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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Transportation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2024) | Viewed by 20710

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Hing Yan Tong

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Guest Editor

Department of Engineering Systems and Supply Chain Management, Aston University, Birmingham, UK
Interests: transport modelling; traffic engineering; transport engineering; transportation planning; transport management; vehicle emissions and energy consumption; urban freight transport; city logistics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Guilhermina Torrao

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Guest Editor

Department of Engineering Systems and Supply Chain Management, Aston University, Birmingham, UK
Interests: automated vehicles; impact assessment; intelligent transport systems; road safety; social impact and user needs; sustainable and green mobility; inclusive mobility; gender mainstream in transportation and travel behaviour
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sustainable urban transport planning has been increasingly identified as a key point of emphasis to reduce the negative impacts on the environment caused by continuous changes in climate and increases in greenhouse gas emissions. This can include both public (e-buses, rails, BRTs) and private (cycling, e-cars, pedestrians) modes of transport, encompassing freight transport as well due to the increasing needs for last-mile delivery services during recent years, especially in the urban areas. Therefore, the subject of sustainable urban transport planning is important as its development improves air quality through a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions as well as boosting the quality of life for people by relieving urban traffic congestions. Traditional transport planning typically builds on a travel demand-based approach, whilst sustainable development intends with comply to the requirements of sustainability. An approach that integrates the local transport planning with the concept of global sustainable development is needed. This approach should be time-dependent, requiring that the system performance improves towards a sustainable state. To demonstrate the advances in this research area, this Special Issue of Sustainability, entitled “Sustainable Urban Transport Planning”, was proposed.

This Special Issue will mainly encompass original research and studies related to the above mentioned areas. Although the following list is not exhaustive, issues of particular interest include vehicle emission and energy consumption modelling; social aspects pertinent to public transport and logistics; spatial justice and urban transport planning; application of big data in urban transport planning; uses of public transport systems; urban pedestriansation and cyling planning; electric, green, automous and connected mobility; big data analytics for city logistics; last-mile delivery services; smart mobility; as well as shared and on-demand mobility. Papers selected for this Special Issue will be subject to a rigorous peer review process. The journal aims to rapidly and widely disseminate research results, developments and applications. Proposed papers for this Special Issue may cover a variety of methodologies, such as qualitative and quantitative analysis, mathematical modeling, simulation, and field experiments. Any research should covers a theme encompassed by the topics below.

Dr. Hing Yan Tong
Dr. Guilhermina Torrao
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

vehicle emission and energy consumption modelling
social aspects pertinent to public transport and logistics
spatial justice and urban transport planning
application of big data in urban transport planning
uses of public transport systems
urban pedestriansation and cyling planning
electric, green, automous and connected mobility
big data analytics for city logistics
last-mile delivery services
smart mobility
shared and on-demand mobility

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

23 pages, 1094 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Perceptions of Women’s Safety in Transient Environments and the Potential Role of AI in Enhancing Safety: An Inclusive Mobility Study in India

by Guilhermina Torrao, Amal Htait and Shun Ha Sylvia Wong

Sustainability 2024, 16(19), 8631; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16198631 - 5 Oct 2024

Viewed by 1464

Abstract

Travel safety for women is a concern, particularly in India, where gender-based violence and harassment are significant issues. This study examines how the perception of safety influences women’s travel behaviour and assesses the potential of technology solutions to ensure their safety. Additionally, it explores how AI and machine learning techniques may be leveraged to enhance women’s travel safety. A comprehensive mobility survey was designed to uncover the complex relationship between travel behaviour, reasons for mode choice, built environment, feelings, future mobility, and technological solutions. The responses revealed that security and safety are the most critical factors affecting women’s travel mode choices, with 54% and 41%, respectively. Moreover, over 80% of women indicated a willingness to change their travel behaviour after experiencing fear, anxiety, or danger during their everyday journeys. Participants were 24% less willing to use ride-sharing services than ride-hailing services, which could affect the transition towards more sustainable transportation options. Furthermore, AI-based sentiment analysis revealed that 46% of the respondents exhibited signs of ‘anger’ regarding what could help women feel safer in transient environments. The practical implications of this study’s findings are discussed, highlighting the potential of AI to enhance travel safety and optimise future sustainable transport planning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Transport Planning)

