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Sustainable Urban Mobility

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Transportation and Future Mobility".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2025 | Viewed by 18472

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Mihaela Popa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Doctoral School of Transport, National University of Science and Technology “Politehnica” Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
Interests: transport service scheduling; strategical decisions in transportation; urban/peri-urban transportation
Prof. Dr. Șerban Raicu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Doctoral School of Transport, National University of Science and Technology “Politehnica” Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
Interests: sustainable mobility; public transportation; city logistics; spatial analysis; road congestion
Prof. Dr. Dorinela Costescu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Doctoral School of Transport, National University of Science and Technology “Politehnica” Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
Interests: sustainable mobility; public transportation; city logistics; spatial analysis; network design
Dr. Grzegorz Karoń

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Transport Systems, Faculty Transport and Aviation Engineering, Traffic Engineering and Logistic, Silesian University of Technology, 40-019 Katowice, Poland
Interests: modelling of transportation systems and processes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Mobility is a polysemic concept used in several sciences. It was originally specific to sociology and geography but has also expanded into traffic science because of the increased use of cars in recent years. Now unanimously accepted, the concept includes social mobility, spatial mobility (residential relocation and mobility as travel-traffic), intellectual mobility, and professional mobility. Between these mentioned components/understandings of mobility are inter-conditions that have become much more complex with the evolution of technological progress and with the evolution of the information society.

Mobility is a complex concept that requires understanding which multidisciplinary examinations are necessary, with a pronounced emphasis on interdisciplinarity.

In essence, mobility is the expression of the form and structure of activities and the way of life within an urban system. For the mobility of individuals, the essential component of ensuring mobility rights is represented by public transportation. For goods mobility, sustainable urban distribution logistics still present challenges for research.

We find mobility in the quality of life of the city's inhabitants and their desire for a higher common good. That is why we want the sustainable urban mobility theme that we propose to reflect an integrative treatment of mobility, connected to the requirements of sustainable development. Consequently, we invite engineers, computer scientists, urban planners, sociologists, economists, geographers, ecologists, statisticians, and anyone else who is interested in the correct, integrative, and systemic promotion of sustainable urban mobility to participate in the development of the theme. Topics of interest include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • The interaction between mobility and urban planning: daily mobility vs. residential mobility.
  • The coherent city: correlations between urban pattern and travel/ transport-mobility available options.
  • Integrated urban networks for sustainable and smart mobility; the reliability and resilience of integrated mobility networks.
  • The effects of urban space fragmentation on proximity travel.
  • Public urban transportation: the impact of the transit network on real estate prices.
  • Accessibility and attractiveness in urban space (without cars).
  • Solutions to limit car dependence.
  • Funding of the public transportation system.
  • Equity/inclusiveness, effectiveness, and efficiency in urban public transportation.
  • The success of Mobility as a Service (MaaS) and intellectual mobility.
  • Modeling of sustainable urban mobility.
  • New techniques and technologies for sustainable city logistics.

Prof. Dr. Mihaela Popa
Prof. Dr. Șerban Raicu
Prof. Dr. Dorinela Costescu
Dr. Grzegorz Karoń
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

  • urban mobility
  • public transportation
  • integrated urban mobility networks
  • smart mobility
  • modeling of urban mobility
  • sustainable city logistics

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Published Papers (16 papers)

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23 pages, 3955 KiB  
Article
An Empirical Analysis of Crash Injury Severity Among Young Drivers in England: Accounting for Data Imbalance
by Amirhossein Taheri, Kevin Switala, Grigorios Fountas, Abbas Sheykhfard, Nima Dadashzadeh and Steffen Müller
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(9), 4793; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15094793 - 25 Apr 2025
Viewed by 292
Abstract
Crash data analysis is key to improving road safety, but imbalanced data challenges accurate predictions for severe crashes, often leading to biased outcomes. This study investigates crash severity among young drivers (aged 17–24) in England, using crash data collected between April 2019 and [...] Read more.
