Determining Universal Postal Service Accessibility in Postal System by Applying Transport Connectivity Criterion

Abstract

Univerzalna usluga u poštanskom sustavu omogućuje svakomu stanovniku pojedine države pristup osnovnom skupu poštanskih usluga prema jednakim uvjetima uz određenu razinu kakvoće usluge. Većina zemalja Europske Unije propisuje određene obveze, odnosno kriterije koje davatelji univerzalne usluge moraju ispunjavati vezano uz gustoću elemenata poštanske mreže. Kriteriji se razlikuju od zemlje do zemlje te ne postoji općeprihvaćen način za određivanje gustoće poštanske mreže. U dosadašnjim istraživanjima, dostupnost univerzalne usluge korisnicima analizirala se prvenstveno s aspekta davatelja usluge optimizacijom broja pristupnih točaka poštanske mreže, pri čemu kriterij prometne povezanosti nije bio primijenjen. Gustoća elemenata poštanske mreže u Republici Hrvatskoj uređuje se kao i u većini europskih zemalja nacionalnim regulatornim okvirima. U ovom radu provedena je analiza dostupnosti elemenata poštanske mreže prema postojećim kriterijima te određen pokazatelj dostupnosti usluge, kao osnova za usporedbu i određivanje dostupnosti usluge primjenom kriterija prometne povezanosti. Poseban je naglasak na određivanju dostupnosti poštanske usluge u ruralnom području. U tu svrhu definirano je područje obuhvata usluge, uzimajući u obzir prihvatljiva vremena putovanja za korisnike usluga u ruralnim područjima, te su određene vrijednosti pokazatelja dostupnosti usluge, primjenom kriterija prometne povezanosti. Analizom prihvatljivih vremena putovanja za tri načina pristupa korisnika poštanskom uredu: pješačenjem, bicikliranjem i osobnim vozilom, istražen je utjecaj i promjene vrijednosti pokazatelja dostupnosti. Razvijeni model za određivanje dostupnosti univerzalne usluge korisnicima usluge, primjenom kriterija prometne povezanosti, predstavlja podlogu za analizu utjecaja varijacija broja i rasporeda elemenata poštanske mreže na dostupnost univerzalne usluge.Universal service enables each resident of a certain country access to a basic set of postal services, with equal terms and a certain level of quality of service. Most countries of the European Union regulate certain specification, or criteria that universal service providers must meet, in connection to the density of elements of the postal network. The criteria vary from country to country, and there is no generally accepted method for determining the density of postal network. In previous research the accessibility of the universal service is mostly analysed in terms of the service provider, implementing the optimization of the number of access points of the postal network, where the transport connectivity criterion is not applied. Density of the elements of the postal network in in Republic of Croatia are similar as in most European countries, and is set by the national regulatory frameworks. In proposed research, a detailed analysis of the availability of elements of the postal network under the existing criteria is carried out, where service accessibility indicator is determined as a basis for comparison and determination of the service accessibility, according to the transport connectivity criterion. Special emphasis is on the accessibility of postal services in rural areas. For this purpose, service catchment area will be defined, bearing in mind the acceptable travel time for customers in rural areas, and accessibility indicator is determined, taking into account transport connectivity criterion. By analysing acceptable travel time for three possible travel modes: walking, cycling and by personal vehicle, impact and variation of the accessibility indicator for the proposed travel modes will be determined. Developed model to determine postal service accessibility is a basis for analysing impact of the variation of the number and formation of elements of the postal network on the universal service accessibility

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