Monash University, Institute of Transport Studies: World Transit Research (WTR)
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Do integrated mobility services have a future? The neglected role of non-mobility service providers: Challenges, and opportunities to extract sustainable transport outcomes
No full textFor the last twenty years we have seen exponential growth in interest in developing ways in which we can offer to the market a unified multi-modal ecosystem that is so appealing that individuals would abandon their traditional ways of making travel choices. The new ways are guided by offers through a digital platform either through pay as you go or a subscription to a package that aligns with more sustainable travel behaviour activity. Branded as Mobility as a Service (MaaS), we have to date seen little success despite the continuing euphoria in many settings. This paper is the result of a significant amount of research and practice designed to find ways to give MaaS a chance in the market, reflecting on what we see as the key features of any future MaaS aspiration in respect of having a scalable impact on changing traveller behaviour that is aligned with sustainability goals and resulting in a viable business case with or without government subsidy. A particular focus is a recognition of the role that non-mobility service providers (NMSPs) can play in extending the stakeholder set that may well give MaaS a scalable future. Which we evidence from the findings of in-depth interviews with senior staff in a number of NMSP businesses. We also suggest that the generalisation away from multi-modality to multi-service supported by rewards and incentives that benefit non-transport providers, is likely to reveal a continuing role for uni-modal solutions that can also align well with a MaaS eco-system
Comparing accessibility to high-speed rail stations by public transit and cars: A national-scale analysis
No full textHigh-speed rail (HSR) stations, as a crucial connectivity node within a city, can effectively serve the population in the city and stimulate economic growth. Therefore, there is an urgent need to enhance the accessibility of HSR stations to various areas within the city. Despite this, most research tends to focus on local and regional transportation stations, with a lack of research on the accessibility of HSR stations on a national scale. Additionally, most research tends to focus exclusively on the accessibility of these stations via either public transit or cars, often overlooking a holistic comparison of both transportation modes. This study aims to bridge this gap by assessing the accessibility of high-speed rail stations across 31 provincial capitals in mainland China, utilizing travel time estimation data sourced from online mapping. We measured the number of grid cells accessible to passengers by car and public transit within a given time threshold. To identify the influencing factors, we conducted a two-sample t-test. Our analysis reveals that cars typically provide superior accessibility compared to public transit. Moreover, we find significant variability in public transit accessibility among these cities. Medium and smaller cities exhibit notably lower levels of public transit accessibility than large cities, and mountainous cities face further reductions due to challenging terrain. Key factors contributing to these accessibility disparities are identified, leading to several policy recommendations aimed at enhancing public transit systems. These include expanding bus service coverage, improving transport infrastructure, introducing microcirculation bus routes, and further developing rail transit networks to better serve urban populations and integrate them more effectively with high-speed rail services
Relationship between shared micromobility and public transit: The differences between shared bikes and shared E-bikes
No full textExtensive research has been conducted on the usage patterns and potential impacts of shared micromobility, yet the distinct relationships with public transit between shared bikes and shared E-bikes – the two main micromobility modes in China – remain unexplored. Examining the potentially distinct modal shift patterns away from public transit is essential to understand the landscape of different micromobility modes and their different disruptions to traditional transportation modes. To bridge this gap, this study analyzed shared micromobility trip data from Ningbo, China, aiming to quantify the relationship between shared micromobility and public transit, and differentiate between the interactions of shared bikes and E-bikes with public transit. We employed a geospatial-based approach to categorize each shared micromobility trip into three types: Modal Substitution (MS), Modal Integration (MI), and Modal Complementation (MC), based on their interactions with buses and subways. Then we explored the spatial and temporal patterns of the shares of MS, MI, and MC trips, and investigated factors influencing these varied relationships using Spatial Autoregressive (SAR) models. Our findings indicate that shared E-bikes more frequently substitute for public transit, whereas shared bikes are predominantly used in MC roles. There are notable temporal and spatial variations in the usage of shared E-bikes and bikes: temporally, there is a morning peak of shared E-bikes that substitute public transit, and spatially, E-bike sharing has a higher concentration of substitution in suburbs while bike sharing has a higher concentration of complementation in the outer areas. The observed differences between E-bikes and bikes regarding their relationship with public transit are largely influenced by trip distance, speed, and public transit characteristics. This study highlights the importance of recognizing the diverse interactions between different shared micromobility modes and public transit, and sheds light on the development and management of shared micromobility and public transit systems