Crash data analysis is key to improving road safety, but imbalanced data challenges accurate predictions for severe crashes, often leading to biased outcomes. This study investigates crash severity among young drivers (aged 17–24) in England, using crash data collected between April 2019 and February 2022. To address the imbalance issue, the performance of a standard classification and regression tree (CART) model is compared with a modified approach—random undersampling of the majority class CART (RUMC-CART). Although RUMC-CART yields slightly lower accuracy, it demonstrates superior performance in identifying severe crashes. Key contributing factors—categorized as type of vehicle and vulnerabilities, number of vehicles and casualties, area type (urban vs. rural), vehicle maneuvers and dynamic factors, and minor influences and timeline—are shown to significantly impact injury severity outcomes among young drivers. The findings of the study provide valuable insights for developing targeted interventions to enhance road safety. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Mobility)
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35 pages, 6228 KiB  
Article
Optimal Routing in Urban Road Networks: A Graph-Based Approach Using Dijkstra’s Algorithm
by Zarko Grujic and Bojana Grujic
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(8), 4162; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15084162 - 10 Apr 2025
Viewed by 635
Abstract
This paper presents a new approach to optimizing route selection in urban road networks with sparsely placed traffic counters. By leveraging graph theory and Dijkstra’s algorithm, we propose a new method to determine the shortest path between origins and destinations in city traffic [...] Read more.
This paper presents a new approach to optimizing route selection in urban road networks with sparsely placed traffic counters. By leveraging graph theory and Dijkstra’s algorithm, we propose a new method to determine the shortest path between origins and destinations in city traffic networks with sparsely placed counters. The method is based on the similarities between traffic flows recorded at the counter and the streets that generate traffic for a given counter. The advantage of this method is the use of a secondary counter function to obtain data that are built into the shortest path determination model and the free choice of the time of day for which the path is searched. The proposed method is implemented using the programming language AutoLISP 2022 and program AutoCAD 2022, providing a valuable tool for transportation engineers and urban planners. This paper presents a model of the shortest path that integrates one-way streets, the average speed of the car, as well as the delay time at traffic-lighted and non-traffic intersections. The model was applied to the traffic network of the city of Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina), but there are no restrictions for application to any network equipped with traffic counters. The obtained results show a high agreement with the Google Maps service as a reference system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Mobility)
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19 pages, 4916 KiB  
Article
Applying Spectral Clustering to Decode Mobility Patterns in Athens, Greece
by Eirini Andrinopoulou and Panagiotis G. Tzouras
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(7), 3419; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15073419 - 21 Mar 2025
Viewed by 476
Abstract
The limited availability of mobility data makes it challenging to model demand, especially its spatiotemporal variations. Simultaneously, traditional transport modeling tools often rely on less disaggregated approaches, leading to gaps in understanding. To overcome these limitations, this study introduces the spectral clustering method [...] Read more.
The limited availability of mobility data makes it challenging to model demand, especially its spatiotemporal variations. Simultaneously, traditional transport modeling tools often rely on less disaggregated approaches, leading to gaps in understanding. To overcome these limitations, this study introduces the spectral clustering method to uncover major demand patterns considering various transport modes. It focuses on Athens, Greece, and utilizes a set of 1347 reported trips. The study reveals six distinct trip clusters. The first group, “an evening stroll nearby”, captures short distance tours typically undertaken by walking. The second cluster, “my work is nearby but I use my car” highlights a significant trend where individuals with short commutes, less than 6 km, predominantly use private cars. The third cluster, “commuting by metro”, features long-distance trips primarily for work. The fourth cluster reveals long-distance work-related trips with private cars, favored by active residents with high income. The fifth pattern, “trips of young people”, involves midnight recreational and moderate-distance morning trips for education, with an increased usage of public transport. The sixth cluster concerns short distance tours for various activities. The findings indicate that the second cluster’s high reliance on private cars for short trips is problematic. Reducing this reliance should be a priority for policymakers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Mobility)
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31 pages, 2132 KiB  
Article
Criteria for Route Evaluation of Automated Buses
by Sönke Beckmann, Hartmut Zadek and Sebastian Trojahn
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(4), 1683; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15041683 - 7 Feb 2025
Viewed by 556
Abstract
Automated buses are a component of future mobility concepts. However, these vehicles will only realize their full potential when they are highly automated, without a driver on board, and operate on public roads. In addition to the further development of vehicle technology, the [...] Read more.
