Evaluating voluntary travel behaviour change: Suggested guidelines and case studies

Since the late 1990s, voluntary travel behaviour change (VTBC) has been an increasingly popular strategy in Australia, applied to reduce both reliance on the car and greenhouse gas emissions. Early efforts to evaluate the impact of this strategy were generally implemented by the agency that also implemented the policy and used small sample, self-report surveys. The paper starts out by discussing the nature and size of travel behaviour changes that are frequently expected in current policy, noting that these are often smaller than the sampling and measurement errors in traditional methods of measuring travel behaviour. The paper then discusses some alternative methods of evaluating voluntary travel behaviour change implementations using panels to reduce sampling error, and using a combination of personal Global Positioning System devices and odometer reading surveys to measure travel patterns. From these considerations, a number of guidelines are suggested for what is required to evaluate voluntary travel behaviour change. The paper describes three recent case studies in Australia in which such methods have been used and evaluates the methodological approaches used in these studies against the suggested guidelines.     

Passenger perceptions of service quality: Korean and Australian case studies

This paper investigates air passengers’ perceptions of 11 factors that may influence their buying behaviour namely, in-flight service, reservation-related service, airport service, reliability, employee service, flight availability, perceived price, passenger satisfaction, perceived value, airline image, and overall service quality. Analysis of variance and an independent sample t-test are applied to data collected from Korean and Australian international air passengers. The results reveal that passenger perceptions are significantly different across airlines, seat classes, and usage frequencies.     

Policy insights from the urban road pricing case studies

This article reviews and compares the results of four modelling case studies of urban road pricing implementation that were carried out for the MC-ICAM project. The studies all concern large cities in Western Europe (Paris, Brussels, Oslo and Helsinki) and they all examine phased implementation paths in which constraints on the set of policy instruments are progressively relaxed. However, the studies used different models that vary with respect to the endogenous dimensions of traveller behaviour, the level of detail in which road and public transit networks are represented, and assumptions about what policy instruments are available and what constraints apply.     

The potential of optimization in communal routing problems: case studies from Finland

In many European countries, municipalities offer their inhabitants a wide variety of social services. In this paper we will focus on efficiently scheduling home care, transportation of the elderly, and home meal delivery. These so-called municipal or communal routing problems can be modeled as different variants of the vehicle routing problem, a well-known optimization problem from the literature. We present a focused literature review and report on case studies using Finnish data. The computational results show that there is a significant potential for cost savings for all applications considered.     

Changing trip behavior in a higher education institution: The role of parking fees

Higher education institutions are major trip-generating locations and the transportation to and from them has negative environmental influences. To discourage car owners from solo driving and encourage them to use more environmentally friendly travel modes, it is important to understand what factors influence their travel mode choice. Using a discrete choice model, we examined the motivations to leave the car at home, with and without parking fee. Besides parking fees, we examined the effects of other variables known to predict commuting choice, such as time and social discomfort, pro-environmental attitudes, reduced vehicle maintenance expenses and awareness of alternative commuting options. Results show that adding a parking fee not only increased the tendency to leave the car at home, it also influenced the relative weight given to the considerations that determine to leave the car at home. Specifically, after the introduction of a parking fee, the previously significant impacts of pro-environmental attitudes and social discomfort on leaving the car at home became non-significant, and the impacts of other, more instrumental factors (e.g., time discomfort, costs related to car ownership and maintenance, time wasted searching for a parking space and in traffic jams) which were insignificant beforehand, became the significant predictors. Parking fees were found to be effective and can change to accommodate different policies (revenue collection, pollution reduction, and students’ discomfort). The implications of such a study are the trade-off between monetary (parking fee) and non-monetary variables to accommodate more sustainable traffic management.     

抓好八个坚持实现客运交通安全总体受控

兰州石化客运公司是属于兰州石化公司的专门从事职工通勤客运服务和为公司提供公务、会务及接待用车服务的专业化交通运输单位,现有各种类型的机动车辆316台,其中,大客车134台,     

Evaluating airline efficiency: An application of Virtual Frontier Network SBM

In this paper, airline efficiency is divided into three stages: Operations Stage, Services Stage and Sales Stage. The new three-stage strategic operating framework of airline efficiency is a modification of existing models. A new model, Virtual Frontier Network SBM, is proposed to evaluate the efficiency of 22 international airlines from 2008 to 2012. The results demonstrate the following: 1. The new model can apply to a new benchmarking airline such as Scandinavian Airlines. 2. Although passenger traffic, cargo traffic and revenue decreased from 2008 to 2009, most airlines’ overall efficiency increased in the period.     

