Abstract

The goal of the study was to investigate if the drivers behave in the same way when they are driving a motorcycle or a car. For this purpose, the Motorcycle Rider Behaviour Questionnaire and Driver Behaviour Questionnaire were conducted among the same drivers population. Items of questionnaires were used to develop a structural equation model with two factors, one for the motorcyclist's behaviour, and the other for the car driver's behaviour. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were also applied in this study. Results revealed a certain difference in driving behaviour. The principal reason lies probably in mental consciousness that the risk-taking driving of a motorbike can result in much more catastrophic consequences than when driving a car. The drivers also pointed out this kind of thinking and the developed model has statistically confirmed the behavioural differences. The implications of these findings are also argued in relation to the validation of the appropriateness of the existing traffic regulations. Glavni namen raziskave je preučevanje morebitnih vedenjskih razlik motoristov pri vožnji z motornim kolesom ali avtomobilom. V ta namen je izvedena anketa v obliki dveh vprašalnikov med isto populacijo motoristov. Prvi vprašalnik zrcali motoristične vedenjske, drugi pa avtomobilistične vedenjske vzorce. Na osnovi zbranih podatkov ankete je razvit model strukturnih enačb z dvema faktorjema, eden se nanaša na vedenjske lastnosti vožnje z motorjem, drugi pa na vedenjske lastnosti vožnje z avtom. V procesu razvoja modela sta uporabljeni tudi eksploratorna in potrditvena faktorska analiza. Rezultati kažejo, da dejansko obstajajo določene razlike v voznem obnašanju. Glavni razlog za to je verjetno v mentalnem zavedanju motoristov, da rizična vožnja z motorjem lahko vodi do mnogo hujših posledic v primerjavi z vožnjo z avtom. Motoristi namreč posebej izpostavijo tovrstno dojemanje razlik pri vožnji z motorjem ali avtom, kar naš model tudi statistično potrdi. Implikacije teh ugotovitev so soočene z morebitno neustreznostjo obstoječe prometne zakonodaje.

Abstract

Urban transport systems are facing seemingly irreconcilable problems.Sustainable transport policies are necessary to address this sustainability challenge. However,their effectiveness highly depends on the public attitude towards them. A method combiningboth qualitative and quantitative research was used to redefine a sustainable transport policybased on sustainability principles, and find out the key factors of public attitude towardssustainable transport policies. Furthermore, the interrelations between these factors arerevealed by using structural equation modelling. 1685 questionnaires were sent to fourrepresentative cities in Sweden: Stockholm, Göteborg, Uppsala and Karlskrona. By using thisfirst hand data, we discovered some differences between Karlskrona and these other threecities. The negative attitudes towards reducing car use and promoting public transport inKarlskrona is opposite to the positive attitudes in other cities. The acceptance of taxes, speedlimitation and parking regulation is notably different as well. The results also indicate that citycharacteristics influence public attitudes towards sustainable transport policies more thancitizens’ characteristics. The functionality of a city is the most significant factor. Moreover,the results show a high dependence on individual car use. This suggests that planners shouldnot use the experience gained from other cities without investigating actual local conditions.

Abstract

Transport is a key enabler of economic and social activity and a major industry in the European economy. However, transport is also a source of environmental concerns and other negative externalities. Improving the efficiency of the transport system, mitigating its negative impacts and increasing the competitiveness of the transport industry are the key challenges of EU policy. Innovation is essential for the European transport strategy to achieve these challenges. Acknowledging the fact that regions are important engines of economic development, regional innovations can be important drivers for growth and improvement of the transport sector in Europe. The innovation process and relative performance of the transport sector at regional level is, however, not extensively studied. In the framework of the European FP7-funded project METRIC a method has been developed to measure and explain the innovation performance of the transport sector at regional level. This paper outlines this method and presents the results of applying this method to 251 European regions. The method is based on structural equation modelling. This modelling technique enables to get scores for the innovation performance of each region and to derive estimations that express the relative importance of the explanatory factors for innovation performance. The analysis showed that the high performing regions were predominantly found in Germany and Sweden, while the low performing regions were located in Finland, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Spain and United Kingdom. However, the scores of regions on innovation performance are rather different when the performance is measured for the transport manufacturing and transport service sector individually. Among the factors that may explain transport innovat ion performance of regions funding possibilities appear to be highly important, while the relevance of innovation milieu is outmost limited.

Abstract

"jats:p"The performance of tourism supply chains depends on the efficiency of all members involved, including the travel agencies. The paper addresses the analysis of relationships between the agencies’ external integration with other supply chain members on one side, and the efficiency of the agencies on the other. The data envelopment analysis is applied for the estimation of efficiencies, while the structural equation modelling (SEM) is conducted for identification of possible integration impacts on the efficiency. Results show that integration with other supply chain members indeed has some positive impacts on the agencies’ efficiency. Also, the developed SEM model implies that in-depth forms of collaboration would enable more effective exploitation of the identified relations between the integration and efficiency of the agencies. This finding could be an important guideline for the agencies’ management in the sense of achieving more satisfied customers and bigger profits, as well as reduced operational costs. Document type: Article

Abstract

Peak Hour Avoidance is a relatively new Dutch mobility management measure. To reduce congestion frequent car drivers are given a financial reward for reducing the proportion of trips that they make during peak hours on a specific motorway section. Although previous studies show that employers are not eager to support mobility management measures, employers are nevertheless an important stakeholder. They can provide their employees with alternatives such as other travel times, work locations or travel modes and encourage their use. This paper investigates the attitudes of Dutch employers towards Peak Hour Avoidance. Exploring the factors that influence these attitudes may help to fully utilise employer support. The data from 103 employers were collected through a web questionnaire. A structural equation model on the employer support for Peak Hour Avoidance was estimated. The results demonstrate that the size of the organisation and sector only have an indirect effect on the support for Peak Hour Avoidance. Results reveal that most support for Peak Hour Avoidance can be expected from organisations who feel responsible for influencing the commuting behaviour of employees, that have human resource managers with a positive attitude towards Peak Hour Avoidance, with flexible working times and that have already implemented mobility management measures. The largest contribution to PHA that can be expected from employers is providing employees with flexible working times and encouraging employees to fully utilise this option as an alternative for driving in peak hours. This would not only be beneficial for PHA but for a wide range of mobility management initiatives as well.