Automated buses are a component of future mobility concepts. However, these vehicles will only realize their full potential when they are highly automated, without a driver on board, and operate on public roads. In addition to the further development of vehicle technology, the planning of automated bus deployment represents an important field of research. The selection of suitable routes is influenced by various criteria related to infrastructure, road users, and the environment. There is limited literature on the criteria for the route evaluation of automated vehicles, and specifically, no studies exist concerning automated buses. To address this research gap and determine the weighting of these criteria, expert interviews and a case study were conducted. The expert interviews were utilized to identify the criteria that influence the operation of automated buses. Furthermore, the weighting of these criteria was determined, facilitating their prioritization. The case study examined the extent to which these criteria could be derived from publicly available data. With the criteria catalog developed in this work, transport authorities and transport companies will be able to assess entire operational areas regarding the deployment of automated buses and prioritize suitable routes at an early planning stage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Mobility)
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14 pages, 8996 KiB  
Article
Where We Rate: The Impact of Urban Characteristics on Digital Reviews and Ratings
by Özge Öztürk Hacar, Müslüm Hacar, Fatih Gülgen and Luca Pappalardo
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(2), 931; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15020931 - 18 Jan 2025
Viewed by 814
Abstract
In urban environments, eating and drinking out (EDO) is a widespread activity among residents and visitors, generating a wealth of digital footprints that reflect consumer experiences. These digital traces provide businesses with opportunities to enhance their services and guide entrepreneurs in selecting optimal [...] Read more.
In urban environments, eating and drinking out (EDO) is a widespread activity among residents and visitors, generating a wealth of digital footprints that reflect consumer experiences. These digital traces provide businesses with opportunities to enhance their services and guide entrepreneurs in selecting optimal locations for new establishments. This study investigates the relationship among urban spatial features, pedestrians and digital consumer interactions at EDO venues. It highlights the utility of integrating urban mobility and spatial data to model digital consumer behavior, offering potential urban planning and business strategies. By analyzing Melbourne’s city center, we evaluate how factors, such as pedestrian count by sensors on the streets, residential density, the centralities and geometric properties of streets, and place-specific characteristics, influence consumer reviews and ratings on Google Maps. The study employs a random forest machine learning model to predict review volumes and ratings, categorized into high and low classes. The results indicate that pedestrian counts and residential density are key predictors for both metrics, while centrality measures improve the prediction of visitor scores but negatively impact review volume predictions. The geometric features of streets play varying roles across different prediction tasks. The model achieved a 65% F1-score for review volume classifications and a 62% for visitor score. These findings not only provide actionable understanding for urban planners and business stakeholders but also contribute to a deeper understanding of how spatial dynamics affect digital consumer behavior, paving the way for more sustainable urban development and data-driven decision-making. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Mobility)
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23 pages, 4472 KiB  
Article
Using Minimum Travel Time to Determine Factors Influencing Travel Time Discrepancy and Variability in Tram Transit
by Dino Šojat, Marko Slavulj, Matija Sikirić and Mario Ćosić
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(24), 11599; https://doi.org/10.3390/app142411599 - 12 Dec 2024
Viewed by 889
Abstract
Quality of service in urban surface transit has a great impact on sustainable urban mobility, with travel time being one of the most important indicators of service reliability. But urban surface transit is prone to many disturbance factors causing travel time discrepancy and [...] Read more.
Quality of service in urban surface transit has a great impact on sustainable urban mobility, with travel time being one of the most important indicators of service reliability. But urban surface transit is prone to many disturbance factors causing travel time discrepancy and variability, making transit less reliable for passengers. We conducted research in the City of Zagreb on a single tram line by splitting it into constant-frequency segments. The first phase was modeling minimum segment travel times to base the indicators and predictors upon, and the second phase was establishing correlation matrices between the predictors and travel time using Pearson correlation coefficients and significance. Variance inflation factors were used to check for collinearities. While predictors belonging to the transport supply irregularity group did not have an impact, the ones belonging to the disturbance factors group showed correlation, with six of them being significant. This research in rarely represented tram transit determined the most significant disturbance factors rich in traffic context that can be used to develop travel time prediction models. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Mobility)
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20 pages, 1459 KiB  
Article
A Lifestyle-Based Perspective on the Mobility Choices and Preferences of Urban Travelers
by Maria Chatziathanasiou, George Botzoris, Maria Morfoulaki and Kornilia-Maria Kotoula
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(24), 11542; https://doi.org/10.3390/app142411542 - 11 Dec 2024
Viewed by 812
Abstract
This study investigates how lifestyle factors influence mobility choices within the metropolitan area of Thessaloniki, which is the second largest city in Greece. The primary objective is to understand the interplay between lifestyle attitudes and preferences for sustainable mobility options. This research utilizes [...] Read more.
