ArticlePDF Available

What is a good transport review paper?

Taylor & Francis
Transport Reviews
Authors:
Jonas De Vos at University College London
Jonas De Vos
Ahmed M. El-Geneidy at McGill University
Ahmed M. El-Geneidy
Download full-text PDF
Read full-text
Download citation

Figures

Figures - available via license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
Content may be subject to copyright.
Available via license: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Content may be subject to copyright.
Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at
https://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=ttrv20
Transport Reviews
ISSN: (Print) (Online) Journal homepage: https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/ttrv20
What is a good transport review paper?
Jonas De Vos & Ahmed El-Geneidy
To cite this article: Jonas De Vos & Ahmed El-Geneidy (2021): What is a good transport review
paper?, Transport Reviews, DOI: 10.1080/01441647.2021.2001996
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/01441647.2021.2001996
© 2021 The Author(s). Published by Informa
UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis
Group
Published online: 15 Nov 2021.
Submit your article to this journal
Article views: 1338
View related articles
View Crossmark data
What is a good transport review paper?
Jonas De Vos
a
and Ahmed El-Geneidy
b
a
University College London, London, UK;
b
McGill University, Montreal, Canada
1. Introduction
For more than a year now we have been privileged as editors-in-chief of Transport
Reviews, trying to fill the big shoes of our predecessor Professor David Banister, while
receiving great help of associate editors Michael Browne and Johan Woxenius taking
care of freight-related papers. In 2021, around 400 articles will be submitted to the
journal, with only a small share of this number being accepted (e.g. in 2021 only 37
papers were published), and most papers being rejected (desk-rejected or rejected
based on comments from reviewers). Hence, we felt the time is right to write an editorial
paper indicating what we expect from a transport review paper and what we do not wish
to see in submitted papers. Doing so, we try to help future authors to maximise their
chances of publishing in Transport Reviews, while also discouraging authors to submit
papers that are not a good fit for the journal or papers that do not follow the guidelines.
In this editorial, we explain the core elements of a good transport review paper and also
give practical tips on how to write and publish a transport review paper, while also indi-
cating which aspects we prefer not to see in papers submitted to Transport Reviews.
2. Elements of a transport review paper
2.1 A literature review
A literature review plays a central role in a transport review paper. Different types of lit-
erature reviews exist, often depending on the topic. Papers on a very specific topic (e.g.
bicycle safety at roundabouts, Poudel & Singleton, 2021) or a very recent phenomenon
(e.g. dockless bike-sharing systems, Chen et al., 2020) search for papers in databases
such as Web of Science, Scopus or Google Scholar to find relevant papers based on
specific keywords. For further guidelines of how to search for relevant papers, we refer
to van Wee and Banister (2016). However, a review paper does not always need a detailed
search for papers. Authors writing papers discussing classical debates in the field of trans-
port (e.g. residential self-selection, Guan et al., 2020) or broader subjects (e.g. the impact
of transport on well-being, Chatterjee et al., 2020) may rely on their own knowledge on
which relevant studies to describe, since a search may result in too many studies. A litera-
ture review can also be supported by secondary data. This data can show transport-
© 2021 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any
medium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way.
CONTACT Jonas De Vos jonas.devos@ucl.ac.uk
TRANSPORT REVIEWS
https://doi.org/10.1080/01441647.2021.2001996
related evolutions over certain time frames and differences according to regions (for
cycling, see for instance Pucher & Buehler, 2008). Some review papers follow a systematic
approach and search in several databases when the review is more specific to make sure
the full body of research on the topic is covered in the literature review. The inclusion of
gray literature is always an option, especially for topics that have specific practical appli-
cation as some reports generated by transport authorities can be of value to enrich the
literature review.
2.2 Other elements adding value to a review paper
A review paper, however, is more than just writing a literature review; a review paper must
make a clear contribution to the transport field. We argue that a review paper can do this
in three ways: (1) by discovering new links and creating a conceptual model or framework,
(2) generating new avenues for further research and (3) developing policy recommen-
dations and providing insights for policy and practice (Figure 1).
2.2.1 A conceptual model
A good overview of the existing literature can discover underexplored links which can
result in the generation of a conceptual model or framework. Such a model can create
new insights on a certain transport-related topic and can stimulate researchers to
explore the suggested links in future research. For instance, the presented relationships
between travel attitudes, residential location choice and travel behaviour by Cao et al.