Commercial gentrification of metro catchment: Lenses of subjective perception and objective nighttime light
No full textMetro is an essential public transportation mode, especially prevalent in major cities. Proximity to metro stations revitalizes surrounding areas, leading to enhancement of commercial activities in metro catchment areas. However, studies on commercial gentrification induced by newly built metros are severely insufficient with both subjective and objective lenses. This study delves into the commercial gentrification catalyzed by the operation of Metro Line 7 in Shenzhen, utilizing a novel approach that integrates subjective street view imagery perception scores with objective nighttime light data. By examining areas within 15-min walking catchments of metro stations, the study identifies a marked upsurge in commercial activities following the metro\u27s operation in October 2016. Objective data indicates a rise in nighttime light intensity from an average of 37.28 units during construction to 49.23 units post-operation. Simultaneously, subjective perception scores provide insights into perceived changes in urban commercial gentrification. A steady rise of integrated trend is noticed after 2016, showing a vital impact of newly built metro line on commercial gentrification. The study employs a combination of advanced machine learning techniques and urban analysis to offer a comprehensive perspective of the commercial gentrification trend shifts driven by metro expansion. It highlights the spatial and commercial gentrification levels across different land uses within the metro catchment areas, providing valuable insights of for urban planners and policymakers
Resilience and adaptability: The evolving roles of Bikeshare to public transport amid pandemic disruptions
No full textThe COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted urban transportation systems, revealing the necessity for resilient and adaptable mobility solutions. This study examines the evolving roles of bikeshare systems (BSS) relative to public transit (PT) at micro, meso, and macro levels across four major U.S. cities during different pandemic phases, by employing a multilevel analytical framework that incorporates advanced statistical and machine learning methods. Results indicate remarkable resilience and adaptability of BSS, with usage surpassing pre-pandemic levels and the post-restrictions, contrasting with notable declines and slow recovery of PT. The analysis identifies short-term synergistic effects, long-term seasonal fluctuations, and the influence of weather, government policies, and pandemic severity on BSS-PT relationships. While weather conditions and city-specific factors alone do not exhibit significant correlations, their interactive terms with other variables significantly impact BSS-PT dynamics. Key pandemic-related variables are illustrated as critical determinants, with the initial outbreak and lockdown phase and COVID-19 death tolls exhibiting a pronounced negative association with BSS-PT interactions. Conversely, COVID-19 case counts display a notably positive correlation. This research provides valuable insights into the adaptation of transit systems to future disruptions, fostering more resilient and integrated mobility networks
Analyzing the typology and livability of 15-minute travel at metro stations in high-density cities: A case study of Singapore
No full textWith rapid urban growth, metro stations are crucial transportation hubs attracting significant activity. Most studies assess metro stations within Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) frameworks, often overlooking the livability of surrounding areas from a human-centric perspective. This study proposes a multifaceted method to assess livability within a 15-minute travel circle of metro stations, incorporating spatial accessibility, environmental quality, functional diversity, and flow variance. Using Singapore as a case study, we developed a novel framework to calculate Livability Mixed Entropy (LME) utilizing data from Open Street Map (OSM), Street View Imagery (SVI), Place Pulse, Points of Interest (POI), and smart card data. A clustering algorithm that considers complex features and spatial dependencies identified five distinct clusters: Dynamic Urban Core, Serene Residential Area, Convenient Living Area, Cultural and Commercial Intersection, and Emerging Urban District. Our findings highlight the spatial distribution and typological characteristics of these clusters, providing valuable insights for urban planners. This study underscores the importance of tailored urban planning approaches that enhance connectivity, multifunctionality, and accessibility to foster sustainable and high-quality urban living. The LME metric, validated through the Singapore case, offers a robust tool for assessing urban livability and is adaptable to other high-density cities, contributing to sustainable urban development discourse