This study investigates how lifestyle factors influence mobility choices within the metropolitan area of Thessaloniki, which is the second largest city in Greece. The primary objective is to understand the interplay between lifestyle attitudes and preferences for sustainable mobility options. This research utilizes data from a comprehensive survey conducted among Thessaloniki’s inhabitants, identifying four distinct attitudinal clusters shaped by lifestyle characteristics and general attitudes toward recycling, energy conservation, social distancing, and other factors. A two-step clustering approach combining hierarchical and k-means methods as well as Chi-square and Kruskal–Wallis tests were employed to investigate whether life attitudes are correlated with revealed and stated mode choices as well as beliefs, perceptions, and feelings related to the current and future public transport systems and micromobility options in the metropolitan area of Thessaloniki. The findings reveal significant variations in mobility choices across the identified lifestyle segments with environmentally conscious segments showing a higher propensity for sustainable modes of transport. Additionally, differences are observed in perceptions and intentions regarding micromobility and the future mass transit system within the region, suggesting that when introducing a new metro system that is expected to promote a shift toward public transport, segment-specific approaches are necessary for raising awareness and increasing trust to the new mode. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Mobility)
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20 pages, 5686 KiB  
Article
Study on the Minimum Operation Width of Human-Powered Bicycles for Safe and Comfortable Cycling
by Shangwen Qu, Jiangbi Hu, Ronghua Wang, Yanyan Guan, Sen Ma and Zechao Zhang
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(23), 10928; https://doi.org/10.3390/app142310928 - 25 Nov 2024
Viewed by 741
Abstract
Chinese cities are increasingly developing exclusive bicycle paths to improve the safety and efficiency of bicycle transit. The width of bikeways is a critical factor influencing cyclists’ safety and comfort, with insufficient width identified as a major contributor to bicycle accidents. Therefore, determining [...] Read more.
Chinese cities are increasingly developing exclusive bicycle paths to improve the safety and efficiency of bicycle transit. The width of bikeways is a critical factor influencing cyclists’ safety and comfort, with insufficient width identified as a major contributor to bicycle accidents. Therefore, determining the minimum operational width for human-powered bicycles is essential for bikeway design. While some countries’ design manuals consider speed as a factor in determining width, there is a lack of field experiments to validate these specifications from the perspective of cyclists’ safety and comfort. This study addresses this gap by conducting a field experiment to measure cycling workload, which reflects safety and comfort under different widths and cycling speeds. The experiment involved 12 cyclists on a test road, where cycling workload was measured at various preset widths and cycling speeds for a single human-powered cyclist. The results were further validated using conventional lateral distance measurement techniques, which are used in the existing literature to determine the cycling width. The results show that wider bikeway widths lead to a lower cycling workload, enhancing comfort and safety. However, both very high (over 20 km/h) and very low (under 5 km/h) speeds significantly increase cyclists’ workload, which in turn requires a wider path to maintain a safe and comfortable cycling experience. The study found that a minimum width of 0.90 m may be adequate for cyclists traveling at speeds between 10 and 15 km/h, while a width of 1.0 m is sufficient for speeds ranging from 5 km/h to 25 km/h, provided the bicycle width does not exceed 0.62 m. Given that cyclists typically progress from slower to faster speeds, a minimum operational width of 1.0 m is recommended for most cases. This study highlights the importance of considering cyclists’ workload in determining appropriate bikeway widths. It provides valuable insights for designing safer, more comfortable bike paths and reducing bicycle accidents, contributing to the sustainable development of urban cycling infrastructure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Mobility)
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22 pages, 1516 KiB  
Article
Unlocking the Potential of Pick-Up Points in Last-Mile Delivery in Relation to Gen Z: Case Studies from Greece and Italy
by Efstathios Bouhouras, Stamatia Ftergioti, Antonio Russo, Socrates Basbas, Tiziana Campisi and Pantelis Symeon
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(22), 10629; https://doi.org/10.3390/app142210629 - 18 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1156
Abstract
Pick-up points (PUPs) have become a very attractive alternative for conventional home deliveries due to the growth of e-commerce. This paper investigates the level of satisfaction of the students (Gen Z) as well as the research, teaching, and administrative staff of the Aristotle [...] Read more.
