities. Pakistan Railways is making great effort to play its role as a sustainable and environment-friendly mode of transport across the country. The sustainability of this organization solely depends on its revenue generation and this revenue generation is affected by certain factors. To analyze this sustainability, the relation between economic growth, inflation, and passenger revenue of Pakistan Railways is estimated. Time series data of twenty (20) years (1999-2018) is used, derived from the database of the World Bank's World Data Indicator. The Granger causality test is used to find out the correlation among any two or more variables. Empirical results indicate that there is no casual relation between economic growth and passenger revenue of Pakistan Railways. Whereas, bidirectional relation is found between Inflation and passenger revenue of Pakistan Railways. It indicates that Pakistan Railways can play a better role to increase the economic productivity of the country by adopting competitive passenger tariff and a consolidated transportation policy. That is equally beneficial for profitability thus sustainability of Pakistan Railways and the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to identify the key factors affecting the student's mode choice behavior in the context of Oman using the results of a questionnaire survey. A questionnaire survey was developed and conducted among students of the University of Nizwa, Oman. The total number of collected samples was 157. The binary logistic regression revealed that gender, personal car ownership, and trip distance are significant attributes in explaining the mode choice behavior of students. The increase in trip distance and female students have a negative influence on their choice of the car whereas personal car ownership has a negative impact on student's choice of university bus. The Omani students have a positive correlation with car choice behavior. The findings of this study will help in deriving appropriate transport policies considering various significant factors of the mode choice behavior of the students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case study focuses on the city of Aden, Yemen, where a large segment of the population relies on the semi-formal public transportation due to various sociodemographic and economic factors. The study specifically investigates the inner urban area of Al Mansoura in Aden. To understand travel behavior and mode choice in this area, the research employs a mixed methodology that combines qualitative and quantitative approaches through a case study design. Primary data about the area of interest were collected through field observations, interviews, questionnaires, GIS mapping, and street audits. In addition, a novel mapping of the semi-formal transportation lines was produced for the first time in the city. Both quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed using statistical analysis methods. The results indicate a correlation between sociodemographic variables and travel behavior and mode choice, particularly in terms of income and gender. Low-income individuals tend to use public transport, while those with higher incomes prefer private vehicles. Additionally, females generally drive less than males and generally have less mobility due to cultural and educational factors; fewer responsibilities outside the home. However, a small number of females who use private vehicles tend to work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This research aimed to analyze the main alternative routes to Suez Canal Route (SCR): North Sea Route (NSR) and Trans-Siberian Route (TSR). Method: A systematic literature review (SLR) was carried out using the Web of Science (WoS) database. Forty-eight related articles were found, of which 16 remained for further analysis after refinement. Main Results: It was identified that the TSR and NSR routes are economically viable compared to the SCR, given certain specific conditions, and that the railway mode is less studied in relation to the maritime mode. Relevance / Originality: Possible alternative trade routes for the transportation of goods, both via maritime and railway modes, were identified, with the highlighting of advantages and disadvantages. Theoretical / Methodological Contributions: The study is relevant for the international logistics field, since, by analyzing each transport mode, it was possible to highlight issues that need to be further explored in relation to existing routes. Social / Management Contributions: This study contributed to determining TSR as the most cost-effective route according to the articles analyzed in the SLR. It also clarified issues such as prices, costs, distances, advantages and disadvantages, sustainability issues, as well as updated data from other studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite all the measures already taken and those still underway, pollution remains a major global problem, as the transport sector is the one where emissions are expected to increase in the coming years. Companies and policy makers are under increasing pressure to reduce the impact of their logistics activities in order to make transportation more environmentally friendly. One of the solutions to reduce emissions from intermodal transport is to choose the “right” mode of transport for each step in the transport chain. Such a measure increases the complexity of the transport chain and places an additional burden on transport companies in planning and organising transport for the entire transport chain. Additional difficulties arise from the fragmentation of information on emissions emitted for a single transport link and the lack of a unified approach to measuring and estimating transport chain emissions. As a result, this work finds that there is a lack of knowledge among users about the environmental impacts of transportation, despite the desire to contribute to greener transportation by paying more for a product or transportation service. The current research fills the gap in stakeholders’ understanding of the negative environmental impacts for individual transportation and for the entire transport chain. In addition, the study reveals a need for a systematically regulated and adapted way of informing users of intermodal transport chains due to the lack of transparency and comparison between different intermodal transport chains. To successfully address the challenges, the study proposes a 2-pillar approach. The 1st pillar approach focuses on designing a set of necessary measures (combination of top-down and bottom-up approach) for the transition to a low-carbon transport chain, while the 2nd pillar mainly focuses on mapping the level of green transport for easy comparison of similar products or services. The results of the research study show that the combination of numerical data with symbolic data is best suited to provide information on the level of green transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Personal vehicle and pedestrian mode share increased during the pandemic. • Alcohol and cannabis use increased during the pandemic. • Risky driving behaviors increased in Canada during the pandemic. • Driving after using alcohol or drugs and speeding showed largest pandemic increases. The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the most disruptive events in recent history, which resulted in the widespread implementation of unprecedented public health measures (Polisena et al., 2021; De Vos, 2020). The implications of these lockdowns on road safety are not yet fully understood, however, available data have consistently revealed increases in risky driving behaviors despite reductions