Figure 1. Core elements of a transport reviews paper.
2J. DE VOS AND A. EL-GENEIDY
(2009) have resulted in many studies analysing residential self-selection. The conceptual
model presented by De Vos et al. (2013) showing possible ways in which transport can
influence different types of subjective well-being has stimulated the field of transport
and well-being, while the framework of Liao et al. (2017) has been an inspiration for
studies analysing consumer preferences for electric vehicles. Also recently presented con-
ceptual models, e.g. on electrical vehicle charging (Teoh, 2022), accessibility (Vecchio &
Martens, 2021) and transport services (Durand et al., 2022) are likely to impact future
transport research.
2.2.2 Future research needs
Transport review papers can also focus on challenges that researchers are facing when
trying to answer research questions and can suggest ways in how future studies
should analyse a certain transport-related topic. This can refer to the use of certain meth-
odologies which previously were ignored (e.g. advanced methods such as machine learn-
ing), but can also refer to the collection and use of certain data (e.g. cross-sectional vs.
longitudinal; quantitative vs. qualitative), or the use of certain scales. Studies can also
point to the need for investigating certain underexplored links or to focus on certain
population groups. For instance, Handy et al. (2014) reviews challenges that researchers
face in finding ways to stimulate cycling by highlighting limitations of the existing
research, identifying remaining research needs and discussing methodological consider-
ations for addressing those needs. In a recent study, Gkiotsalitis and Cats (2021) give sug-
gestions for future studies on how to analyse recently emerged research gaps resulting
from the significant drop in public transport ridership due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2.2.3 Policy implications
Afinal way in how transport review papers can make valuable contributions to the trans-
port field is by providing recommendations for policymakers, transport operators and
transport planners. This practice is more common in the health field, where policies are
derived from review papers based on an analysis of the evidence published previously
and through doing a critical appraisal of the papers published on a certain topic. Based
on the literature review, authors can suggest ways to make (passenger or freight) trans-
port more sustainable, efficient and equitable, and how it may improve –or reduce the
negative impacts on –people’s health and well-being levels. Chatterjee et al. (2020),
for instance, present potential policy actions to enhance the commuter experience and
reduce the negative well-being impacts of long-duration commutes, while Gössling
and Lyle (2021) give an overview of policies that can result in climatically sustainable avia-
tion. Additionally, Sivanandham and Gajanand (2020) give policy suggestions for putting
freight transport platooning into practice, while Pucher and Buehler (2017) give an over-
view of policies that can promote more and safer cycling. Volker and Handy (2021)
recently contributed to the ongoing policy debate on the economic impacts of bicycle
infrastructure on local businesses.
2.3 Tips for writing a good transport review paper
Authors considering writing a transport review paper should take into account several
elements. First, potential authors should check whether previous studies have not
TRANSPORT REVIEWS 3
already provided an adequate review of a certain topic, and whether there is room for an
additional review (e.g. with a different viewpoint). Second, authors should evaluate
whether writing a review paper on that topic is relevant and whether it can provide
added value (e.g. by providing a new framework, policy recommendations or avenues
for further research). Once decided to write a review paper, authors should clearly state
how they searched for papers (e.g. to enable future replication of the search), i.e. which
databases and keywords were used, whether time and geographical restrictions were
applied and which type of papers were excluded. A figure explaining this process can
be helpful. If no systematic search for papers was performed (e.g. due to a broad
topic), this should be explained and justified. A review paper should not only give an over-
view of existing studies but should also evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of articles
found, and indicate whether their methodology, results and conclusions are reliable.
Finally, authors should try to (i) create comprehensive conceptual models/frameworks
which can easily be understood and applied in future studies, (ii) state clear policy rec-
ommendations which urban/transport planners can easily put into practice and/or (iii)
give clear suggestions for future studies on how to create better insights on the topic
(e.g. by the use of certain data or methodologies).
2.4 What we are not looking for
We do not plan to publish papers performing primary data analysis (i.e. studies collecting
and analysing data followed by a description and discussion of the found result), nor do
we want papers to focus on a small geographical area (e.g. using one city/country as case
study). A review of studies originating from a large area (e.g. a continent) is possible if this
focus can be justified. We are also not looking for studies performing a detailed analysis or
ranking of the authors, universities, countries and journals from which papers originate.
