Understanding individual travel decisions: results from a commuters survey in Geneva

In this paper, we present the results of an extended traveler behavior survey conducted in Geneva (Switzerland) in March 1994. In this survey, commuters were asked about the impact of various factors, related to individual or household characteristics and situational, contextual and environmental constraints on their basic travel decisions. In particular, the issues of mode, route and departure time choice were investigated, together with the diversion from normal patterns in response to adverse weather conditions. Some cross cultural comparisons are discussed with respect to the results of a similar survey conducted in Brussels (Belgium) in 1992 (Khattak & de Palma 1995, 1997).     

Metropolitan railways: present characteristics and future prospects

Urban bus operation in Chile is totally deregulated. This is the only example in the world where access to the urban bus transport market is totally free, and where the government does not exercise any control over the fares. This policy has been implemented progressively since 1979. Ten years later, it is possible to draw some conclusions from the experience. To summarize these conclusions, one could say that (i) the impact of deregulation has been almost exactly the opposite of what was expected: fares have risen and the diversity of services has been reduced, (ii) the reasons for this discrepancy lie less in the action of a cartel than in the specifics of urban transport supply and (iii) there is probably more to be expected from a refined deregulation policy, taking into account these specifics, than from a drive back to the traditional regulation system.     

CANDY statement of methods

This paper presents a detailed overview of CANDY, a catenary–pantograph dynamic interaction software. Authors describe the main key points of the formulation, focusing on its time-integration scheme, the pantograph and contact models as well as the solution of the initial equilibrium problem. Nonetheless one of the most important features of CANDY is its moving finite element mesh, which enables accurate results without excessive computational cost. The validation of the model against the European Standard EN 50318 and some conclusions and comments about the results of the benchmark are also included.     

Mass and heat transports in the NE Barents Sea: Observations and models

The strait between Novaya Zemlya and Frans Josef Land, here called the Barents Sea Exit (BSX) is investigated using data obtained from a current-meter array deployed in 1991–1992, and two numerical models (ROMS and NAME). Combining the observations and models the net volume flux towards the Arctic Ocean was estimated to 2.0 ± 0.6 Sv (1 Sv = 10⁶ m³s^? 1). The observations indicate that about half of this transport consists of dense, Cold Bottom Water, which may penetrate to great depths and contribute to the thermohaline circulation. Both models give quite similar net transport, seasonal variations and spatial current structures, and the discrepancies from the observations were related to the coarse representation of the bottom topography in the models. Also the models indicate that actual deployment did not capture the main in- and outflows through the BSX. A snapshot of the hydrographic structure (CTD section) indicates that both models are good at reproducing the salinity. Nevertheless, they react differently to atmospheric cooling, although the same meteorological forcing was applied. This may be due to the different parameterisation of sea ice and that tides were included in only one of the models (ROMS). Proxies for the heat transport are found to be small at the BSX, and it can not be ruled out that the Barents Sea is a heat sink rather than a heat source for the Arctic Ocean.     

La sous-traitance dans le transport routier de marchandises: les enseignements de l’enquête ECHO (2004)

Road haulage is nowadays the main transport mode in France, demonstrating its ability to fulfil shippers’ demands. Among other success factors, the possibility for large companies to subcontract to very small ones, with very low fixed costs and greater flexibility, is often quoted as a major advantage. The ECHO survey, conducted in France in 2004, gives information about 10000 shipments made by 3000 shippers. This survey allows the analysis of subcontracting, by following at every stage how each shipment is given to another carrier by contract. The analysis shows that some subcontracts are mainly cost driven, but others aim at using the specialised skills of a particular haulier. For every transport segment (single parcel delivery service, parcel delivery service, less than truck load, full truck load), subcontracting is described in terms of sizes of the companies involved, services provided and the reasons for subcontracting. These results describe the main features of several different types of subcontracts.     

Transport ferroviaire régional en Allemagne. L’exemple de la région de Leipzig

The German regional rail passenger transport (SPNV) is, eighteen years after the railway reform of 1993, a dynamic one. Over the last fifteen years, passengers have increased by +43% and trains.km by +28%. There are more than 30 railway operators. Tenders drive this dynamism and newcomer’s market share is approaching 25% in 2011 (in train.km). The Leipzig region, which has seen the birth of long-distance rail transport with the great line Leipzig-Dresden inspired by F. List (1834), participate in this revival: since 2010, two operators, DB Regio and Veolia, share regional rail services. What early lessons can be drawn for the reform of the French TER?     

Characterizing the speed and paths of shared bicycle use in Lyon

Data gathered relating to the Lyon’s shared bicycling system, Vélo’v, is used to analyze 11.6 millions bicycle trips in the city. The data show that bicycles now compete with the car in terms of speed in downtown Lyon. It also provides information on cycle flows that can be of use in the planning of dedicated bicycle lanes and other facilities.     

Analyse qualitative des pratiques pédagogiques des enseignants de la conduite et de l’effet de l’expérience du métier

The first stage of the EPEC research (2007–2010) presented in this article enables to know better driving teachers’ pedagogical practises. We have thus observed 26 subjects, 13 experienced driving teachers and 13 novice driving teachers in real training situations, during their theoretical and practical lessons. The analysis of their practises enables to suggest pedagogical changes. The results concern mainly the theoretical and practical lessons as well as the choice of complex situations. These results enable us to prepare the second stage of this research: the construction of remediation exercises with driving teachers intended for learners in difficulty.     

Estimating bus run times for new limited-stop service using archived AVL and APC data

In recent years, several transit agencies have been trying to be more competitive with the automobile to attract choice riders. Transit agencies can only be competitive if they can provide services that are reliable, have a short access and egress time, and have run times that are comparable to automobiles. Several transit agencies try to be competitive through offering faster service, such as limited-stop (express) bus service. This study uses AVL and APC data, in addition to a disaggregate data obtained from a travel behavior survey, to select stops and estimate run times for a new limited-stop service that will run parallel to a heavily used bus route (67 Saint-Michel) in Montréal, Canada. Three different scenarios are developed based on theory and practice to select stops to be incorporated in the new limited service. The time savings for each scenario are then evaluated as a range and a fourth scenario is developed. A limited-stop service is recommended based on selecting stops serving both directions of the route, major activity points and stop spacing. This study shows that implementing a limited-stop service would yield substantial time savings for both, the new limited service and the existing regular service running in parallel.