Traffic and emissions impact of congestion charging in the central Beijing urban area: A simulation analysis

Congestion charging is being considered as a potential measure to address the issue of substantially increased traffic congestion and vehicle emissions in Beijing. This study assessed the impact of congestion charging on traffic and emissions in Beijing using macroscopic traffic simulation and vehicle emissions calculation. Multiple testing scenarios were developed with assumptions in different charging zone sizes, public transit service levels and charging methods. Our analysis results showed that congestion charging in Beijing may increase public transit use by approximately 13%, potentially reduce CO and HC emissions by 60–70%, and reduce NOx emissions by 35–45% within the charging zone. However, congestion charging may also result in increased travel activities and emissions outside of the charging zone and a slight increase in emissions for the entire urban area. The size of charging zone, charging method, and charging rate are key factors that directly influence the impact of congestion charging; improved public transit service needs to be considered as a complementary approach with congestion charging. This study is used by Beijing Transportation Environment and Energy Center (BTEC) as reference to support the development of Beijing’s congestion charging policy and regulation.     

城市综合体对社区居民出行行为影响研究

城市综合体作为一种高度复合的新型开发模式，通过改变社区建成环境，对居民日常活动产生了潜移默化的影响.本文从交通规划者视角，对城市综合体产生的社区居民出行行为影响进行了研究.基于问卷调查数据，通过倾向得分匹配预处理，弱化个人信息对于出行特征分析的干扰，以有城市综合体的社区居民自陈述的出行变化作拟纵向分析，初步把握城市综合体对社区居民出行特征产生的影响趋势.而后对有无城市综合体两类社区居民的出行数据进行对比分析.结果显示，城市综合体开发模式可有效促进居民产生更多的短距离慢行出行替代机动化长距离出行以满足弹性需求.本研究可为城市综合体区别于传统单一用地开发模式的交通系统配置提供方向指导.     

Happy or liberal? Making sense of behavior in transport policy design

Appropriate microeconomic foundations of mobility are decisive for successful policy design in transportation and, in particular, for the challenge of climate change mitigation. Recent research suggests that behavior in transportation cannot be adequately represented by the standard approach of revealed preferences. Moreover, mobility choices are influenced by factors widely regarded as normatively irrelevant. Here we draw on insights from behavioral economics, psychology and welfare theory to examine how transport users make mobility decisions and when it is desirable to modify them through policy interventions. First, we explore systematically which preferences, heuristics and decision processes are relevant for mobility-specific behavior, such as mode choice. We highlight the influence of infrastructure on the formation of travel preferences. Second, we argue that the behavioral account of decision-making requires policy-makers to take a position on whether transport policies should be justified by appealing to preference satisfaction or to raising subjective well-being. This distinction matters because of the (i) influence of infrastructure on preference formation, (ii) health benefits from non-motorized mobility, (iii) negative impact of commuting on happiness and (iv) status-seeking behavior of individuals. The orthodox approach of only internalizing externalities is insufficient because it does not allow for the evaluation of these effects. Instead, our analysis suggests that transport demand modeling should consider behavioral effects explicitly.     

Integrating mesoscopic dynamic traffic assignment with agent-based travel behavior models for cumulative land development impact analysis

A number of approaches have been developed to evaluate the impact of land development on transportation infrastructure. While traditional approaches are either limited to static modeling of traffic performance or lack a strong travel behavior foundation, today’s advanced computational technology makes it feasible to model an individual traveler’s response to land development. This study integrates dynamic traffic assignment (DTA) with a positive agent-based microsimulation travel behavior model for cumulative land development impact studies. The integrated model not only enhances the behavioral implementation of DTA, but also captures traffic dynamics. It provides an advanced yet practical approach to understanding the impact of a single or series of land development projects on an individual driver’s behavior, as well as the aggregated impacts on the demand pattern and time-dependent traffic conditions. A simulation-based optimization (SBO) approach is proposed for the calibration of the modeling system. The SBO calibration approach enhances the transferability of this integrated model to other study areas. Using a case study that focuses on the cumulative land development impact along a congested corridor in Maryland, various regional and local travel behavior changes are discussed to show the capability of this tool for behavior side estimations and the corresponding traffic impacts.     

基于传播模型的非机动车违规过街行为研究

为研究信号交叉口非机动车违规过街行为，选取西安市的7个信号交叉口，通过视频拍摄获取资料，应用复杂网络来分析非机动车网络的结构特征和演化规律.建立了交叉口非机动车网络，基于SI模型的基本思想，提出了非机动车违规过街行为的传播模型.并通过python程序进行模拟分析，在不同的网络结构和不同的传播率下，获取了非机动车违规过街的行为趋势.结果表明：随着等待时间的增加，一旦有骑行者闯红灯，更多的骑行者将加入到违规过街的行列；在内向度和外向度方面，电动自行车均高于普通自行车；非机动车违规行为随着传播率及非机动车流量的增加而增加.     