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17 pages, 1319 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Revealing How Much Drivers Understand about Vehicle Pollutants: Towards Development of Information Campaigns

by Zahara Batool, Samantha Jamson and Sonja Forward

Sustainability 2024, 16(16), 7136; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16167136 - 20 Aug 2024

Viewed by 699

Abstract

Thirty-four interviews were carried out with drivers in four countries to elicit their understanding about pollutants, specifically nitrogen dioxide (NO_X) and particulate matter (PM). The results showed that most of the participants knew that cars emitted carbon dioxide (CO₂₎, but they were less aware of the emission of NOx and PM. Also, being aware of the negative impacts of pollutants did not necessarily lead to eco-friendly vehicle choices. Most of the drivers were aware of pollutant friendly behaviours such as avoiding harsh acceleration/deceleration and maintaining smooth speed but were unaware of behaviours such as efficient gear use, avoiding engine idling, or anticipation of traffic ahead. Only a few mentioned pre-trip or strategic level behaviours (e.g., vehicle size/weight or the selection of appropriate routes and avoidance of traffic congestion). The results could be used to design educational material to raise awareness and provide drivers with tips to reduce their pollutant emissions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Transport Planning)

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25 pages, 24507 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Clustering Approach for Analyzing Access to Public Transportation and Destinations

by Mudassar Shafiq, Hudyeron Rocha, António Couto and Sara Ferreira

Sustainability 2024, 16(16), 6944; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16166944 - 13 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1127

Abstract

Promoting sustainable and equitable public transportation services is essential for addressing disparities and preventing social exclusion among diverse population groups for daily activities. This paper proposes a comprehensive approach to assess transport disadvantages and identify areas with limited access to public transport and services. By combining statistical and geographic techniques, we analyze demographic, socioeconomic, and travel data to spatially contextualize areas based on the social structure and understand the characteristics of population groups facing transportation challenges in the Porto Metropolitan Area. Cluster analysis results revealed four distinct clusters with homogeneous characteristics. In contrast, service area analysis assessed the public transport coverage to identify served zones, the population within these zones, and activities reached in the region. Our findings indicate that suburban and rural areas often lack access to public transport stops, aggravated by lower service frequencies, leading to high reliance on private cars for essential activities, such as work and education. Despite the good geographical coverage of rail and bus stops, urban and central–urban areas also suffer from inadequate service frequencies, impacting public transport usage. Improving service quality in high-demand areas could encourage greater public transport utilization and enhance accessibility. Identifying areas facing inequities facilitates targeted policy interventions and prioritized investments to improve accessibility and address mobility needs to access services effectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Transport Planning)

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22 pages, 5022 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Comparisons of Driving Characteristics between Electric and Diesel-Powered Bus Operations along Identical Bus Routes

by Ka-Wai Ng and Hing-Yan Tong

Sustainability 2024, 16(12), 4950; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16124950 - 9 Jun 2024

Viewed by 1615

Abstract

The energy consumption profiles of conventional fuelled and electric vehicles are different due to the fundamental differences in the driving characteristics of these vehicles, which have been actively researched elsewhere but mostly on the basis of uncommon geographical contexts. This study, therefore, collected driving data on electric and conventional diesel buses running along exactly the same set of bus routes in Hong Kong during normal daily revenue operations. This enabled a fair comparison of driving characteristics for both types of bus under identical real-life, on-road driving conditions, which highlighted the originality and contributions of this study. A three-step approach was adopted to carry out detailed driving pattern analyses, which included key driving parameters, speed–acceleration probability distributions (SAPDs), and vehicle-specific power (VSP) distributions. Results found that route-based comparisons did highlight important differences in driving patterns between electric and diesel buses that might have been smoothed out by analyses with mixed-route datasets. In particular, the spread, intensity, and directions of these differences were found to be exaggerated at the route-based level. The differences in driving patterns varied across different routes, which has significant implications on vehicle energy consumption. Government agencies and/or bus operators should make references to these results in formulating electric bus deployment plans. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Transport Planning)

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13 pages, 754 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bicycle Parking Requirements in City Building Codes and Their Potential to Promote Sustainability

by David Kohlrautz and Tobias Kuhnimhof

Sustainability 2024, 16(6), 2531; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16062531 - 19 Mar 2024

