JTLU Volume 2, No. 3 (2010)

Persistent link for this collection

https://hdl.handle.net/11299/170167

Table of Contents:

Networks, Commuting and Spatial Structures: An Introduction, pp. 1-4

The evolution of the commuting network in Germany, pp. 5-37

Modeling commuting systems through a complex network analysis, pp. 39-55

User inequity implications of road network vulnerability, pp. 57-73

Perceptions of public transport travel time and their effect on choice-sets among car drivers, pp. 75-86

Preferences for commuting in sparsely populated areas, pp. 87-107

Commuting in Belgian metropolitan areas, pp. 109-131

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Networks, Commuting and Spatial Structures: An Introduction
(Journal of Transport and Land Use, 2010) Reggiani, Aura; Rietveld, Piet
This article introduces vol. 2, no. 3 issue of Journal of Transport and Land Use.
The evolution of the commuting network in Germany
(Journal of Transport and Land Use, 2010) Patuelli, Roberto; Reggiani, Aura; Nijkamp, Peter; Bade, Franz-Josef
The analysis of the structure and evolution of complex networks has recently received considerable attention. Although research on networks originated in mathematical studies dating back to the nineteenth century (or earlier), and developed further in the mid-twentieth century with contributions to graph theory, interest in its application to the social sciences is currently growing—particularly in regional science and transportation, because of the spatial relevance of networks. This paper presents a dynamic outlook for the German commuting network from the perspective of the German labor market districts. The focus of this paper is to explore how the German commuting network evolves, from two perspectives: space and connectivity. We consider home-to-work commuters moving between 439 German districts for the years 1995 and 2005. The results of the present analysis make it possible to identify, among the main German districts, the most “open” and connected ones. These emerging districts can be considered as potential “hubs” in the German commuting system—that is, as attractors from the perspective of spatial economics, and as interconnectors from the perspective of networking.
Modeling commuting systems through a complex network analysis
(Journal of Transport and Land Use, 2010) De Montis, Andrea; Chessa, Alessandro; Campagna, Michele; Caschili, Simone; Deplano, Giancarlo
This study analyzes the inter-municipal commuting systems of the Italian islands of Sardinia and Sicily, employing weighted network analysis technique. Based on the results obtained for the Sardinian commuting network, the network analysis is used to identify similarities and dissimilarities be- tween the two systems.
User inequity implications of road network vulnerability
(Journal of Transport and Land Use, 2010) Jenelius, Erik
An important purpose of the road transport system is to allow people to commute in efficient and reliable ways. For various undesired reasons, however, link capacities are sometimes reduced or links are closed completely. To assess and reduce the risk of such events, a key issue is to identify road links that are particularly important, i.e. roads where disruptions would have particularly severe consequences. This paper presents a method for incorporating user equity considerations into a road link importance measure. As a complement to measuring the total increase in vehicle travel time, we also measure the disparity in the distribution among individual users. These two components are combined to form an equity-weighted importance measure. We study the properties of this measure both analytically and in a full-scale case study of the Swedish road network. A main result is that increasing the weight put on the equity aspect transfers importance from the main roads to smaller local roads. The use of the measure in transport policy and planning is discussed.
Perceptions of public transport travel time and their effect on choice-sets among car drivers
(Journal of Transport and Land Use, 2010) van Exel, Nicolaas Jacob Arnold; Rietveld, Piet
Car drivers’ perceptions of the quality of alternative travel modes have been identified as a barrier for including these alternatives in their choice sets. The present study investigated the accuracy of car drivers’ perceptions of public transport (PT) travel time and the potential effect of these perceptions on choice sets. A sample of car drivers was intercepted on the main corridors to Amsterdam, the Netherlands, using video recognition of license plates, and was sent a questionnaire asking (among other questions) whether they could have made the specific trip by PT and their estimate of the door-to-door travel time by PT. Objective travel times were obtained from route-planning software. 21,335 questionnaires (31%) were returned. About 10 percent did not report PT travel time for their car trip, largely car drivers who did not perceive PT as an alternative. The mean ratio of perceived travel time by PT to reported travel time by car was 1 : 2.3. About half the difference was due to distorted perceptions, and the ratio reported depended strongly on their PT use. Analysis of associations between choice set and characteristics of traveler and trip showed that if perceived PT travel times were more accurate a substantial number of car drivers would include PT in their choice set. Actual changes in behavior might be much smaller.
Preferences for commuting in sparsely populated areas: The case of Sweden
(Journal of Transport and Land Use, 2010) Sandow, Erika; Westin, Kerstin
In a time of decreased inclination to migrate and an increased place attachment, increasing commuting can improve the functionality of local labor markets. In regional development policy in Sweden, facilitating increased commuting over larger geographical areas is therefore viewed as essential for enhancing the supply of competent labor in all parts of the country and decreasing spatial segmentation. Building on an analysis of data from a survey of Swedish residents’ commuting options and preferences, this paper focuses on commuting in a relatively sparsely populated and peripheral area in northern Sweden. Further, the question of whether increased commuting is socially sustainable from a commuter’s perspective is discussed. The point of departure is that the individual and the individual’s context affect commuting behavior through social norms, geographical structure and available infrastructure. With respect to travel patterns and mode choice, a gender perspective is included in the analyses. The results show that the geographic and socioeconomic structure of the labor market place time restrictions on people’s commuting behavior and as a consequence people’s daily reach in sparsely populated areas is restricted. Geographical structure, available infrastructure, and socioeconomic factors (such as education, employment, and family situation) are also found to restrict women’s access to the local labor market to a greater extent than men’s. Furthermore, the study shows that the inclination to commute declines rapidly when commuting times exceed 45 minutes, regardless of gender, transport mode, and socioeconomic factors. Considering distances and the provision of public transport in sparsely populated areas, the car is valued as the most optimal mode of transport when commuting. If regional growth is to be promoted by facilitating commuting over longer distances, a higher level of car dependency must be accepted in sparsely populated areas.
Commuting in Belgian metropolitan areas
(Journal of Transport and Land Use, 2010) Verhetsel, Ann; Thomas, Isabelle; Beelen, Marjan
In order to understand patterns of urban commuter flows, insight is required into urban spatial structure (and vice versa). The present contribution first provides a concise overview of the theoretical perspectives from which economists and geographers approach commuting issues. Subsequently, the focus shifts to the classical spatial-economic urban models and how they explain commuter movements. We conduct a number of cluster analyses from which we are able to derive a commuting typology of city region areas. We conclude that distance (which also comprises journey time and proximity of traffic infrastructure), housing characteristics, housing environment, and income continue to play key roles in commuting patterns in the metropolitan areas under consideration.