Transport research helps optimise travel
Passenger transport is expected to rise as the world's population grows, overwhelming existing transport infrastructures. Researchers and policymakers are looking at new ways to streamline passenger transport in order to pre-empt potential issues and render transport more sustainable. This was the aim of the EU-funded project 'Optimising passenger transport information to materialize insights for sustainable mobility' (OPTIMISM) . Working on new strategies to overcome this challenge, the project team focused on high-tech solutions based on combined modes of public transport, namely co-modality. It studied passenger needs, mobility patterns, social behaviour and business models to define more sustainable, carbon-neutral solutions. The project led to an in-depth analysis of national travel statistics in Europe and recommendations to harmonise travel behaviour analysis. The team also articulated probable megatrends shaping transport and mobility, as well as simulating mobility behaviour in the future. Topics such as technology needs and decarbonisation were also examined. Importantly, the project articulated a framework to evaluate co-modality and information and communication technology options within the context of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). It defined strategies to integrate and improve passenger transport systems, in addition to publishing a report on the impact of best practices related to mobility patters. Finally, OPTIMISM produced recommendations on the principles of sustainable mobility that would support stakeholders in achieving better transport models. All these valuable results were disseminated through conferences, publications, workshops and the project website, including a final conference held in Brussels, Belgium. Studying the travel choices and behaviour of European citizens is bound to help policymakers and authorities create a more sustainable transport sector. This in turn will help usher in cleaner, safer and more efficient travel in the future.
Keywords
Transport research, travel, transport data, passenger behaviour, passenger transport, transport infrastructure, sustainable mobility, co-modality, passenger needs, mobility patterns, social behaviour, transport system