Viewed by 1684

Abstract

Bicycle parking requirements in building codes are an important tool for promoting cycling, as several studies have shown that the provision of secure parking increases cycling rates and contributes to sustainability. However, bicycle parking requirements are not comprehensive across the EU and vary widely within countries and between municipalities, which questions what aspects they should consider. This paper analyzes the literature and guidelines on parking requirements and compares their implementation in ten German and four international cities both qualitatively, examining specific requirements for parking facilities, and quantitatively, examining the number of spaces required. The results show that most guidelines set comparable standards in terms of quality and quantity. However, the quality standards defined in the actual building codes are heterogeneous. While most cities require features such as the ability to lock the bicycle frame, they do not adequately address different user groups and insufficiently consider e-bike charging infrastructure. Most cities meet the guidelines for the required number of bicycle parking spaces, but lack a clear rationale based on local conditions, which can lead to an unsustainable under- or oversupply. In summary, cities do not fully utilize the potential of parking requirements to promote cycling because of incomplete qualitative standards. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Transport Planning)

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18 pages, 64530 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nonlinear Influence and Interaction Effect on the Imbalance of Metro-Oriented Dockless Bike-Sharing System

by Yancun Song, Kang Luo, Ziyi Shi, Long Zhang and Yonggang Shen

Sustainability 2024, 16(1), 349; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16010349 - 29 Dec 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1250

Abstract

Dockless Bike-Sharing (DBS) is an eco-friendly, convenient, and popular form of ride-sharing. Metro-oriented DBS systems have the potential to promote sustainable transportation. However, the availability of DBS near metro stations often suffers from either scarcity or overabundance. To investigate the factors contributing to this imbalance, this paper examines the nonlinear influences and interactions that impact the DBS system near metro stations, with Shenzhen, China serving as a case study. An ensemble learning approach is employed to predict the imbalance state. Then, the machine learning interpretation method (i.e., SHapley Additive exPlanations) is used to quantify the contribution of effects, discover the strength of interactions between factors and uncover their underlying interactive connections. The results indicate the influence of external factors and the relations between pairwise variables (e.g., road density and the day of the week) for each imbalanced state. Provide two quantized sets of factors that can result in the supply-demand imbalance and support future transport planning decisions to enhance the accessibility and sustainability of Metro-oriented DBS systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Transport Planning)

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23 pages, 65362 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Visualizing Travel Accessibility in a Congested City Center: A GIS-Based Isochrone Model and Trip Rate Analysis Considering Sustainable Transportation Solutions

by Musrat Gul Bhellar, Mir Aftab Hussain Talpur, Shabir Hussain Khahro, Tauha Hussain Ali and Yasir Javed

Sustainability 2023, 15(23), 16499; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152316499 - 1 Dec 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1984

Abstract

Urban settlements often deal with the massive transportation problems caused by mixed land-use development and improper travel services. This situation propels travel accessibility issues within urban centers. This research is intended to focus on the 3rd largest city of Pakistan’s Sindh province, i.e., Sukkur, where residents were found struggling to reach their desired destinations. The study area has naturally grown without planning guidelines, generating traffic congestion and haphazard land-use patterns. This research aims to measure accessibility within the city center using trip rate analysis and a GIS-based isochrone model (1-km radius). In total, 234 household trips were randomly considered according to Morgan’s sampling standards. The results revealed that scattered locations caused heavy traffic volumes without public transport facilities. The ratio of traveling by bike for shopping was recorded at 17.24%. Commuting by car; home-based, health, and shopping trips were ranked 1st (5.52%), 2nd (2.76%), and 3rd (1.38%), respectively. The isochrone-based maps were delineated to clarify the temporal accessibility features. Only three shopping activities were found to be accessible within 6 min. Most of the banks were found to be highly accessible. None of the health facilities were located within a 0–6 minute isochronal boundary. Two entertainment sites were accessible within 0–6 min. The residential neighborhoods were not close to the city center. Only three parks and six religious facilities were accessible within 6–12 min. The study findings clarified mixed land use activities accessed through multiple travel modes in the city center. Executing traffic management implications is a need of the time to induce sustainable transportation guidelines. Besides, the results may contribute to SDG 11.2, i.e., “affordable and sustainable transport systems” available for local commuters. The findings of this study are also relevant to evaluating the progress of some cities on SDG 11.2 regarding accessing feasible transportation services. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Transport Planning)

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19 pages, 1330 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Attitudes and Behaviour towards More Sustainable Travel Options in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: An Emerging Social Change?

by Ghada Alturif and Wafaa Saleh

Sustainability 2023, 15(16), 12548; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151612548 - 18 Aug 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1520