Pick-up points (PUPs) have become a very attractive alternative for conventional home deliveries due to the growth of e-commerce. This paper investigates the level of satisfaction of the students (Gen Z) as well as the research, teaching, and administrative staff of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), Greece, and the University of Enna “Kore”, Italy, implemented in November 2023. Optimizing the PUP users’ satisfaction is contingent upon various aspects, including but not limited to location accessibility, expedient pick-up procedures, unambiguous communication, and ensured item availability. The research recorded information about the users’ knowledge about the specific service, their level of satisfaction, their preferences on when and how they use the service, and information about the types of goods they order using the PUPs as their point of collection. The analysis of the collected data revealed very interesting findings that could be useful to the providers of this service, especially when taking into consideration that the majority of the poll’s participants are familiar with the existence of the PUPs in the Municipality of Thessaloniki, that they use this service mainly occasionally, and that the majority are quite pleased with the level of the provided services (accessibility, availability, safety, and security). For the case of Enna in Sicily, similar trends are shown: a high percentage of respondents are familiar with PUPs, and they use pick-up points occasionally and are pleased with the provided level of service. The comparative statistical analysis makes it possible to compare two contexts located in areas of the Mediterranean, i.e., two urban areas with different population sizes but with similar habits on the part of the university student cluster. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Mobility)
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22 pages, 5033 KiB  
Article
Modeling and Optimization of NO2 Stations in the Smart City of Barcelona
by Raquel Soriano-Gonzalez, Xabier A. Martin, Elena Perez-Bernabeu and Patricia Carracedo
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(22), 10355; https://doi.org/10.3390/app142210355 - 11 Nov 2024
Viewed by 953
Abstract
The growing problem of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution in urban environments is driving cities to adopt smart and sustainable approaches to address this challenge. To quantify and compare the effect of environmental policies, cities must be able to make informed decisions [...] Read more.
The growing problem of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution in urban environments is driving cities to adopt smart and sustainable approaches to address this challenge. To quantify and compare the effect of environmental policies, cities must be able to make informed decisions with real-time data that reflect the actual situation. Therefore, the objective of this work is threefold: The first is to study the behavior of the key performance indicator (KPI) of NO2 concentrations per station in Barcelona through exploratory analysis and clustering. The second is to predict NO2 concentration behavior, considering meteorological data. Lastly, a new distribution of current and new stations will be proposed using an optimization algorithm that maximizes the distance between them and covers the largest area of the city. As a result of this study, the importance of the location of measurement points and the need for better distribution in the city are highlighted. These new spatial distributions predict an 8% increase in NO2 concentrations. In conclusion, this study is a comprehensive tool for obtaining an accurate representation of NO2 concentrations in the city, contributing to informed decision-making, helping to improve air quality, and promoting a more sustainable urban environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Mobility)
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28 pages, 4242 KiB  
Article
Predicting and Analyzing Electric Bicycle Adoption to Enhance Urban Mobility in Belgrade Using ANN Models
by Jelica Komarica, Draženko Glavić and Snežana Kaplanović
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(19), 8965; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14198965 - 5 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1884
Abstract
The development of alternative environmentally friendly modes of transportation is becoming an increasingly promising solution in traffic-congested and polluted urban areas. E-bikes, as one of them, are recognized as an ecologically sustainable means of transportation that has significant potential to replace motorized modes [...] Read more.