This information can briefly be mentioned (e.g. in the introduction) if this can help in posi-
tioning the topic of the review paper, but it should not be the focus of the paper. A word
cloud of keywords or the evolution in the number of papers per year are also types of ana-
lyses we do not see much value in. Transport reviews papers should also be easy to read
for a non-expert audience. As a result, we encourage authors to avoid jargon and not
make the paper too technical, e.g. by avoiding (too many) equations or mathematical for-
mulations. It is important for authors to check the legibility of their figures and tables,
since we often receive papers with unreadable figures or tables with too much infor-
mation included. Finally, we encourage authors interested in publishing a paper in Trans-
port Reviews to have a look at the authors’guidelines, in order to avoid submitting papers
which are too long (longer than 8000 words, excluding references), or having too many
figures/tables or references (i.e. more than 6 and 100, respectively).
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
ORCID
Jonas De Vos http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4919-2157
4J. DE VOS AND A. EL-GENEIDY
Ahmed El-Geneidy http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0942-4016
References
Cao, X. J., Mokhtarian, P. L., & Handy, S. L. (2009). Examining the impacts of residential self-selection
on travel behaviour: A focus on empirical findings. Transport Reviews,29(3), 359–395.
Chatterjee, K., Chng, S., Clark, B., Davis, A., De Vos, J., Ettema, D., …Reardon, L. (2020). Commuting
and wellbeing: A critical overview of the literature with implications for policy and future
research. Transport Reviews,40(1), 5–34.
Chen, Z., van Lierop, D., & Ettema, D. (2020). Dockless bike-sharing systems: What are the impli-
cations? Transport Reviews,40(3), 333–353.
De Vos, J., Schwanen, T., Van Acker, V., & Witlox, F. (2013). Travel and subjective well-being: A focus
on findings, methods and future research needs. Transport Reviews,33(4), 421–442.
Durand, A., Zijlstra, T., van Oort, N., Hoogendoorn-Lanser, S., & Hoogendoorn, S. (2022). Access
denied? Digital inequality in transport services. Transport Reviews, published online. https://doi.
org/10.1080/01441647.2021.1923584
Gkiotsalitis, K., & Cats, O. (2021). Public transport planning adaption under the COVID-19 pandemic
crisis: Literature review of research needs and directions. Transport Reviews,41(3), 374–392.
Gössling, S., & Lyle, C. (2021). Transition policies for climatically sustainable aviation. Transport
Reviews,41(5), 643–658.
Guan, X., Wang, D., & Cao, X. J. (2020). The role of residential self-selection in land use-travel
research: A review of recent findings. Transport Reviews,40(3), 267–287.
Handy, S., van Wee, B., & Kroesen, M. (2014). Promoting cycling for transport: Research needs and
challenges. Transport Reviews,34(1), 4–24.
Liao, F., Molin, E., & van Wee, B. (2017). Consumer preferences for electric vehicles: A literature
review. Transport Reviews,37(3), 252–275.
Poudel, N., & Singleton, P. A. (2021). Bicycle safety at roundabouts: A systematic literature review.
Transport Reviews,41(5), 617–642.
Pucher, J., & Buehler, R. (2008). Making cycling irresistible: Lessons from The Netherlands, Denmark
and Germany. Transport Reviews,28(4), 495–528.
Pucher, J., & Buehler, R. (2017). Cycling towards a more sustainable transport future. Transport
Reviews,37(6), 689–694.
Sivanandham, S., & Gajanand, M. S. (2020). Platooning for sustainable freight transportation: An
adoptable practice in the near future? Transport Reviews,40(5), 581–606.
Teoh, T. (2022). Electric vehicle charging strategies for urban freight transport: Concept and typol-
ogy. Transport Reviews, published online. https://doi.org/10.1080/01441647.2021.1950233
van Wee, B., & Banister, D. (2016). How to write a literature review paper? Transport Reviews,36(2),
278–288.
Vecchio, G., & Martens, K. (2021). Accessibility and the capabilities approach: A review of the litera-
ture and proposal for conceptual advancements. Transport Reviews,41(6), 833–854.