in traffic volumes (Thomas et al., 2020; Wagner et al., 2020). The objective of the present study was to compare self-reported data on travel modes and risky driving behaviors (speeding, distracted driving, drinking and driving, drugged driving, fatigued driving, and seatbelt use) before and during the pandemic in Canada. Data were collected using the Road Safety Monitor (RSM), an annual online public opinion survey investigating key road safety issues administered to a representative sample of road users. Respondents were asked about the frequency of travel using various modes, use of impairing substances, and frequency of engaging in risky driving during the pandemic, as compared to before the pandemic. Results showed increases in personal vehicle and pedestrian travel, with large declines in public transit use during the pandemic. A significant proportion of respondents reported drinking more alcohol during the pandemic (14.9%) or using more THC-containing cannabis (12.2%). With respect to risky driving behaviors, the results indicated the majority of respondents reported no change in their behavior, and most positively, a small proportion said they less often engaged in risky driving behaviors. However, notable proportions did engage in risky driving behaviors more often during the pandemic as compared to before it. The behaviors mainly reported as occurring with higher frequency during the pandemic were driving when likely over the limit for alcohol (6.6% of respondents) and driving within two hours of using drugs (5.2% of respondents). Logistic regression results showed respondents with preferred pronouns of she/her had lower odds of reporting they were more likely to engage in these risky driving behaviors. Age also had a significant effect, as increasing age was associated with lower odds of reporting that these risky driving behaviors were more likely during the pandemic. Overall, the current findings suggested a small proportion of drivers reported being more likely to engage in risky driving behaviors. However, given the large number of licensed drivers, even small percentages are concerning. The findings have important implications for transportation and public health policies and can inform strategies to reduce road risks during future lockdowns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Travelers choose transport modes on the basis of their preferences in which the features onboard vehicles affect the choice of transport modes. In economic theory, it is found that travelers seek to maximize their travel utilities. Autonomous vehicles (AVs) are to be on the market when machines will replace human drivers. AVs are to be used for different purposes, such as transporting passengers and goods. In literature, some research studied AVs in combination with other transport modes, whereas fewer studies have considered the impact of a camera onboard carsharing and privately shared autonomous vehicles (PSAVs) on traveler choices. This research was developed to predict the impact of traveler preferences on the availability of PSAV and carsharing considering certain variables, such as travel time, travel cost, waiting/walking time, and the availability of camera onboard (i.e., as an indication of comfort and privacy factors). A stated preference (SP) survey was designed in which sociodemographic and travel variables were included. A discrete choice experiment (DCE) was designed and included in the SP survey. The SP survey was distributed in Budapest, Hungary, where 313 respondents were collected. The discrete choice modeling approach is used, in which the multinomial logit (MNL) model was applied in developing a transport mode choice model. The developed model estimated the impact of different variables on transport modes as well as the willingness of travelers to use carsharing and PSAVs. The model explained the effects of trip length, income, gender, education, occupation, frequent current transport mode, and trip purpose on travelers' selection of transport mode. In conclusion, it demonstrated that people tend to use carsharing more than PSAVs, and the availability of cameras onboard decreases the probability of using a transport mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From a socialist society where public transit was the primary form of transportation to the modern “Silicon Valley” of Eastern Europe, where the streets are flooded with cars. Cluj has changed over the years; overturned by university students for most of the year, the city and encompassing communes have experienced significant growth, which stresses the existing socialist infrastructure and causes high levels of strategic planning to accommodate the present and future transportation plans. Moreover, the CTP is no exception; as the only provider of public transportation in Cluj, it is at the centrefold of this predicament and needs to distinguish itself as a success within Cluj to provide for the community's needs. In this paper, we look at data from multiple sources to analyze what drives people's choice of transportation and pinpoint some fundamental notions as to why people choose private vehicles and other forms of transportation over public transit. Then, using SWOT and PEST analysis, we look to find solutions to benefit the community. Many options are available to develop more fluidity in the city, change the notion of public transportation, and create reliance on public transportation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proportion of trips driving children to school has experienced a sharp increase throughout recent decades, which is accompanied by less physical activity among students, severe traffic congestion during peak hours, and extreme environmental pollution. This study aimed to test the Stage model of Self-regulated Behavioral Change (SSBC) to understand and explain parents' decision-making process about children's school travel mode shifting from car use to active school travel. A structural equation model and generalized ordinal logistic regression were used to test the parents' intention change process. The results show that the model accounted for 94%, 77%, and 69% of the variance in goal intention, behavioral intention, and implementation intention, respectively. Habitual behavior of private vehicle use would, to some extent, hinder parents' intentions to shift from driving to active school mode use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first and last mile (FLM) problem is the lack of adequate connectivity between transit stations and trip origins/destinations. Consequently, this problem increases the probability of driving private cars directly to the destinations and reduces the patronage of public transit. For appealing the use of sustainable transport for accessing public transit, it is imperative to identify the factors influencing FLM travel mode choice. This review synthesizes the empirical FLM literature and identifies the key factors that influence FLM travel mode choice including conventional factors (e.g. socio-demographic characteristics and built environments); exogenous factors that can reduce the appeal of sustainable FLM transport (e.g. crime and weather); and unique factors related to emerging transport and informal public transit. From these findings, we chart a future FLM research agenda under three thematic areas: (1) theory for enhancing the understanding of FLM travel mode choice; (2) data and modeling approaches for discussing the feasibility of using emerging data sources and providing modeling avenues to progress; (3) policy and practice for encouraging the use of sustainable travel for FLM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]