Abstract

Public libraries have been social since their inception (they were created to meet a social need), because of their nature (they exist to serve citizens and the society), their roles and objectives (to inform, to train, and to share, create and socialize knowledge), and the values they promote (liberty, equality, democracy and non-discrimination). The complexities of today’s society, and especially the consequences of the economic crisis that began more than eight years ago, very directly affect the need to consider and recognize, beyond doubt, the social dimension of public libraries. They strengthen social cohesion and inclusion, as well as increase collaboration with other stakeholders. In this context, a team composed of librarians and experts from the third sector has created the Social Library Foundation (in Spanish, Fundación Biblioteca Social, FBS). The main objectives are to highlight the social role of public libraries, empower public libraries to carry out more projects targeting the most vulnerable people, and help the third sector to see public libraries as their allies.

Abstract

Although urban development around transit stations doesn’t lead to a direct financial contribution for the Transit Agency (or other infrastructure or planning body) it is “absolutely essential” to the long term viability of the transit investment (SKMG 1996, p. 4). The transit accessible area around the stations is generally far larger than the Transit Company’s real estate can reach. Many studies have been undertaken to define the influence zone of transit stations, i.e. the probability that at a certain distance from the station an employee or resident is ready to use transit as a transportation alternative for commuting or other travel purposes. “Walking distance” is the general qualification, that means five to fifteen minutes walking time, depending on the travel purpose, the travel alternatives and the system performance. It is obvious that the attraction is more important at stations of highly performing transit systems. Frequent Rapid Transit service has potentially more impact then Light Rail Service, especially when the Light Rail line is short and/or when the station is less frequented. Document type: Book

Abstract

India is uniquely placed to help reduce global poverty and boost prosperity. The country has the largest number of poor people in the world, as well are the largest number of people who have recently escaped poverty. There is an emerging middle class but the majority of people are still vulnerable to falling back into poverty. What lessons do the past two decades offer for what it will take for the country to sustain progress and bring about deeper changes? This synthesis brings together the key insights from extensive and in-depth research conducted by the World Bank on India’s experience in reducing poverty and sharing prosperity over the last two decades. The beginning chapter of the synthesis offers an overview of the trends in living standards and mobility in India. This is followed by a chapter on the main drivers of poverty reduction. The third chapter sheds light on some of the gaps India needs to fill for sustaining mobility and spreading prosperity more widely. Document type: Book

Abstract

Abstract\r Purpose — This paper explores the potential of ‘action research’ as transport survey method, with particular emphasis on critically assessing its utility in the resolution of major transport policy challenges, such as the mitigation of climate change and environmental impacts, transport-related social exclusion and intergenerational equity issues. Although not particularly novel within the social sciences, it is an approach that has been largely overlooked within the field of transport studies to date.\r \r Methodology/approach — The paper presents practical examples of where action research has been used to elicit information about people's travel experiences and behaviours and discusses how it achieves different outcomes from other qualitative transport survey methods. It identifies appropriate contexts for action research and explores the skills and techniques to overcome some of the main criticisms of the method. It then evaluates some of the critical challenges of applying an action research approach and identifies potential ways for overcoming these. Finally, it discusses the key challenges for analysis, presentation and dissemination of their action research ‘data’ and potential ways of overcoming these.\r \r Findings — Action research has a long history within the social sciences, dating back to practical problems in wartime situations in Europe and the United States. It can be applied at either the level of individuals, small groups and/or ‘communities’ and organisations, with the expressed aim of bringing together research enquiry and future policy or planned actions (ibid). It provides a useful additional survey technique for policy-makers wishing to understand the detailed process of travel behaviours and barrier to travel at the individual level.\r \r Originality/value of the paper — The action research method is specifically useful for supporting and actively encouraging behaviour change as an integral part of the research process. It has only recently emerged within the literature as a transport survey method. It can be a particularly useful method for developing more collaborative data collection methods research participants enquires and thus enable us to identify their underlying motivations, intentions, perceptions and negotiations, as well as the micro-level impacts of smaller scale transport initiatives. Document type: Part of book or chapter of book

Abstract

[EN] Very few contributions in the literature have dealt with the issue of social exclusion related to High Speed Rail systems. The objective of this manuscript is to understand what are the factors excluding users from choosing High Speed Rail services considering as case study Spain. For this purpose, a Revealed Preference survey was employed in November and December 2015. A questionnaire was submitted to users of the Spanish transport systems travelling for long distance-journeys. The aim was that of investigating their perception of High Speed Rail system and the factors inhibiting passengers or excluding them from its use. Data about their socioeconomic characteristics were collected as well. The main result of the survey has been that a relationship between social exclusion and High Speed Rail in Spain is present, especially in terms of geographical exclusion. Pagliara, F.; Menicocci, F.; Vassallo, JM.; Gomez, J. (2016). SOCIAL EXCLUSION AND HIGH SPEED RAIL: THE CASE STUDY OF SPAIN. En XII Congreso de ingeniería del transporte. 7, 8 y 9 de Junio, Valencia (España). Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 476-782. https://doi.org/10.4995/CIT2016.2015.3100 OCS 476 782

Abstract

This paper summarizes Mass Transit Systems (MTS) networks datasets, highlighting the lack of contribution on promoting access to opportunities and city-assets for the most vulnerable segments of the population. As case study São Luís, the city-capital of Maranhão holding the lowest average income in Brazil. Although social inequity issues seem ubiquitous in numerous Brazilian cities, this study reveals evidence of complications on social and spatial segregation being supported by a not reliable MTS service. It also produces an expensive and inefficient system, opening room for informal transports. Lack of subsidies constrains the system to provide a limited service to ‘On-Peak’ hours destinations, rising time-dependent users, and inhibiting the right to the city. A framework developed on system’s behavior analyze both ‘On-Peak’/‘Off-Peak’ periods identified deficiencies hidden behind MTS network’s capillarity, resulting in evidence of social exclusion and spatial injustice promoted by long headways, which does not ease access equally the city.

Abstract

“Social exclusion” is a concept that has become increasingly prominent in the UK and elsewhere in the last ten years. Social exclusion occurs as a result of a series of problems that prevent people from being able to participate in activities that are considered normal in their society. Some of these problems are related to issues of accessibility. This paper outlines work carried out in the context of the AUNT-SUE (Accessibility and User Needs in Transport in Sustainable Urban Environments) project to develop and model an appropriate set of accessibility benchmarks for older people. Results confirmed that the travel patterns of older people are very different from those of the average person in the UK and that it was necessary to tailor accessibility benchmarks to the characteristics of this group. A set of benchmarks was developed based on ability to undertake different types of activity. These benchmarks are currently being incorporated into AMELIA, a GIS-based tool for assessing the effect of different policy actions on accessibility. Issues that have arisen include how to model the myriad micro-level circumstances that affect the mobility of older people. Some initial analysis has shown that these details can make a substantial difference to the assessment of the accessibility of a destination. Examples are drawn from St Albans in Hertfordshire, UK.