Volker, J., & Handy, S. (2021). Economic impacts on local businesses of investments in bicycle and
pedestrian infrastructure: A review of the evidence. Transport Reviews,41(4), 401–431.
TRANSPORT REVIEWS 5
... To assess our research questions, we performed a systematic literature review for two main reasons; First, the keyword-based database search ensures that as much of the relevant body of research is covered as possible (De Vos & El-Geneidy, 2022). Second, systematic reviews provide a transparent and replicable scientific procedure that reduces reviewer bias (Tranfield et al., 2003). ...
View
... Finally, there is also a need for a systematic review of previous urban DRT services. Such as review would help to understand how and to what extent various service attributes, service area context, information of the mobility ecosystem and service implementation setup are analyzed in various urban DRT case (De Vos and El-Geneidy, 2022;Wee and Banister, 2016). In this regard, applying MLP framework can be useful to understand the dynamics and interplay of various factors, such as in previous reviews of other topics (Geels, 2011;Geels, 2002). ...
A phase-based perspective on urban demand responsive transport: A case study of Viavan pilot in Helsinki Capital Region
Article
Full-text available
  • Nov 2023
Despite decade-long efforts, real-time demand-responsive transport (DRT) services are still struggling to be a part of sustainable urban mobility systems. Among various approaches to understand the changing nature of DRT service, a longitudinal perspective has been found very effective. This study presents the case of an urban DRT pilot operated by Viavan in the Helsinki Capital Region, Finland. Research develops and implements a framework for longitudinal analysis, while drawing from the multi level perspective (MLP) on sustainability transitions. DRT trip data is used to understand the service trajectory longitudinally over specific phases, delineated through key changes in service design. In addition, the framework uses three-level analysis of service parameters, to provide in-depth analysis in studying inter-phase and intra-phase changes. Case study approach also provides a comprehensive service area background and service implementation context to support the analysis. Results shows the complementary role of the urban DRT to fixed public transport services and points out certain challenges for efficient coordination. In addition, the analysis points towards a set of regime factors that should be considered for further understanding of the service trajectory. In practice, special emphasis should be paid on developing the mobility ecosystem and managerial practices. Future DRT case studies should develop additional frameworks, indicators and methods by drawing from sustainability transitions theory, to further understand service trajectories over time.
View
... This first filter gave us sufficient flexibility to consider also more general mode choice papers that are equally relevant for our purposes of studying car ownership and use. As the number of articles was found to be extensive and possibly prohibitive, we decided to narrow down the scope following the guidelines offered by Banister (2016) andEl-Geneidy (2021). To do so, we carried out a labelling process where we characterized the set of 383 papers in terms of the type of variables analysed, considering not only subjective factors but also the (i) built environment, (ii) urbanization level, (iii) economic and equity considerations, (iv) other transportation modes, and (v) the role of life events. ...
The role of personal motives in determining car ownership and use: a literature review
Preprint
Full-text available
  • Aug 2023
Car dependency leads to a variety of societal problems and challenges, not least environmental ones. It is thus not only relevant but also critical to better understand the determinants of car ownership and use. Among those contributing factors, the role of subjective factors is often acknowledged to be important, yet not well understood. We conduct a systematic review of the literature regarding the effect of such motives on car ownership and usage. Based on the commonalities found in the reviewed articles, we identify and describe the five most relevant subjective factors in detail: (i) instrumental motives and autonomy, (ii) affective motives, (iii) symbolic motives, (iv) social norms, and (v) environmental motives. We synthesize these findings in a car ownership/use motives model, discuss implications for public policy and outline directions for future research.
View
... This work aims to contribute to 3 objectives mentioned as good practices on relevant literature on transport reviews; a compilation of the state of knowledge on OS in the rail sector (Van Wee, Banister 2016), the provision of recommendations for policy makers at European Level, and the provision of suggestions on future research needs (De Vos, El-Geneidy 2022). The paper starts with a discussion about the concept of OS as well as the areas comprising it and assesses the relevance of each area for the rail sector. ...