Evaluating the multi-period efficiency of East Asia airport companies

The aim of this study is to analyze how internal operating sub-processes and annual operations of airport companies influence the overall efficiency. The multi-period Network Data Envelopment Analysis is used to evaluate the efficiencies and the efficiency changes for East Asia airport companies. The results indicate that the overall efficiencies of airport companies during a specified period of time are affected by the system efficiency and the sub-processes’ efficiencies in individual periods. Furthermore, the overall efficiency change is determined by the sub-processes’ efficiency changes. According to the operating decision analysis matrix, managers can discover the inefficient sub-processes and formulate the improvement countermeasures.     

Evaluating the reliability of reported distance data in urban travel behaviour analysis

The objective of the present paper is to analyze the accuracy of reported distances in travel behaviour research, and to distil from this analysis some useful recommendations for data collection and handling in activity-based modelling. This issue is important because we know from the literature on distance cognition that conjecture, perception and rounding in distance reporting is a rule, rather than an exception. The outcome is a biased transport modelling result. The paper introduces some theoretical reflections on distance measurements and cognition. Next, using household travel survey data collected in 2000 for the city of Ghent, Belgium, the problem of reported distance reliability is examined. A comparison of travel distances using detour factors revealed that self-reported distances provide reasonable estimates of shortest distance path distances. With respect to the effect outliers and rounding have on the reliability of reported distances it is found that mean detour factors are very much dominated by outliers over short distances, but that rounding has little impact. The accuracy of self-reported distances is also influenced by the socio-demographic profile of the respondents, the characteristics of the trip, and the type of transport mode used.     

Measuring the quality of port hinterland accessibility: The Ligurian case

Traditionally, distance was considered the parameter that could better reflect the economic influence of a seaport on land. Containerisation and intermodality progressively eroded such a paradigm and currently distance became only one of the factors across the overall “equation”. In this respect, a fundamental role is played by the effectiveness of inland connections. The better the connection of a port to the various inland markets, the bigger the potential to enlarge its overall captive area. Furthermore, the higher the “frictions” (bottlenecks, delays, etc.) for reaching the hinterland, the lower the inland traffic flows.The major purpose of the paper is to measure container traffic diversion from Ligurian ports (Genoa, La Spezia and Savona) to the main Italian and European competitors.The application of a gravity model will reveal the current role of distance in drawing hinterland market share among the selected ports. Moreover, for evaluating the unexploited potentialities of Ligurian ports, we compared real traffic flows with the outcomes of a spatial interaction model, reassigning inland container flows to the different sampled ports. The calculation of the traffic delta through a gap analysis, allowed measuring the “frictions” thwarting the connectivity between the Ligurian ports and the sampled hinterland regions. Finally, the paper discusses the nature and the reasons for the above traffic diversion.     

A nonlinear approach to the tourism-led growth hypothesis: the case of the MERCOSUR

This paper analyses the tourism-led growth hypothesis for the four countries of the MERCOSUR regional trade block. By applying nonlinear techniques, we explore whether tourism activity leads – in the long run – to economic growth, or, alternatively, economic expansion drives tourism growth, or indeed a bidirectional relationship exists between the two variables. To this end, non-parametric cointegration and causality tests are applied to quarterly data for the period 1990–2011. We show the existence of a cointegrated relationship between real per capita gross domestic product and tourism expenditure for all countries. Moreover, the linearity of this relation is rejected for both Argentina and Brazil (economies with a relatively diversified structure). The non-parametric causality tests confirm in all cases the causality from tourism to growth. Meanwhile, only for Uruguay and Argentina causality also goes in the inverse direction (from growth to tourism). Finally, the paper compares the results of the nonlinear approach with those obtained by using the traditional linear methodology.     

Evaluating the European added value of TEN-T projects: a methodological proposal based on spatial spillovers, accessibility and GIS

This paper develops a methodology for calculating the European value added value (EVA) generated by transport infrastructure projects. This approach is particularly useful for evaluating projects in the framework of Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T), although it may also be used in trans-national projects in other geographical areas. The methodology is based on the appraisal of spatial spillovers generated by trans-national projects by using accessibility indicators (access to markets) and Geographical Information Systems (GIS). Projects are split into sections and spillover effects of each section are then computed. The sections that produce a high proportion of spillovers in relation to internal benefits generate a high EVA. Additionally, indicators are obtained of the effects of each section in terms of spatial concentration on the different countries affected, efficiency (general improvement in accessibility) and territorial cohesion (reduction in accessibility disparities between regions). The validity of this approach is verified by applying it to TEN-T priority project 25. This methodology does not seek to replace existing project appraisal methodologies (particularly the cost-benefit analysis); rather it provides complementary data for decision-making. Sections which are scarcely profitable from the cost-benefit analysis perspective but which have high European value added should receive more European funding than more profitable sections of markedly national interest.     

