Georg Hauger

Integrating High-Performance Transport Modes into Synchromodal Transport Networks

The European Union aims to introduce synchromodal transport networks to facilitate sustainable and efficient freight transport. One fundamental opportunity of synchromodality is a modal shift towards environmentally friendly transport modes. In this respect, the present paper examines if a modal shift towards high-performance transport modes is beneficial for the concept of synchromodality. We consider the Hyperloop technology as a prime example for high-performance transport modes as it is proposed that it will be faster than air transport and more energy efficient than train transport. The results suggest that integrating the Hyperloop into synchromodal networks involves mutual benefits for both, the Hyperloop and synchromodality.

Network-Based Point Pattern Analysis of Bicycle Accidents to Improve Cyclist Safety

Examining the spatial distribution of bicycle accidents under different conditions and in different periods is an important issue for increasing cyclist safety. A point pattern analysis methodology of 1,437 bicycle accidents that resulted in injury or death in the city center of Vienna, Austria, between 2012 and 2014 is described. Network-based kernel density estimation was used to examine the hot spots of bicycle accidents, and the network-based nearest-neighbor distance was taken into account to check the significance of the hot spots. Moreover, the global cross nearest-neighbor distance was used to test the effect of urban components on the distribution of bicycle accidents. An understanding of the temporal and conditional differences was obtained by analyzing the accident data in terms of four classifications: all accident data and then the accident data classified according to season, light conditions, and precipitation conditions. It was concluded that the bicycle accident hot spots varied in space according to season, light, and precipitation conditions. Also, these detected hot spots were significant for the pattern of accidents, no matter what classification was used. Besides these points, at the .95 confidence level, bicycle accidents tended to cluster by signalized intersections, bus and tram stations, subway stations, and city bike stations. As a result, a systematic framework was proposed for spatiotemporal analysis of bicycle accidents for the built environment. The framework can serve as a guide to determine effective strategies for cyclist safety in urban areas.

Reliability of Travel Time: Challenges Posed by a Multimodal Transport Participation

Travel time reliability represents an essential component in individual decision making processes for transport participants, particularly regarding mode choices. As criteria that describe the quality of both transportation systems and transportation modes, travel time reliability is already frequently compiled, analysed and quoted as an argument. Currently, travel time reliability is solely mentioned on monomodal trips, while it has remained unconsidered on multimodal transport participation. Given the fact that multimodality gained significantly in importance, it is crucial to discuss how travel time reliability could be determined on multimodal trips. This paper points out the challenges that occur for applying travel time reliability on multimodal transport participation. Therefore, examples will be given within this paper. In order to illustrate theoretical ideas, trips and influencing factors that could be expected within the everyday transport behaviour of commuters in a (sub)urban area will be described.

Overlooked Transport Participants – Mentally Impaired but Still Mobile

Providing an inclusive transport system is a global ambition. Whereas, mobility needs and mobility barriers of people suffering from a physical impairment have already been observed frequently, people suffering from mental impairments (due to e.g. anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, dementia or other degenerative diseases) are often overlooked. Numerous studies already suggest that the number of people with mental impairment will significantly increase due to the demographic change and is also shown by the prevalence of mental diseases. Whereby, not even the data collected do necessarily give the full picture of the actual situation. Thus, the importance of mobility needs and mobility problems of people with mental impairments will gain dramatically. Participating in the transport system is a basic need that furthermore requires the ability of adopting different roles (e.g. driver, pedestrian). Due to explanatory studies of the authors, it could be shown what kind of problems people with mental impairment are faced with while participating in the transport system or interacting in public space. Thus, these studies represent the first step that is needed to consider the specific needs of people with mental impairments in future planning. The identified problems of people who are suffering from mental impairment are various. Thereby it can be distinguished between problems triggered by structural (e.g. absence of emergency buttons, spacious stations), organisational (e.g. absence of security stuff, lacking information according time table of transit) or social conditions (e.g. crowed places or vehicles, stigmatisation). This paper presents an overall view of specific requirements of people with mental impairment and suggests possible solutions for planning and designing an inclusive transport system.