An overview on open science in the European rail sector
Article
Full-text available
  • May 2022
  • TRANSPORT-VILNIUS
Despite the increasing relevance of Open Science (OS) in the European research landscape, very few publications have addressed the analysis of its role within the European rail context. To this effect, the present paper aims at contributing to shed light on the topic by setting the cornerstone for a differentiated analysis of OS in this sector. In order to do so, the analysis is divided into 2 main sections. The 1st provides an overview of initiatives and experiences regarding OS, which have been recently carried out in the sector. The analysis of initiatives and scientific publications has shown that Open Data (OD) is the area attracting more attention and with more potential for expansion mainly due to the commercial interest of the data. As expected, the use of Open Tools (OT) is common but, interestingly, a growing interest in the development of OT in the sector has been detected. The creation of Open Standards (OSt), developed by specific rail stakeholders’ groups or by coalitions of different stakeholders is increasing in the last years. Amongst the OS areas analysed, Open Access (OA) and Citizen Science (CS) have shown less progress. However, tendencies toward an increasing interest in these areas within the sector has been also detected. The 2nd section aims to uncover the issues or barriers preventing a wider spread of OS specifically in the rail sector and suggest regulatory avenues and actions to overcome them. The identified issues revolve around 3 topics: the lack of initiative on behalf of the European Union (EU) to a) engage other stakeholders beyond the field of research, and b) leverage untapped OS potential in sector-specific situations, which could contribute to its development; and finally, the absence of a sector-specific OS framework. The establishment of such a framework could have a significant positive impact in OD, which is the most appealing area and thus contributing to the uptake of OS as a whole in the sector. In view of such issues, the present paper suggests the establishment of: (1) a European Rail Open Science Policy Platform in order to create a forum-like space in which to align the stakeholder’s positions, and (2) a Joint Rail Data Action Plan to design an OS governance framework, with the aim to ensure the usability, quality, and reliability of data. After identifying the state of OS in the rail sector and the uncovering of several issues that are hindering its development, this paper concludes that the constant further monitoring with regards to needs, challenges and interests (or lack of such) of the different rail stakeholders is key to ensure the continuous development of OS.
View
View
The current attention and traction of fauna-sensitive road design in Australian transport research: a systematic review
Article
  • Jul 2024
The implementation of fauna-sensitive road design has the potential to mitigate negative impacts on wildlife caused by roads. However, our previous international review found adoption of fauna-sensitive road design has been limited at the level of transport planning, even in nations that mandate this. In Australia, where the adoption of fauna-sensitive road design is still in its early stages, a review of 57 peer-reviewed papers revealed that transport practitioners generally have not acknowledged or considered fauna-sensitive road design measures or road ecology concepts. This lack of consideration is due to deeply rooted economic interests and attitudes institutionalised within the industry. While the development of fauna-sensitive road design is possible in the Australian transport sector, a substantial institutional change driven by appropriate policies and user experiences is necessary. We recommend future studies explore practitioner experience to better understand the conditions that facilitated the voluntary adoption of fauna-sensitive road design policies in two Australian states. . . . . . This article is open access and freely available to all. You can access the full-text from the DOI link below the title.
View
View
View
View
Towards a typology of logistics “work” beyond formal employment: a synthesised literature review
Article
  • Oct 2023
  • Int J Phys Distrib Logist Manag
Purpose Logistics at work is rapidly changing. The changing trend is especially prominent when considering the active involvement of individuals that perform diverse forms of formal/informal “logistics work” (e.g. crowd logistics and self-collection). Thus, by conducting a synthesised review ( n = 55), this study aims to provide a typology of individuals' logistics work. Design/methodology/approach The total social organisation of labour is used as a guiding framework. A deductive literature analysis is performed based on the identified journal articles. Findings The review findings reveal three major contexts where individuals perform logistics work: formal organisation, social community and private household, with a decreased level of formality. Under each context, individuals may be engaged in paid or unpaid activities, creating six forms of logistics work, termed as paid/voluntary professional logistics, incentivised/friendly social logistics and rewarded/free consumer logistics. Furthermore, an actor–sphere–resource–value conceptualisation of individual logistics is proposed, focussing on the chains of actors, work settings, resource input and value outcome. Originality/value The results provide a theoretical foundation for further research in individual- or consumer-centrism in logistics. Two research directions and seven research questions are presented for future investigation.
