Locating rental stations and bikeways in a public bike system

To determine the spatial distribution of rental stations and bikeways in a public bike system, this paper proposes a facility location and network design model. The model is developed as a multi-objective programing problem that considers four objectives (minimizing cyclist risk, maximizing cyclist comfort, minimizing adverse impacts on traffic and maximizing service coverage) and multiple constraints (monetary budget, network connectivity, station spacing, bikeway types, station number and value ranges of decision variables). The ε-constraint method solves the programing problem for the public bike system in Daan District, Taipei City, Taiwan. The nine non-dominated alternatives generated are all markedly better than existing locations of rental stations and bikeways. Scenario analysis results indicate that increasing the construction budget for bikeways significantly improves cyclist safety and comfort whilst increasing the adverse impact on traffic. Planners can use this model to develop public bike systems that spatially integrate rental stations and bikeway networks.     

Initial public offerings in the port industry: exploring the determinants of underpricing

The capital-intensive nature of the port industry and the long payback period of port investments traditionally determine high financial needs for operating the business. Due to the growing financial requirements for developing greenfield mega-projects and feeding international terminal operators’ overseas expansion, equity markets are expected to extend their role in promoting the industry. In this perspective, the underpricing phenomenon, which represents a direct cost for the issuer during initial public offering (IPO) and discourages companies from going public, is neglected by port literature. The paper explores the antecedents of IPO underpricing in ports. Building upon extant finance and port literature, firm characteristics, transaction features, and country-specific variables are tested as determinants of IPOs’ initial returns. For the aim of this study, 58 port-related IPOs taking place on international stock exchanges are examined, and ordinary least squares regression analysis is performed. The study offers unprecedented understandings of the phenomenon and supports port managers in facing financial challenges. Before launching the IPO, financial executives are invited to carefully identify time-window opportunities, and to monitor underwriters’ reputation when selecting financial partners. Findings bring insights for policymakers, as the public listing of port companies emerges a viable option for implementing port reform.     

How Do Governments Support the Development of Public Private Partnerships? Measuring and Comparing PPP Governmental Support in 20 European Countries

Abstract

Taking an institutional perspective, in this article we develop an index of the governmental support for public private partnership (PPP) — a ‘PPP Governmental Support Index’ (GSI) — which aims to measure the extent to which national governments provide an institutional framework that is either conducive or preventive for the introduction and diffusion of PPPs within transport infrastructure and other sectors. First, based on a substantive review of the literature, we define the elements of the PPP GSI, including the policy and political commitment regarding PPPs, the legal and regulatory framework, and the presence/absence of dedicated PPP-supporting arrangements. Second, we calculate the PPP GSI for 20 European countries, cluster them and compare similarities and differences in national governmental support of infrastructure PPPs. Third, we explore the potential link between national institutional index scores and infrastructure PPP activity in the 20 countries. Lastly, we discuss the potential and usefulness of the presented PPP GSI, as well as methodological limitations, and elaborate on how this index might be utilised to strengthen future comparative research on PPP in transport and other sectors.     

The planning and analysis of a new group rapid transit system: the SkyCabs monobeam system in Auckland

This paper examines a case study of the SkyCabs system as a way to alleviate some of the traffic problems of Auckland, New Zealand. SkyCabs is an elevated two-way monobeam carrying light eight-seater cabs on tracks on each side of the beam, available on demand, providing fast, pollution-free, unimpeded travel above the footpath with panoramic views of the city. The aim of this study is to investigate the attractiveness of implementing the SkyCabs system to and from Auckland central business district (CBD) and Auckland international airport by examining four variables: different routes, different number of stops/stations, different passenger demand levels, and different number of cabs in the system. The analysis utilizes geographical information system and simulation tools for the various scenarios considered. The results show that it is possible to assess the cost–benefit of alternative routes in terms of those four variables and rate of return on investment.     

