Changing Urban Transportation Systems for Improved Quality of Life

Cities can measure the quality of their transportation systems and apply their insights to their transport policies. The efficiency of transportation systems can be defined by their availability, affordability, efficiency, convenience, and sustainability. Below, you’ll find a review of key factors that influence urban transportation commute, and the solutions that could solve transport issues.

Before the Trip

Availability directly influences how people choose to travel. A number of indicators define availability for four categories of transport options: 

·         Rail infrastructure: The proximity of train stations to workplaces and residences, as well as pedestrian access to and between public transport lines.

·         Road infrastructure: Road quality and the presence of bicycle lanes, as well as connectivity between car parks and pedestrian zones.

·         Shared transport: The number of vehicles in car-sharing services or the number of rental bikes per capita.

·         External connectivity: Access to destinations outside the city, including the number of flights departing from local airports.

Cities can leverage affordability to encourage or discourage certain modes of transportation:

·         Public transport: Ticket prices in relation to average income

·         Barriers to private transport: Cost of parking tickets, taxes, fees, and road tolls, as well as policies restricting the use of private vehicles

During the Trip

Efficiency involves speed and reliability and is especially important for public transit systems:

·         Public transport: Travel time at rush hour, waiting time for street-level transport options (buses, trams), and the proportion of dedicated bus lanes throughout the road network 

·         Private transport: The predictability of commuting time, differences between peak-hour and off-peak travel times, and average speed during peak times

Convenience affects the quality of public transport services. The following four parameters measure convenience:

·         Travel comfort: The quality and age of buses and train carriages, transport operating hours, the frequency of services, and the extent of access to the disabled

·         Ticketing system: Availability of a travel card that is valid for multiple modes of public transport, mobile ticketing, and remote top-up

·         Electronic services: The usability of public transport apps, access to WiFi in buses and metro carriages and stations, and the availability of real-time information on the progress of transit services, parking information and online payment options for parking

·         Transfers: The distance between metro stations and bus stops, the time it takes to transfer from one mode of public transport to another, and the availability of a navigation system to help passengers plan journeys

After the Trip

Transportation systems need to be safe and environmentally friendly to be sustainable:

·         Safety—the number of road and public transport-related casualties relative to population, as well as safety enforcement measures

·         Environmental impact—encompasses fuel standards, the age, and quality of vehicles, the proportion of electric vehicles sold, and the time private motor vehicles operate