View
Electric vehicle charging strategies for Urban freight transport: concept and typology
Article
Full-text available
  • Jul 2021
Charging services play an important role in encouraging the growth of the electric freight vehicle (EFV) market. Understanding charging strategies and their influence on charging behavior is crucial in the deployment of charging services. Unfortunately, existing charging strategy definitions and types are incoherent and incomplete. This conceptual paper synthesizes the perspectives found in literature on the charging strategy concept, and provides a definition based on Orlikowski’s structurational model of technology. A two-level charging strategy typology is proposed. The first distinguishes between decision-making modes: schedule- or trigger-based decisions. The second identifies when and where charging is used during a vehicle operating cycle. The result is three schedule-based charging strategies: downtime, opportunity, and intrusive charging, and one trigger-based emergency charging. The selection of strategy depends on the EFV operations, the availability of charging systems and services, as well as the driver behaviour. The influence of the strategy on enhancing the EFV, the carrier operations and business model is discussed. Charging behaviour, especially in location and timing, is shown to be strongly dependent on the strategy. While downtime charging is considered the default strategy, carriers should employ a variety of complementary strategies to enhance the capability of their vehicles and improve the financial viability of the operations. Carriers should also have an emergency charging strategy on hand in case of unforeseen situations.
View
Transition policies for climatically sustainable aviation
Article
Full-text available
  • Jun 2021
Emissions from aviation are expected to grow. With evidence that the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation is an inadequate mitigation mechanism, there is interest in upscaling the sector’s climate-related policies. This paper reviews potential aviation emissions mitigation policies against the background of emerging complexities, such as the large share of radiative forcing not covered under any policy agreement, as well as highly skewed demand distributions. In total, 30 voluntary, market-based and regulatory “transition policies” are identified and evaluated with regard to their potential to reduce emissions from air passenger transport and to initiate the transition to new fuels and propulsion technologies. The paper also discusses the potential public acceptance of differing policies. It concludes that the removal of fossil fuel and related subsidies represents a priority, supported by policy mixes comprising levies (CO2, frequent fliers, premium classes) and a feed-in quota for definitively established sustainable aviation fuels. To reduce flight emissions is feasible in principle, but will require policy initiatives at the national level or at the level of regional jurisdictions such as the European Union.
View
Access denied? Digital inequality in transport services
Article
Full-text available
  • May 2021
Digitalisation in transport services offers many benefits for travellers. However, not everyone is willing or able to follow the new, more or less formal requirements digitalisation has brought along. Existing reviews on the intersection between Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and mobility cover a range of vantage points, but the perspective of how various levels of engagement with digital technologies affect access and navigation of transport services has not been addressed yet. In communication science, studying disparities in terms of ICT appropriation and their consequences is known as digital inequality research. This review paper aims at shedding light on what digital inequality in the context of transport services consists of and what its consequences are. To do so, we define and use a conceptual framework for the analysis of digital inequality in transport services. The review of the twenty-five papers, as selected in our systematic literature search, shows that there is a burgeoning interest in this topic. Vulnerability to digitalisation in transport services exists along dimensions of age, income, education, ethnicity, gender and geographical region. We find that motivations and material access get more attention than digital skills and effective usage. Nevertheless, literature acknowledges that having material access to technology does not mean that people benefit from what technology has to offer. Furthermore, the characteristics of ICTs impact one’s possibilities to access digital technologies, such as how user-friendly a technology is. Data-driven and algorithm-based decision-making present a particularly pernicious form of digital exclusion from transport services. As digital technologies are progressively becoming indispensable to navigate the world of transport services, low levels of digital engagement may create a new layer of transport disadvantage, possibly on top of existing ones. Although digitalisation can be part of the solution to transport disadvantage, it can also be part of the problem. With network effects at play, what might start as a relative disadvantage may turn into an absolute disadvantage. Given the nascent state of research on digital inequality in transport services, much remains to be understood. Suggested research avenues include mechanisms of digital exclusion from transport services, the contribution of digital inequality to transport disadvantage, and importantly, solutions to mitigate its impacts.
