EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVES ON TRANSPORT Karlsruhe Freudenstadt - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVES ON TRANSPORT Karlsruhe – Freudenstadt – Offenburg – Strasbourg – Darmstatdt - Frankfurt 27 th May 2010

Contents Introduction; aims and objectives of our trip, brief  itinerary including maps of locations of visits Technical learning; technical and academic knowledge  gained from European experts’ presentations and demonstrations Observations of European transport infrastructure;  split into 3 modal categories:  Public transport  Motorised transport  Non-motorised transport

Contents (cont.) Cultural attitudes; transport based and other  Conclusions; overall findings followed by  acknowledgments to trip sponsors and organisers Questions/comments 

Aims and Objectives  Overall aim was to gain European perspectives on transport, achieved through the following objectives;  Observing and experiencing European transport infrastructure first hand  Meeting European transport experts to learn from an industry perspective  Visiting similar academic transport groups to our own to learn of any differences in approach  To absorb local culture including transport behaviours and non-transport customs

Mini- bus Route to Karlsruhe… T h e s t u d e n t s b e f o r e travelling by mini-bus with lecturers/drivers Dr Neil Thorpe and Mr Roger Bird. Two IHT representatives came on their bikes to wave us off, 2009-10 Chairman Paulo Humanes and 2010-11 Chairman Richard Smith.

Itinerary • University of Karlsruhe Lecture • Cycle group • Visit PTV Strasbourg • Funicular to Turmberg • Sightseeing in • Group meal Strasbourg • Night watchman Tour in Durlach Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday • Travel by tram to Karlsruhe • Lecture at University of Freudenstadt • PTV offices Darmstadt • S Ü dwestbus -Several presentations • Travel to Frankfurt presentation • Brewery Visit • Sightseeing in Frankfurt • Walk to Hornisgrinde • Bus ride to Offenburg • Visit to S Ü dwestbus at Betriebshof • Wine tasting

Technical Learning Policy Overview

The German Mobility Panel  Household Travel Surveys  Respondents  Travel over 1 week  3 consecutive years  Every trip – Purpose, Mode and Distance  Germany Social Trends  Ageing Population  Population Shrinkage (... heightened in former East Germany)  Younger generations moving towards using more modes.... Reduced veh/km travelled  Problem Area: Former East Germany, Baby Boom Generation and Rural Areas

Strasbourg Transport Overview  Important geographical location  Transport is the responsibility of small municipalities  Three Principles  Improve Public Transport  Restrict Car Traffic  Develop Active Modes

Strasbourg Transport Overview (cont.)  Transport Measures  Introduction of the Tram  Parking Restrictions  Park and Ride Development  Cycling  Pedestrianisation  Car Sharing  Awareness Campaigns  Business Co-operation  The Future  Integrated land use and transport planning

Technical Learning Advances in modelling

Simulation of Pedestrian Dynamics  Why is it needed?  Innovation  Dynamic Route Choice – Social Force Model  Benefits  Limitations  Possible Applications  Example

3D Model of Karlsruhe  Laser Scanned  Four Levels of Detail  Simple Block Models  Roof Models  Architectural Models  Photo Realistic  Applications  City Planning  Air Quality  Combine with VISSUM / VISSIM  Navigation  Noise Impact

Public Transport Lessons from the continent

Motorized Road Transport How do things differ?

Eurotunnel  Efficient method of transferring vehicles  Quick journey times  Close proximity to major roads  Fragility of system

Tolling  Wide use of tolls in France  Notably fewer in Germany, Belgium  Relatively high charges, especially for minibuses

Tolling  Congestion apparent at some plazas  ITS technology used  to check vehicles with transponders  electronic signs designating lanes – height/payment  Staffed booths for irregular and other users

Relationships with Pedestrians  Pedestrians seem willing to wait for crossings in Germany and ‘jay - walking’ is frowned upon  Drivers appear to respect rights of way more than in the UK context  More shared space – increase caution by drivers?

Driving Styles  BUT – a variation in acceptance of non-motorized users between Germany and France  Zebra Crossing  Pedestrian Crossings - ‘only a suggestion’

Parking  General variation in parking provision  Chaotic in Strasbourg  Popularity of underground urban parking  Difficulty of parking two minibuses!

Infrastructure  Traffic Signal Repeaters  Electronic lane specific speed limit signs  Electronic speed limit warning signs  Temporary Road Work Markings

Infrastructure  Perceived lack of mention of road safety during tour – does this reflect reality?  Scenic, twisty roads in the Black Forest – issues of road safety with motorists?  Large parking areas for taxis – Frankfurt – safe?

Vehicles  Some interesting approaches!

Non-Motorized Transport Good Practice in France and Germany

Bicycles  Some excellent storage facilities  Bike racks widely available  ‘Rent -a- bike’ common in all cities  Concerns over theft seem low

Bicycles (priority)  Excellent network of cycle lanes  On road  On pavement  Priority at junctions  Seem to ‘rule the road’ (...and the pavement!)

Bike Ride, Karlsruhe – Tuesday 18th

Bicycles (...and other modes)  Travelling with bicycles on trams common  Excellent bicycle storage provision at transport interchanges

Pedestrians  Many large pedestrianised areas  No physical separation between trams and pedestrians

Cultural Attitudes Traditions, ideas and local past-times

Health and Safety  Karlsruhe Tramways  Open to pedestrians – no raised kerbs  Stopping at non-designated stops  Road works ongoing whilst trams running

Health and Safety  Offenburg Bus Depot  Allowing students to drive buses  Access to all key areas – no hi-visibility clothing

Cultural Segment

 Young transport students from Newcastle, the cream  In Britain who’re reeling from the days of steam  Our public are constantly calling us berks  So we went to Europe to see how it works…

 On the continent it is seen as polite  To mix up their dashboards and drive on the right  To all we left- thinkers it’s clearly a farce  In city centres they prefer tram to the barce??

 In France, these trams they summarily fail  To integrate directly with heavy rail  The Germans they demonstrate more forethought here  And celebrate with Currywurst, glühwein und bier!

 Now trams auf der Schwarzwald are all well and good  But few people live in this neck of the wood  Bus subsidies aren’t for the UK alone  Due to time constraints we bypassed Cologne

 Bicycle attitudes change ‘cross mere miles  Whilst French racing cyclists carve up the tiles  The German foot-walkers must stick to foot-paths!  Lest cycle- route cyclists crash into their…  face

 Ach Frankfurt has ev’rything, buses and trains,  And rickshaws and street trams to Frankfurt am Main  But our hostel was placed in a crime spot most black,  So we rushed home early to dodge bullets and crack

 Wine tasting, breweries, restaurants and pubs  (The one blasted thing for which there were no subs)  Climbing a mountain and visiting labs  We all really went for the doner kebabs

 No, it wasn’t just work there, the food was delish!  (From what we can remember after the Kirsch)  We stayed in youth hostels, a schloß and a shed  Each night we spent less than an hour in bed

 Now German efficiency, French flair and speed  Are all attributes which we’d do best to heed -  Though British roads are the safest in the land  On the way back we got stuck in a  Jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaam

Conclusions What have we learnt and how could these perspectives be of use?

Unity and Livery

Ease of inter-operability and interchange

Varied Ticketing Systems

Public Transport Options

Road User Strategies

Parking and Safety Systems

Cycle-friendly infrastructure

Town Planning Integration

Conclusion

Conclusion

Acknowledgements  Planung Transport Verkehr  Institute of Highway and Transport  German Academic Exchange  Chris, Roger and Neil

ANY QUESTIONS?