The development of alternative environmentally friendly modes of transportation is becoming an increasingly promising solution in traffic-congested and polluted urban areas. E-bikes, as one of them, are recognized as an ecologically sustainable means of transportation that has significant potential to replace motorized modes of transportation that can improve urban mobility. Relying on artificial intelligence and considering an ecological approach when considering the acceptability of e-bikes by setting a direct question for users influences the development of an innovative way of understanding and evaluating the use of more sustainable modes of transportation. In this regard, this study aims to elucidate the main variables influencing the acceptability of e-bike use using artificial neural network (ANN) models—multilayer perceptron (MLP) and radial basis function (RBF). For training and testing the models, data from a random sample obtained through an online questionnaire, which was answered by 626 residents of Belgrade (Serbia), were used. A multilayer perceptron with nine and seven neurons in two hidden layers, respectively, hyperbolic tangent activation function in the hidden layer and identity function in the output layer, gave better results than the radial basis function model. With an accuracy of 89%, a precision of 83%, a recall of 79%, and an area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of 0.927, the multilayer perceptron model recognized the influential variables in predicting acceptability. The results of the model indicate that the mileage traveled, the frequency of motorcycle use, the respondents’ awareness of the pollution in Belgrade, and the age of the respondents have the greatest influence on the acceptability of using e-bikes. In addition to majority acceptability (69.8%), the results obtained by the model can represent a useful basis for decision-makers when defining strategies for the development and application of e-bikes while reducing traffic congestion and environmental pollution in Belgrade. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Mobility)
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23 pages, 5066 KiB  
Article
Promotion Effects of High-Speed Rail on Urban Development: Evidence from Three Lines in China
by Chen Chen
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(18), 8571; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14188571 - 23 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1485
Abstract
Amid the vigorous development of the high-speed rail (HSR) network, local governments in China generally consider the construction of HSR as a crucial task in their regional development strategies. Currently, most provincial capitals and prefecture-level cities in the eastern and central regions of [...] Read more.
Amid the vigorous development of the high-speed rail (HSR) network, local governments in China generally consider the construction of HSR as a crucial task in their regional development strategies. Currently, most provincial capitals and prefecture-level cities in the eastern and central regions of China already have operational HSR services. This study aims to examine a key question: has the objective of local governments to promote urban development through the construction of HSR been effective? The research selects cities along the Beijing–Shanghai, Beijing–Guangzhou, and Harbin–Dalian HSR lines as the study subjects. Based on the principles of proximity and similarity, cities with operational HSR and those without are chosen as the experimental group and the control group, respectively. Following the double difference (difference-in-differences) approach, an advantage index is proposed to systematically evaluate the impact of HSR operation on urban development from three dimensions: population aggregation, economic development, and expansion of construction land. Furthermore, the evaluation results are systematically clustered to identify city types that exhibit different promotional effects in various dimensions. The research findings indicate the following: (1) The promotion effect of HSR on the development of small to medium-sized cities is more reflected in economic growth and construction land growth. (2) The promotion effect of HSR on the development of large cities is more reflected in the growth of the employment population. (3) For smaller or economically less-developed cities, HSR may be detrimental to the aggregation of resident and employment populations. (4) Cities with moderate size and good economic development have the opportunity to use HSR to promote population aggregation. On this basis, combined with the findings above, strategies to promote the coordinated development of high-speed rail construction and urban systems are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Mobility)
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22 pages, 7845 KiB  
Article
The Ballpark Effect: Spatial-Data-Driven Insights into Baseball’s Local Economic Impact
by Aviskar Giri, Vasit Sagan and Michael Podgursky
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(18), 8134; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14188134 - 10 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1882
Abstract
The impact of sporting events on local economies and their spatial distribution is a topic of active policy debate. This study adds to the discussion by examining granular cellphone location data to assess the spillover effects of Major League Baseball (MLB) games in [...] Read more.
The impact of sporting events on local economies and their spatial distribution is a topic of active policy debate. This study adds to the discussion by examining granular cellphone location data to assess the spillover effects of Major League Baseball (MLB) games in a major US city. Focusing on the 2019 season, we explore granular geospatial patterns in mobility and consumer spending on game days versus non-game days in the Saint Louis region. Through density-based clustering and hotspot analysis, we uncover distinct spatiotemporal signatures and variations in visitor affluence across different teams. This study uses features like game day characteristics, location data (latitude and longitude), business types, and spending data. A significant finding is that specific spatial clusters of economic activity are formed around the stadium, particularly on game days, with multiple clusters identified. These clusters reveal a marked increase in spending at businesses such as restaurants, bars, and liquor stores, with revenue surges of up to 38% in certain areas. We identified a significant change in spending patterns in the local economy during games, with results varying greatly across teams. Notably, the XGBoost model performs best, achieving a test R2 of 0.80. The framework presented enhances the literature at the intersection of urban economics, sports analytics, and spatial modeling while providing data-driven actionable insights for businesses and policymakers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Mobility)
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22 pages, 5497 KiB  
Article
Improving the Functional Reliability of an Urban Public Transport Line
by Șerban Raicu, Dorinela Costescu and Mihaela Popa
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(16), 7324; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14167324 - 20 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1062
Abstract
In this study we consider correlated and simultaneous interventions regarding: i—the physical infrastructure (by crossover lines between the two tracks of a tram line), ii—the characteristics of the trams (by bi-directional trams), as well as iii—tactical and operative decisions of the line manager. [...] Read more.