View
Economic impacts on local businesses of investments in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure: a review of the evidence
Article
Full-text available
  • Apr 2021
Local officials in the North America frequently face opposition to new or expanded bicycle or pedestrian facilities. The most vocal opponents are usually motorists and local business owners who fear that the removal of or reductions in vehicular parking or travel lanes will reduce patronage from motorists and that any increased patronage from pedestrians or cyclists will not offset the lost revenues. A lack of direct evidence on the economic impacts of facilities on local businesses has made it difficult to support or debunk such fears. A lack of quantitative evidence in particular has prevented the incorporation of such impacts into cost–benefit analyses. The issue has received enough attention from researchers in recent years that a review of the evidence is now warranted. We reviewed the relevant literature and identified 23 studies, focusing on the US and Canada, that either (1) quantified and compared consumer spending between active travellers and automobile users (n = 8), or (2) quantified an economic impact to local businesses following the installation of bicycle or pedestrian facilities (n = 15). Taken together, the studies indicate that creating or improving active travel facilities generally has positive or non-significant economic impacts on retail and food service businesses abutting or within a short distance of the facilities, though bicycle facilities might have negative economic effects on auto-centric businesses. The results are similar regardless of whether vehicular parking or travel lanes are removed or reduced to make room for the active travel facilities. The studies also highlight best practices for designing future research. Ten of the 15 studies that quantified an economic impact to local businesses used both before-and-after data and comparison sites or other statistical controls for variables unrelated to the active travel facility “treatment;” six of those used statistical testing.
View
Public transport planning adaption under the COVID-19 pandemic crisis: literature review of research needs and directions
Article
Full-text available
  • Dec 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic crisis has greatly impacted public transport ridership and service provision across the world. As many countries start to navigate their return to normality, new public transport planning requirements are devised. These measures imply a major reduction in service capacity compared to the pre-COVID-19 era. At the time of writing, there is a severe lack of knowledge regarding the potential impact of the pandemic on public transport operations and models that can support the service planning given these new challenges. In this literature review, we systematically review and synthesise the literature on the impacts of COVID on public transport to identify the need to adjust planning measures, and, on the other hand, the existing methods for public transport planning at the strategic, tactical and operational level. We identify intervention measures that can support public transport service providers in planning their services in the post-shutdown phase and their respective modelling development requirements. This can support the transition from the initial ad-hoc planning practices to a more evidence-based decision making. ARTICLE HISTORY
View
Dockless bike-sharing systems: what are the implications?
Article
Full-text available
  • Jan 2020
The emergence of dockless bike-sharing services has revolutionised bike-sharing markets in recent years, and the dramatic growth of shared bike fleets in China, as well as their rapid expansion throughout the world, exceeds prior expectations. An understanding of the impacts of these new dockless bike-sharing systems is of vital importance for system operations, transportation and urban planning research. This paper provides a first overview of the emerging literature on implications of dockless bike-sharing systems for users' travel behaviour, user experience, and relevant social impacts of dockless bike-sharing systems. Our review suggests that the dockless design of bike-sharing systems significantly improves users' experiences at the end of their bike trips. Individuals can instantly switch to a dockless shared bike without the responsibility of returning it back to a designated dock. Additionally, the high flexibility and efficiency of dockless bike-sharing often makes the bike-sharing systems' integration with public transit even tighter than that of traditional public bikes, providing an efficient option for first/last-mile trips. The GPS tracking device embedded in each dockless shared bike enables the unprecedented collection of large-scale riding trajectory data, which allow scholars to analyse people's travel behaviour in new ways. Although many studies have investigated travel satisfaction amongst cyclists, there is a lack of knowledge of the satisfaction with bikeshare trips, including both station-based and dockless bikeshare systems. The availability and usage rates of dockless bike-sharing systems implies that they may seriously impact on individuals' subjective well-being by influencing their satisfaction with their travel experiences, health and social participation, which requires further exploration. The impact of dockless bike-sharing on users' access to services and social activities and the related decreases in social exclusion are also relevant issues about which knowledge is lacking. With the increases in popularity of dockless shared bikes in some cities, issues related to the equity and access and the implications for social exclusion and inequality are also raised.