浅谈建立企业管理制度应走出的认识误区

现今,许多人不愿琢磨企业管理制度这一老生常谈的话题,认为都是老一套,谈不出什么新意。然而,笔者在新建企业从事管理工作过程中发现,企业管理是一个既有共性也有个性的复杂过     

Shaping carpool policies under rapid motorization: the case of Chinese cities

Rapid motorization and fuel cost hike over the past few years have made carpool a new mode of travel in Chinese cities. But transportation policy makers have been rather ambivalent, if not indifferent, about carpool. Unlike cities in highly motorized societies, little is known about carpooling behavior in emerging economies such as China. This paper provides an initial discussion of carpooling in China by exploring a series of questions. What are the current practice and issues of carpool in Chinese cities? How do carpools in China compare with those in the motorized Western cities? Can carpools help Chinese cities mitigate the negative impacts of rapid motorization? Are foreign policies such as High-Occupancy-Vehicle (HOV) lanes transferable to China? Acknowledging the social benefits of voluntary carpooling, this paper argues: (1) bus lanes may be a better choice than HOV lanes when converting general motor vehicle lanes; (2) policies subsidizing carpoolers cannot be justified on either efficiency or equity grounds because a marginal carpooler is more likely transitioning from a transit user or non-motorized traveler than from a driver. Policy suggestions are proposed to Chinese decision makers.     

Impact of economic policy on international tourism demand: the case of Abenomics

Since the 2008 global financial crisis and resulting recession, many countries have been following unconventional monetary policies. Little information is known on how these policies may influence tourism demand. This study starts to fill this gap by investigating the impact of the Japanese economic policy known as Abenomics on South Koreans’ travel to Japan, the largest inbound market for Japan. Per capita gross domestic product, relative prices, and exchange rates are significant determinants of Japanese inbound tourism. As these variables have been influenced by Abenomics, one can infer that Abenomics is associated with a significant increase in tourist arrivals from South Korea. Findings highlight the importance of government economic policy in stimulating international tourism demand through its impact on the economy.     

贵州省铁路网规划实施进程研判方法研究

贵州省资源禀赋优势及国家级综合交通枢纽定位与路网沉疴宿疾的矛盾日益凸显,为促进贵州铁路有序发展,打破制约经济发展的桎梏,有必要对贵州铁路网实施进程进行谋篇布局.在贵州省铁路网规划布局的基础上提出了实施进程研判思路,首先明确评价对象,其次基于影响因素分析确定优先度评价指标体系,进而基于阶段目标分析建立指标权重体系,而后构建优先度Delphi模糊评价模型体系对评价对象进行优先度排序,最终以合理路网规模为阀值确定规划实施进程.经测算,贵州宜优先建设贵阳至南宁铁路等项目,确保全省铁路系统向整体最优方向发展.     

Urban sprawl and travel to work: the case of the metropolitan area of Madrid

The relationships between urban sprawl and journey to work in the metropolitan area of Madrid are analysed. Three elements of urban sprawl are addressed (metropolitan expansion, low-density and work and leisure facilities in suburban areas) and are related to the main characteristics of mobility (flow networks, mode-choice, and travel times). The conclusion reached is that the elements defining the new metropolitan morphology are related to an unsustainable mobility model, which increases commuter numbers, distances, and car use.     

实施现代服务业转型推动企业跨越式发展

改革开放以来,特别是1983年国家提出有路大家行车的政策之后,我国道路运输进入了快速发展期。随着基础设施改善、科技水平的提高、社会进步以及人们生活方式的转变,我国运输市场需求多样化、多极化发展的趋势越来越明显。而与之相反的是,多数道路运输     

贯彻胡总书记指示精神深入践行科学发展观

探讨在深入学习科学发展观的过程中,铁路局如何立足现实问题,深入贯彻落实胡锦涛总书记“开动脑筋、科学调度、改善服务、确保安全”指示精神,确保学习实践活动成效。