Miroslav Marada

Developments in the public transport serviceability of rural settlements with examples from va rious types of micro-regions

This article seeks to explore differentiated developments in transport serviceability at the level of municipalities and their sub-divisions in Czechia from 2001 to 2009. Two different peripheral rural micro-regions – Sedlcany and Ledec nad Sazavou – were selected for evaluation. The analysis is based on a number of statistical indicators, such as the index of change between 2001 and 2009 and the coefficient of variability. It is typical for these rural micro-regions that bus transport comprises the backbone of the service network, while railway connections directly impact the “modal split” only in a few small municipalities located along a railway line. In general, a higher degree of fragmentation of the settlement system negatively impacts the provision of transport serviceability by means of public transport.

Evaluation of Competitiveness of Rail Transport on Example of Connection Among Regional Capitals in Czechia

Evaluation of Competitiveness of Rail Transport on Example of Connection Among Regional Capitals in Czechia The article is focused on evaluating the significance of rail passenger transport in transport contacts among regional capitals in Czechia representing the most important centres in the settlement hierarchy. The review of the particular connections works with the values of the year 2007 and is based on the relationship between supply and demand for rail passenger traffic. The evaluation is based on the number of rail links within the working day, while assuming that the supply is influenced by the location of the centre in the transport network and its position in the settlement hierarchy. Real demand data represent the number of tickets sold by the Czech Railways. Theoretical size of the interaction is obtained by application of the gravity model. Based on the final evaluation of indicators of supply and demand for rail traffic among regional capitals and their interactions, relations are described where demand is substantially below, respectively beyond the level of real supply and theoretical interaction, which is based on the importance of centres and their accessibility of the railway transport in time. In conclusion, the opportunities for the development of infrastructure in the selected connection in relation to transport planning are outlined, using the obtained results.

Delimitation of functional transport regions: understanding the transport flows patterns at the micro-regional level

ABSTRACT The main purpose of the article is the delimitation of functional regions in the Czech Republic based on the car transport flows. We argue that the traditionally used criteria for delimitation of functional regions (especially based on commuting to work flows) gradually losing their value. Therefore, we delimited functional regions as newly defined transport regions. Spatially expressed transport flows are unique indicators of complex spatial relations. We work with the daily intensities of car transport, which tend to create apparent nodal structures. Nodal structures are evident in particular at the micro-regional level, since transport flows reflect polarization between cities and their hinterlands. We use the concept of local minimum of transport intensities to delimit the boundaries of transport regions. As a result, we defined 235 functional transport regions (FTR) in the Czech Republic, which reflect the core-hinterland polarization. The delimited FTR represent logically arranged functional units, which we have subsequently compared with other types of functional regions. During these comparisons with various types of regions, we concluded that the greatest correlations are achieved with the regions of commuting to services.

Geographical Education from the Czech, Slovak and Polish Point of View

The world community of the first two decades of the twenty-first century represents a complicated system. Its functioning is greatly affected by information. The world is interconnected by information. People, including children, are overwhelmed, or even more attacked, with huge amounts of information and signals. Innovation is the driving force for development in all areas of life. Technological progress increases the technical literacy of the world’s inhabitants. On the other hand, differences between advanced and less advanced areas are broadening. Global inequalities become the substrate for abuse of confidence, increase in tension, conflicts and terrorism. Regrettably, Democracy as a system of social governance has not worked universally. Political systems in many parts of the world where attempts to overthrow authoritative regimes have emerged are fragile and unstable. A great part of the world’s inhabitants lives in poverty. People are more often than not confronted with diversity. Uncertainty is increasing; fear of insecurity is growing. Children and the younger generation are growing and maturing under these complex conditions. These facts affect their development and quality of education has crucial impertance.

Delimitation of Nodal Regions Based on Transport Flows: Case Study of the Czech Republic

Abstract The delimitation of nodal regions belongs among the fundamental methods of studying spatial organisation. Nodal regions are defined as regions in which intraregional interactions are closed. With respect to the available information on spatial interactions, nodal regions are defined especially on the basis of data on commuting to work, migration flows, etc. Much less attention, however, has been paid to the theoretical and methodological questions of delimitation of nodal regions based on transport flows. In this case, transport flows that rank among the bearers of basic spatial interactions have high explanatory power, as they reflect not only commuting relations (commuting to work), but also service, business, recreational and other relations. The goal of this paper is to delimit nodal regions based on car transport flows in two regions in the Czech Republic and to evaluate their relevance in studying complex socio-economic relations within the regions.