城市公共交通发展的动力机制研究

城市公共交通发展动力涵盖政府的主导作用、公交运营企业的主动力、公众的支持力以及营销传播的助动力等"四方力量",四方力量的协同推动城市公共交通系统快速发展。首先对城市公共交通发展的动力机制进行分析,研究快速发展面临的困境以及进行公共交通系统动力协调的必要性;然后提出强化政府主导作用的"4P"发展策略、激发公交运营企业主动力的品牌服务策略、拓展公众支持力的乘客关系管理策略、发挥营销传播助动力的促销策略等公共交通协同发展策略;由此增强公共交通竞争力,提高公交出行方式分担率,推动城市可持续发展。     

基于层次分析法与模糊综合评价法的公交线路运行效率研究

运用层次分析法与模糊综合评价法相结合的方法对长沙市公交线路运行效率进行评价,为交通监管部门的决策提供依据。     

基于功效系数法的城市公交线网优化模型

城市公共交通线网优化是城市客运交通规划的重要部分之一。对现有公交线网进行优化,可以更有效地利用现有资源,解决城市交通问题。通过对城市公交线网优化的主要内容、优化模式、优化目标以及约束条件的分析,同时兼顾乘客出行时间、线网平均满载率、公交线网密度和公交线网的布局,对整个城市交通系统的影响提出优化目标的函数表达式及相应约束条件的数学表达式,建立公交线网优化的多目标模型。通过对模型的分析,提出可用功效系数法对模型进行寻优和评价。     

基于理念更新的城市公共交通优先发展制度框架

破除发展理念误区与分歧、提升理念认识深度是加快推进中国城市公共交通优先(以下简称"公交优先")发展制度建设的首要任务。首先从公民权利和城市发展两方面总结了国际城市公交优先理念的基本内涵,并结合基本国情归纳了对中国城市公交优先理念的基本认识。接着,分析了国际城市公交优先不同制度与措施的战略出发点与实施效果,将公交优先理念划分为需求引导、品质吸引与效率提升三个层次。然后针对现状中国制度建设推进面临的问题,从核心价值、制度安排、工具与技术、绩效评价四个层次对城市公交优先发展的制度框架进行设计,提出制度建设在不同层面与不同阶段的任务、重点以及相关措施、建议。     

Port privatization under Cournot vs. Bertrand competition: a third-market approach

By incorporating port competition into a third-market model consisting of two exporting firms and one importing country, we demonstrate the endogenous choice of port structures (i.e. privatization or public ownership) under either Bertrand or Cournot competition. In contrast to previous studies on port competition, we analyze the port strategy in view of all trading countries (i.e. importing country and exporting countries). We find that regardless of transport cost, the port ownership strategy alters according to exporting firm’s competition mode. Under Bertrand competition, the choice of port ownership structure depends on the degree of imperfect substitutability. However, under Cournot competition, all trading countries choose same ownership structures of each port. By comparing equilibrium of each competition mode, we show that welfare of exporting country under Cournot competition is higher than under Bertrand competition if goods are sufficiently substitutes. In contrast, importing country prefers Bertrand competition to Cournot competition when the competitive pressure is sufficiently high.     

对我国道路运输行业管理方针的探讨

面对我国道路运输业存在的诸多问题,指出了加强行业管理的重要性,并对道路运输业的经济本质进行了理论分析。尽管世界各国的道路运输行业都不具备自然垄断的形态,但文章仍然在我国首次提出了道路运输业属公用事业范畴的观点,这在一定程度上给出了我国道路运输业管制与放开争议的解决思路。根据我国道路运输行业所处的发展阶段和发展环境,提出了政府对道路运输行业的管理不仅不应消弱,相反应该大大加强的观点。对于竞争不完全的市场,政府的管制是至为必要的;仅强调开放运输市场只会增加竞争的无序和资源的浪费。文章认为今后相当时期对道路运输行业应实施适度管制的管理方针,而管制的重点在于运输市场的准入。