In this study we consider correlated and simultaneous interventions regarding: i—the physical infrastructure (by crossover lines between the two tracks of a tram line), ii—the characteristics of the trams (by bi-directional trams), as well as iii—tactical and operative decisions of the line manager. How these interventions are reflected in the functional reliability of the tram line service is demonstrated for both cases of the current operation and for the case of overloads, respectively, for the case of the temporary degradation of circulation caused by random disruptive events. The theoretical analysis, generalizing findings regarding the effectiveness of solutions to improve functional reliability, is supplemented with quantitative evaluations related to certain situations of disruptions. The proposed solutions aim to increase the attractiveness of urban public transport. Even if the evaluations are focused mainly on the interests of the service quality perceived by the user, the beneficial consequences for the line manager (in terms of technical and commercial efficiency) are also addressed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Mobility)
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Review

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19 pages, 1301 KiB  
Review
An Overview of Shared Mobility Operational Models in Europe
by Luka Vidan, Marko Slavulj, Ivan Grgurević and Matija Sikirić
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(7), 4045; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15074045 - 7 Apr 2025
Viewed by 621
Abstract
Climate change is an urgent issue, and the current mindset of private ownership, particularly of private vehicles, needs to shift. Shared mobility is rapidly emerging as a key part of the solution to contemporary transportation challenges, driven by technological advancements and the growing [...] Read more.
Climate change is an urgent issue, and the current mindset of private ownership, particularly of private vehicles, needs to shift. Shared mobility is rapidly emerging as a key part of the solution to contemporary transportation challenges, driven by technological advancements and the growing demand for more sustainable travel options. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of shared mobility operational models in Europe, focusing on carsharing and its current research on fleet optimization, bikesharing, and scooter sharing. The study draws on three scientific literature databases, with searches centered on keywords relevant to Shared Mobility. This study contributes to the literature by defining each Shared Mobility modality and examining the different operational models. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Mobility)
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43 pages, 8426 KiB  
Review
A Survey of the Effects of Vehicle Configuration on Urban Air Mobility
by Shahin Darvishpoor, Jafar Roshanian, Ali Mesbah, Kamyar Haghighi, Benyamin Ebrahimi, Vladimir Serbezov and Krasin Georgiev
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(6), 3181; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15063181 - 14 Mar 2025
Viewed by 769
Abstract
This paper examines developments in urban air mobility (UAM), the configurations and flight mechanisms of different aerial vehicles. Despite the interest generated around UAM, there seems to be a gap in the literature concerning a systematic comparative analysis of different configurations, especially regarding [...] Read more.
This paper examines developments in urban air mobility (UAM), the configurations and flight mechanisms of different aerial vehicles. Despite the interest generated around UAM, there seems to be a gap in the literature concerning a systematic comparative analysis of different configurations, especially regarding their appropriateness for given applications, performance under fault conditions, and potential in even more foresightful but neglected designs. The other problems standing in the way of current UAM technologies are limited payload capacity, endurance, and energy efficiency, all of which work against successful commercialization. This study, therefore, considers a representation of 53 of the more prominent UAM aircraft, classified into a number of groups, paving a way for the in-depth study of important specifications such as range, speed, endurance, cargo capacity, number of passengers, and dimensions. Twelve general UAM configurations are identified, along with their advantages, disadvantages, and fault tolerance. Some underutilized designs are highlighted as worthy of more attention due to their potential. An attempt is made to link UAM configurations to specific applications, such as transportation, emergency response, and cargo delivery, in order to provide specific recommendations for each application. This work challenges standard design thinking, thus inciting designers to explore unusual avenues. The outcome is a useful analysis for researchers and engineers to look at UAM technologies in a different light while opening up possibilities for unconventional and creative designs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Mobility)
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