View
Accessibility and the Capabilities Approach: a review of the literature and proposal for conceptual advancements
Article
  • May 2021
The Capability Approach, developed by Sen and Nussbaum, has recently gained increasing attention in the transport literature. This paper adds to this growing body of literature by investigating how the approach can generate consistent evaluative approaches to inform (urban) transport planning. The paper reviews the mobility literature that has investigated the Capabilities Approach and identifies the opportunities and challenges of employing the approach as a basis for transport planning. The review highlights the different, and sometimes patchy, ways in which the key notions of the approach have been conceptualised and operationalised. Discussing this growing but scattered literature, the paper embraces the emerging direction that understands accessibility as the capability that transport planning and policy should consider. Further refining this understanding, the paper proposes a twofold evaluative approach combining a top-down and a bottom-up component to capture the myriad of conversion factors shaping people’s accessibility-as-capability and functioning. By systematically adopting the Capabilities Approach, transport planning and mobility policies will be directed to enhancing each person’s freedom to pursue the life they have reason to value in contemporary societies.
View
Bicycle safety at roundabouts: a systematic literature review
Article
  • Jan 2021
As roundabouts become increasingly popular, and as many communities promote bicycle use, the safety of roundabouts for people bicycling is of major concern. Although converting an intersection to a roundabout may reduce crashes overall, some research from northern Europe suggests that roundabouts may actually increase the frequency of bicycle crashes. We perform a systematic literature review on this topic, reviewing 49 different resources with empirical findings (most from Europe, some from Australia/New Zealand, few from the US). Many studies analyse (limited) bicycle crash data or observe driver/cyclist behaviours and interactions, while a few survey cyclists’ safety perceptions. Consistent with design guidance, bicycle safety performance is worse for higher-speed, multilane roundabouts and when on-roadway bike lanes are provided. Crash data and observations suggest that when cyclists “take the lane” and operate as vehicles – as is allowed or even recommended in some current design guidelines – this leads to conflicts and crashes between circulating cyclists and entering drivers who may have “looked but failed to see” (and thus failed to yield to) the cyclist. Providing separated cycle paths around the roundabout seems to be a lower-risk and more comfortable design solution, although care must be taken to encourage appropriate yielding at crossings. Future research should investigate more design features, socio-demographic characteristics, cyclist safety perceptions, and impacts outside of Europe. Studies should continue to explore ways to overcome limited bicycle crash and exposure data and to utilise naturalistic methods, driving simulators, and stated choice experiments.
View
Platooning for sustainable freight transportation: an adoptable practice in the near future?
Article
  • Apr 2020
Platooning is an emerging transportation practice that has the potential to solve the problems of the burgeoning transportation industry. A platoon is a group of vehicles, with vehicle to vehicle communication, that travel closely behind one another such that the platoon can accelerate, brake and cruise together. Platoons can improve road safety, be energy efficient and reduce costs. Its complete socio-economic benefits include congestion mitigation, smoother traffic flow, better lane usage and throughput, incentives for green logistics and driver safety. The long-term effect of platooning on road transportation, if extensively deployed, would be better organised traffic flow and efficient tracking of vehicles on the road ushering a multilevel positive impact on the industry. In this study, we attempt to answer the critical question of whether platooning is an adoptable practice in the near future and discuss an agenda to take platooning closer to implementation on the ground by highlighting the opportunities for future research. We also present a conceptual framework to help researchers, academicians, policy makers and practitioners for the adoption of platooning into the transportation industry.
View
The role of residential self-selection in land use-travel research: a review of recent findings
Article
  • Nov 2019
Residential self-selection (RSS) is an important concern in the land use-travel research. Although many studies have addressed RSS during the past two decades, empirical results are inconsistent in terms of the existence, magnitude, and direction of self-selection bias. Moreover, recent studies substantiated other plausible associations within the theoretical framework of RSS, such as the endogeneity of travel attitudes. These further complicate the role of RSS in the land use-travel relationship. To improve understanding, this paper summarises recent progress in the RSS research, especially the studies published in the last decade. Specifically, we review three types of influences among the built environment, attitudes, and travel behaviour, and discuss unsolved problems within each type. We also discuss measurement issues of the built environment and attitudes in the RSS research. Because attitudes could be confounders, moderators, and mediators of the link between the built environment and travel behaviour, we recommend panel data with at least three waves of household travel surveys to address the complicated influences of attitudes. Future research needs to be more process-oriented to better understand the nature of RSS and its complex roles in the land use-travel research.
View