Climate change behaviors related to purchase and use of personal cars: Development and validation of eco-socially conscious consumer behavior scale

A constantly changing environment and global warming are issues that are recognized at all global forums. One of the major reasons for global warming is the emission of greenhouse gasses which is primarily caused by use of personal cars as means of transport. This study reports on the development of an eco-socially conscious consumer behavior (ESCCB) scale specific to purchase and use of personal cars, based on samples of actual automobile customers in Pakistan. Using mixed method approaches, the results of 3 studies yield a 9-item three-dimensional scale (eco-social conservation, eco-social use, and eco-social purchase) with satisfactory reliability, construct validity and nomological validity. Second-order factor analysis revealed that eco-social purchase was the most important dimension, followed by eco-conservation and eco-social use. A test of nomological behavior shows that the scale is positively associated with a related construct: environmental concern. This study advances the literature on pro-environmental behaviors by introducing a conceptual definition of ESCCB related to personal car purchase and use, developing a measure for the ESCCB concept and validating the scale in the context of an emerging economy, Pakistan. The scale provides important insights for marketers in the automobile industry for remodelling marketing plans, as well as for environmentalists focusing on strategies to bring change in consumer behavior.     

Hitting the sweet spot: Variability in commute lengths and vehicle emissions across a diverse state

In this paper we consider travel across Virginia and identify sustainability “sweet spots” where commute lengths and vehicle emissions per mile combine to maximize green travel in terms of total CO₂ emissions associated with commuting. The analysis is conducted across local voter precincts (N = 2373 in the state) because they are a useful proxy for neighborhoods and well-sized for implementing policy designed to encourage sustainable travel behavior. Virginia is especially appropriate for an examination of variability in sustainable travel behavior and technologies because the state’s transportation, demographic, and political patterns are particularly diverse and have been changing rapidly. We identify four Virginia precinct-based sustainability clusters: Sweet Spots, Emerging Sweet Spots, Neutral and Non-sustaining. A model of demographic differences among the clusters shows that sustainability outcomes, understood in terms of both local commute behavior and vehicle emissions, are significantly associated with the diverse demography and politics of the state. We also look at changes in transportation sustainability and socio-demographic trends within the clusters over the past half-decade, showing that differences in sustainability and demographic metrics are actually accelerating within the state over time. We conclude with a discussion of the implications of the differences among the clusters for developing and implementing effective transportation sustainability policies across the state.     

Formal scientific research of traffic collision data utilizing GIS

This paper explores the tenuous link between speeding behavior and accident causation, one that has not been well established in the international literature to date. Taking advantage of established engineering conventions and formulae, we were able to set up an a priori hypothesis suitable for testing. Utilizing this formal scientific method (which GIS researchers have been criticised for not using) we establish a statistical link for this relationship. Our methodology can be used to support all police intervention strategies, including the controversial photo radar systems. The results from our research have been entered into a GIS in order to create a map for spatial display. This map illustrates the relative probability or risk of collision occurrence resulting from speeding at all intersections and interchanges within the scope of the study. It is suggested that this methodology could easily be maintained with periodic updates of data, thus creating a dynamic model from which to monitor traffic safety within the city. Furthermore, this model can be utilized to study specific strategies, allowing for the scrutiny of before, during and after effects. The study area is the entire city of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and includes all traffic collisions occurring during the year of 1994.     

Do cooperative systems make drivers’ car-following behavior safer?

The main goal of in-vehicle technologies and co-operative services is to reduce congestion and increase traffic safety. This is achieved by alerting drivers on risky traffic conditions ahead of them and by exchanging traffic and safety related information for the particular road segment with nearby vehicles. Road capacity, level of service, safety, and air pollution are impacted to a large extent by car-following behavior of drivers. Car-following behavior is an essential component of micro-simulation models. This paper investigates the impact of an infrastructure-to-vehicle (I2V) co-operative system on drivers’ car-following behavior. Test drivers in this experiment drove an instrumented vehicle with and without the system. Collected trajectory data of the subject vehicle and the vehicle in front, as well as socio-demographic characteristics of the test drivers were used to estimate car-following models capturing their driving behavior with and without the I2V system. The results show that the co-operative system harmonized the behavior of drivers and reduced the range of acceleration and deceleration differences among them. The observed impact of the system was largest on the older group of drivers.     

5-羟色胺转运体基因多态性和抑郁症的发病、性别、严重程度及自杀行为的相关性

目的探讨中国汉族人群5-羟色胺转运体启动区(5-HTTLPR)基因多态性和抑郁症的发病、性别、严重程度及自杀是否相关。方法应用聚合酶链式反应(PCR)扩增技术测定150例抑郁症患者和150例正常对照者的5-HT-TLPR基因型和等位基因,分别验证各种基因型与中、重度抑郁症发病、性别及自杀行为的相关性。结果病例组SS、LS基因型及S等位基因频率均高于对照组(26.0% vs.20.0%;52.7% vs.46.0%;52.3% vs.43.0%;P均<0.05);两组性别分层比较,女性S等位基因频率高于对照组(55.3% vs.43.6%,P<0.05);病例组严重程度分层比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);病例组有无自杀行为分层比较,有自杀行为患者SS基因型频率(37.3% vs.20.2%)及S等位基因频率(61.8% vs.47.5%)均高于无自杀行为患者(P<0.05);抑郁自杀组性别分层比较未显示显著性差异(P>0.05);抑郁自杀组病情程度分层比较,重度抑郁自杀者SS基因型频率(42.5% vs.18.2%)及S等位基因频率(68.7% vs.36.4%)均高于中度抑郁自杀者(P<0.05)。结论在中国汉族人群中,5-HTTLPR多态性和抑郁症相关。S等位基因可能是抑郁症的易感基因,特别是女性,SS型可能是抑郁症易感基因型;S等位基因可能是抑郁症患者自杀的危险基因,SS基因型人群可能是抑郁症患者自杀的危险人群,特别是携带S等位基因的重度抑郁症患者更易自杀。