Unpacking the public acceptance of autonomous electric buses: Insights from a medium-sized Brazilian city
No full textElectric autonomous vehicles, including Autonomous Electric Buses (AEBs), offer significant societal benefits such as fewer accidents, reduced pollution, and enhanced driving efficiency, presenting a promising alternative to public transportation. While research on this subject exists in developed countries like Europe, China, and Germany, there remains a significant gap in our understanding of the acceptance of AEBs in emerging economies. Our study investigated the adoption factors of AEBs in a medium-sized Brazilian city by surveying 554 respondents. In our structural model, we adopted a hybrid approach that integrates elements from the modified Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), and Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). The study\u27s findings indicate that a positive attitude, perceived usefulness, initial trust, and subjective norm significantly influence Brazilian consumers\u27 intention to use AEBs. The theoretical implications of this study involve the creation of a model that intricately merges elements from multiple existing frameworks (TAM, TPB, and UTAUT). This proposed model synthesizes key factors influencing the acceptance of AEBs in emerging economies, providing a foundation for developing effective public policies for urban logistics automation
Railway-station-area vitality in response to COVID-19: A case study of diverse Japanese cities
No full textThis study examines the impact of COVID-19 on the number of visitors weighted by their time spent at facilities within and nearby railway stations, analyzing short-term demand losses and long-term recovery trends at 69 major stations in diverse Japanese cities using aggregated mobile phone data. We refer to this as “station area vitality”. We extend previous research by integrating external variables, such as land use and Points of Interest (POIs), to explain vitality drops and forecast recovery over two years. The findings reveal that multifunctional station areas—those combining leisure shopping, daily-needs shopping, and transport purposes—showed greater resilience during the pandemic. This underscores the value of mixed-use development and flexible zoning for enhancing station resilience. Furthermore, our forecasting models, particularly ARIMAX and LSTM, can to some degree predict long-term recovery trends during or after the pandemic when external variables and extended learning periods are included. We hence suggest that this can offer critical insights for urban planners and policymakers to build more resilient station areas and to forecast their performance during a new pandemic
To what extent walking and biking are substitutes or complements to public transport? Interpretable machine learning findings from the University of Lyon, France
No full textThis study examines the dynamic relationship between active mobility and public transport among university students, focusing on how this interaction varies based on home-campus distance. Using sequential and randomized tree-based ensemble machine learning models and interpretation techniques on survey data, we uncover nuanced patterns in behavior regarding the choice of transport modes for commuting. Key findings are that biking complements public transport for distances less than two kilometers and greater than ten kilometers, and walking complements it for distances over two kilometers, while some subgroups of students substitute walking for public transport in short distances. Biking and public transportation are observed to be substitutes for each other in distances between approximately two and ten kilometers. Results also suggest a substitution effect between walking and biking for short distances. Finally, we identify distinct walking and biking clusters around certain campuses. Our study highlights the potential of policies promoting active mobility to reduce motorized transport use among students, thereby mitigating social, environmental, and health risks in urban settings
How do access and spatial dependency shape metro passenger flows
No full textSpatial imbalances in metro ridership significantly reduce the overall efficiency of metro system. Understanding the factors that contribute to metro ridership is essential for developing targeted strategies to improve ridership equity and overall system performance. This study introduces novel spatial dependency indices based on spatial weight matrices and land-use function complementarity to explore how access and inter-station spatial dependency affect metro ridership, focusing on station-level boardings and alightings, as well as station-to-station flows. Using the data from the Xi\u27an Metro, the findings indicate that access to employment and residence from metro stations considerably enhances station-level boardings and alightings. Walking access emerges as a critical factor, especially in the context of station-to-station travel. Furthermore, the analysis reveals a complementarity feature within the metro system, where increases in boardings (alightings) at one station leads to a higher demand at others. Stations that serve areas with complementary land-use functions tend to attract more travel between them. These findings emphasize the critical role of access and spatial dependency in enhancing transit planning and system efficiency