Using Focus and NomiNal Group Techniques for a Better Understanding of the Transit Disadvantaged Needs

The research presented in this paper explores the context, method, and value of focus group research in transit needs assessments. Group participatory research can generate data that are not easily obtained by other methods. The paper focuses on lessons from three Nebraska communities whose transit disadvantaged rely on community-based paratransit services. Because of the size of the paratransit population and the inability to control who showed up to the focus group sessions, a modified group research protocol was adopted in order to garner information from whomever attended the session. The population parameters and the number of people at the meetings were anticipated by the researchers and mitigated by incorporating nominal group techniques. Research findings from the focus group sessions are discussed paying particular attention to the candid and policy-specific comments made by the focus group participants. The paper concludes with an application of focus group research in transit planning.     

Attitudes of Hong Kong residents to cars and public transport: Some policy implications

Hong Kong currently has low levels of car ownership and use due to a combination of good public transport, high population densities and high private transport costs. However, levels are rising, contributing to congestion and environmental problems. A major response by the government is to seek to increase rail's share of public transport journeys from its current level of 33% to 45% by 2016. After reviewing the transport situation in Hong Kong, the paper discusses the appropriateness of these targets as well as questioning whether they are achievable. The results of a questionnaire survey of 595 residents of Hong Kong, designed to elicit people's attitudes to cars and public transport, are analysed. It is concluded that unless the government does more to curb car ownership and use, rail targets will have little chance of being achieved.     

Atmospheric Emissions from Shipping: The Need for Regulation and Approaches to Compliance

Shipping has traditionally been viewed as the least environmentally damaging mode of freight transport. Recent studies have increasingly questioned this perception, as attention has focused on both the greenhouse gas emissions (mainly CO₂) and the emission of health-damaging pollutants (such as sulphur, nitrogen oxides and particulates) by ships. This paper reviews the available evidence on the atmospheric emissions of shipping. It proposes that the profit objective has prompted the pursuit of greater fuel efficiency within the sector, but that reliance on market forces alone is insufficient to deliver on the environmental imperative. The paper outlines the current and planned regulatory regime for the atmospheric emissions from ships and posits that greater, and more diverse, market regulation is required. Alternative general approaches to regulatory compliance are categorised as ‘alternative sources of energy’ or ‘abatement technologies’ and the characteristics of a range of specific options are analysed. The paper concludes that although the shipping industry has been slow to improve its environmental credentials, a combination of regulation and technological innovation provides it with significant potential to dramatically reduce its environmental impact.     

管理与经营的分野

一般谈到企业,就会说到经营管理.经营、管理似乎是相互渗透水乳交融的,分不清谁是谁,也看不到二者有什么区别.在日本就把管理学称为经营学.但实际上,这两个概念完全不同.经营是经纪、营运,主要与产品和市场关联;管理是管人、理事,主要与人员和事物相关联.经营主外,以业务、市场为导向,经常在变化;管理主内,以人财、事务为对象,相对较稳定.经营解决的是方向、战略、策略、效益问题;管理解决的是秩序、方法、动力、效率问题.经营的任务是抓住当前、图求生存,管理的使命是挑战未来、谋划发展.     

Evaluation of a fleet safety management information system

Despite recent interest in work related road safety, relatively little research has been conducted to examine the effects of institutional factors on fleet safety. This paper conceptualized an evaluation framework and utilized it to assess fleet coordinators' attitudes toward and the usage of a fleet safety management system. First, focus group interviews revealed that monitoring fleet safety was not considered an important task within the government agencies participating in the research. Second, similar results were obtained in a survey of the fleet coordinators, which showed that most fleet coordinators were not utilising the full diagnostic capabilities of the management information system. In particular, fleet coordinators reported significantly higher competence, usage and importance on the coordination of fleet vehicle efficiency than on the coordination of fleet safety. These results were supported by the finding that fleet coordinators were required to report more on fleet efficiency than on fleet safety.     

The implications of the sharing economy for transport

ABSTRACT

The sharing economy has gained a lot of attention in recent years. Despite the substantial growth in shared services, its impact overall on transport is unclear. This paper analyses the literature on sharing in transport and includes government and consultant reports, websites and academic journals. The drivers of ride-sharing, car-sharing, car-pooling and freight-sharing are largely economic and convenience related for participants. Trust, technology platforms and the trend to avoid ownership of assets are facilitating factors in its growth. Over-regulation, inconsistent quality of service and the need for recommendation are potential barriers. The transport journals in particular are relatively slow to research this topic with more focusing on bike-sharing than other modes of vehicle sharing. The paper discusses the impact of sharing on transport suggesting it is likely to be part of a solution to transport problems and congestion perhaps in combination with other developments such as driverless vehicles. It also warns of the dangers of over-regulation and under-regulation. The future will require holistic transport strategies that consider sharing options and will require government departments to work cooperatively.     

在公交占主导地位的香港居民对小汽车的依赖性

减少城市的小汽车交通量,促进城市交通运输能力的持续稳定发展,已成为人口密集型的大城市制定交通运输政策的一项主要目标,也是香港制定交通运输政策所期望达到的目标。但根据国际标准,香港居民对小汽车的拥有量和使用频率已经非常低了。首先是明确香港人为什么要拥有小汽车,其次是探索小汽车的拥有者对小汽车的依赖程度,第三是识别政策的含意。基于对401位小汽车拥有者的调查,得出了这样的结论：尽管城市里有很好的公共交通,但人们一旦拥有了小汽车后,便会开始变得依桢小汽车进行所有的外出活动。因此,为了促进交通运输持续、稳定发展,小汽车的拥有量和使用频率必须受到控制。     

From Bricks to Clicks: The Impact of Online Retailing on Transport and the Environment

Abstract

Online retailing is growing fast and claims are being made about its positive environmental impact relative to traditional shopping, particularly by the retailers themselves. There is, however, little concrete evidence to support the claims. Whilst there exists some research into the passenger travel implications of e‐shopping, this paper seeks to analyse the issues involved in online shopping from both a passenger and freight transport perspective. The objectives of the paper are first, to set out the complex transport relationships involved in online shopping and in particular the interaction between the passenger and freight aspects and second, to shed some light on the environmental impact of online shopping. It concludes that as things currently stand, it cannot be stated with any degree of certainty that clicks are any more environmentally responsible than bricks. The paper is conceptual in nature and is the pre‐cursor to an empirical study of the issue.