Abstract

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is known for its high car ownership and usage and its high GDP per capita. This, combined with a low provision of public transportation (PT) systems, has resulted in perceptual attitudes of high dependency on private car travel. The level of awareness of the benefits of reducing car use and increasing travel by more sustainable options has a great impact on social change and behaviour. The Kingdom is currently progressing towards a new phase of “national reform” through implementation of strategic sustainable programs. Riyadh city is constructing a massive metro-system, which is nearing completion and operation. The public is aware of the national agenda, the construction of transportation projects, and of the social changes needed to realize the new vision of the country. This paper aims to assess travel behaviours and attitudes of Saudi nationals towards public transportation. A discrete choice model of the intent to use public transportation is calibrated as a function of social and attitudinal factors, using online survey data. The analysis was carried out using an ordered logit model (OLR) which is derived from the theory of random utility. The results show that, overall, a higher support for public transportation modes was stated by young females, lower income groups, and university graduates. The level of awareness of the national agenda appears to be increasing the level of support for public transportation. The paper is the first investigation of willingness to use public transportation in Riyadh, at a crucial time of national reform; the choice of mode of travel appears to be determined by the travellers’ social and economic characteristics and the level of awareness of the country’s agenda. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Transport Planning)

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14 pages, 1551 KiB

Open AccessArticle

What Is the Impact of a Dockless Bike-Sharing System on Urban Public Transit Ridership: A View from Travel Distances

by Hong Lang, Shiwen Zhang, Kexin Fang, Yingying Xing and Qingwen Xue

Sustainability 2023, 15(14), 10753; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151410753 - 8 Jul 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2227

Abstract

Recently, the rapid development of the bike-sharing system (BSS) has dramatically influenced passengers’ travel modes. However, whether the relationship between the BSS and public transit is competitive or complementary remains unclear. In this paper, a difference-in-differences (DID) model is proposed to figure out the impact of the dockless BSS (DBSS) on bus ridership. The data was collected from Shanghai, China, which includes data from automatic fare collection (AFC) systems, automatic vehicle location (AVL) systems, DBSS transaction data, and point-of-interest (POI) data. The research is based on the route-level, and the results indicate that shared bikes have a substitution impact on bus ridership. Regarding all the travel distance, each shared bike along the route leads to a 0.39 decrease in daily bus ridership on the weekdays, and a 0.17 decrease in daily bus ridership on the weekends, respectively, indicating that dockless shared bikes lead to a stronger decrease in bus ridership on weekends compared to weekdays. Additionally, the substitution effects of shared bikes on bus ridership gradually decays from 0.104 to 0.016 in daily bus ridership on weekends, respectively, with the increase in the travel distance within 0–3 km. This paper reveals that the travel distance of passengers greatly influences the relationship between the DBSS and public transit on the route level. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Transport Planning)

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16 pages, 987 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigation of Influential Factors of Intention to Adopt Electric Vehicles for Motorcyclists in Vietnam

by Thanh Tung Ha, Thanh Chuong Nguyen, Sy Sua Tu and Minh Hieu Nguyen

Sustainability 2023, 15(11), 8765; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15118765 - 29 May 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4376

Abstract

(1) Background and aims: The exploration of the intention to adopt electric vehicles has been intensively studied in developed countries where passenger cars are the most common private motorized vehicle. However, the same is not true for motorcycle-dependent countries such as Vietnam. This study aimed to advance our understanding of the determinants of motorcyclists’ intention to use electric vehicles (i.e., electric passenger cars) in settings where the motorcycle is the dominant mode. (2) Data and methods: The partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and the data from 330 motorcycle owners in Hanoi, Vietnam, were utilized to empirically test a research framework formulated based on the push–pull–mooring migration model. (3) Results: The results indicated that the push factor was formulated by safety concerns and environmental concerns while the pull factor was established by perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and financial incentive policy. Both the push factor and the pull factor significantly contributed to the adoption intention but the effect of the latter was stronger. Knowledge did not affect the intention; however, it moderated the link between the pull factor and the intention. For the respondents with a higher level of knowledge, the positive impact of the pull factor on the intention was lower (compared to those with a lower level of knowledge). (4) Conclusions: Based on the findings of the associated factors, policy implications were suggested to increase the prevalence of electric vehicles. Although the theoretical and practical contributions of this study may be significant to the literature regarding developing countries, more research is needed to validate and extend them. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Transport Planning)

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