A tool to aid redesign of flexible transport services to increase efficiency in rural transport service provision

This research was supported by the Research Councils UK Digital Economy programme award (reference: EP/G066051/1) to the dot.rural Digital Economy Hub, at the University of Aberdeen.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Enhancing urban-rural connectivity in non-metropolitan regions: a methodology in support to decision-making

Accessibility to services and opportunities is vital to achieve the EU goals of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Some territories are worse equipped than others in this concern, due to their intrinsic peripheral character. Their weak and scattered mobility demand has progressively made traditional public transport subject to efficiency savings and cut to the bone. Such measures contributed to worsen social inequality, as they affect especially those already vulnerable groups who do not have access to a car. In this light, to improve urban-rural connectivity is essential for granting equal access to services and opportunities and, in turn, greater social justice. Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) has been often seen as a panacea for all the circumstances where traditional services are not viable, but a range of barriers (institutional, cultural, technological and economic) suggests that its adoption is more challenging than it may seem. Drawing on the results of the ESPON URRUC project, the paper sheds light on this issue, exploring the variables according to which various DRT solutions may or may not prove viable in a given area. On this basis, the authors propose a transport policy toolkit that may support decision-maker aiming at enhancing urban-rural connectivity across Europe

On the role of frameworks and smart mobility in addressing the rural mobility problem

Acknowledgements: We would like to acknowledge the European Commission in funding the SMARTA project (Contract n. No MOVE/B4/SER/2017-473/S 12.780134), which has enabled this research to take place. The insight papers and good practice cases referred to in this paper have been completed by members of the SMARTA Consortium: MemEx (IT), University of Aberdeen (UK), Transport & Mobility Leuven (BE), Vectos (UK) and European Integrated Projects (RO).Peer reviewedPostprin

URRUC - Urban-rural Connectivity in Non-metropolitan Regions. Annex II: Conceptualisation and Methodology

Annex II contains a methodological overview of the URRUC project

Integrated Passenger Transport System in Rural Areas – A Literature Review

The planning and organisation of public passenger transport in rural areas is a complex process. The transport demand in rural areas is often low, which makes it hard to establish and run a financially sustainable public transport system. A solution is integrated passenger transport that eliminates deficiencies and provides benefits for all participants in the public passenger transport process. This paper describes the impact of integrated passenger transport on mobility in rural areas and critically evaluates different literature sources. Integration of passenger transport in urban areas has been described in the context of rural areas, and the challenges of integration of public passenger transport specific to rural areas have been analysed. Through the application in urban and rural areas, the planning of integrated and non-integrated passenger transport has been functionally analysed. The analysis found an increase in the degree of mobility in the areas that use integrated passenger transport compared to the non-integrated one. This research of the literature review has identified the rural areas of mobility as under-researched. The mobility research can set up a more efficient passenger transport planning system in rural areas

Decarbonising UK transport : Implications for electricity generation, land use and policy.

This research was undertaken as part of the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) research programme under the ADdressing Valuation of Energy and Nature Together (ADVENT) project, funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NE/M019691/1) United Kingdom. Funding was also received from the School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom. The authors would also like to thank Dr Christian Brand, University of Oxford, for giving them access to the Transport Energy and Air Pollution Model UK (TEAM – UK).Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Mobility and Public Transit: Navigating Rural - Place Based Solutions for Rural Canada

Rural ResilienceNavigating Rura