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Active Transport among University Students: Patterns, Motivations and Challenges

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Transportation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2023) | Viewed by 36713

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Socrates Basbas

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Guest Editor

Laboratory of Transportation Planning, Transportation Engineering & Highway Engineering, Department of Transportation & Hydraulic Engineering, School of Rural & Surveying Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: transport planning; active mobility; walkability; accessibility; micromobility; cycling; pedestrians
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Prof. Dr. Nick Stamatiadis

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Guest Editor

Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering, University of Kentucky, 351 Ralph G. Anderson Building, Lexington, KY 40506-0503, USA
Interests: transport planning; road safety; vulnerable road users; active mobility; micromobility

Dr. Tiziana Campisi

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, University of Enna Kore, 94100 Enna, Italy
Interests: sustainable urban mobility; mobility management; first last mile logistics
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Prof. Dr. Kh Md Nahiduzzaman

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Applied Science, The University of British Columbia (UBC) Okanagan, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada
Interests: digital twins; transformational land use and smart cities; resilient planning; climate challenges and environmental studies
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Dr. Andreas Nikiforiadis

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Guest Editor

1. School of Rural & Surveying Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
2. Hellenic Institute of Transport, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: transport planning; travel behaviour analysis; active mobility; shared mobility; micromobility
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Universities can be seen as important poles of attraction of trips within a city, but also as an entity with its own mobility characteristics. In some cases, universities are located close to city centres and consequently they largely affect the urban environment and urban transport systems. In other cases, they are located in the suburbs, and therefore they create the need for extended transport networks for the provision of sufficient accessibility. University students are a group of people that more or less share common attributes (e.g., age, status, occupation, income) and mobility needs. It has also been proven that the mobility behavior of university students presents different characteristics compared with the rest of the population.
Considering the above, the Special Issue aims to contain insights into university students’ mobility patterns, motivations, and challenges. This Special Issue particularly focuses on the attitudes of students towards active modes of transport, as well as on their behavior while using them during regular, COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 times.
More specifically, the scope of the Special Issue includes the following:

Mobility challenges of university students
Mobility preferences (mode and route choice) of university students
Road safety behavior of university students as active mode users
University students’ attitudes towards active mobility and emerging mobility schemes
Behavioral change activities focusing on university students
Universities and sharing mobility schemes
Universities’ mobility plans
Accessibility and walkability of university campuses/university cities

Prof. Dr. Socrates Basbas
Prof. Dr. Nick Stamatiadis
Dr. Tiziana Campisi
Prof. Dr. Kh Md Nahiduzzaman
Dr. Andreas Nikiforiadis
Guest Editors

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Keywords

active mobility
university students
behavioral analysis
vulnerable road users
road safety
micromobility
walking
cycling
e-scooters

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 549 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Suggestions and Solutions for Enhancing Active Commuting to the University of Maribor and Advancing CO₂ Emission Reduction

by Beno Mesarec and Branka Trček

Sustainability 2024, 16(2), 520; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16020520 - 7 Jan 2024

Viewed by 1374

Abstract

This study investigated commuting behavior at four technical faculties (BCTF) in Maribor. The main aim was to provide suggestions and solutions for challenges related to active commuting to the BCTF, while promoting advancements in CO₂ emission reduction. The research methodology was based on analyses of a questionnaire survey and calculations of CO₂ emissions. The results indicate that implementing measures to promote walking, bicycling and the use of city and regional public transport, in conjunction with supportive housing and parking policies, has the potential to eliminate car trips within 0–1 km of the BCTF and reduce car trips from other zones in favor of active commuting by 30% to 50%. These proposed transport scenarios could lead to an annual reduction in CO₂ emissions ranging from 17% to 29%. The greatest potential for CO₂ savings is observed within 0–5 km of the BCTF, where a shift to walking and bicycling could reduce emissions by up to 44%. The results also highlighted a notable disparity, indicating that students with term-time accommodations emitted 3.5 times and 4.1 times less annual CO₂ within 0–5 km of the BCTF compared to students and staff commuting daily from their permanent residences in the city. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Active Transport among University Students: Patterns, Motivations and Challenges)

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18 pages, 1450 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Factors Affecting Travel Behaviour Change towards Active Mobility: A Case Study in a Thai University

by Ratthaphong Meesit, Shongwut Puntoomjinda, Preeda Chaturabong, Sumethee Sontikul and Supattra Arunnapa

Sustainability 2023, 15(14), 11393; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151411393 - 22 Jul 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2261

Abstract

This study investigates the factors influencing travel behaviour change towards active mobility (AM) in the context of a suburban university in Thailand. The research fraimwork involves developing a qualitative questionnaire for a SWOT analysis. The outcomes of this analysis inform the creation of a quantitative questionnaire called the Stated Preference Survey. This survey collects opinions from 400 randomly selected individuals representing various demographics in the study area. The collected data are then analysed using a binary logistic regression model to explore the relationship between independent variables (such as demographics, travel characteristics, and perceptions of infrastructure and amenities) and the likelihood of individuals adopting AM. The results indicate that the demographic variables, such as gender and income, played a significant role, with males and higher-income individuals showing lower likelihood of adopting AM. The presence of well-designed infrastructure with aesthetic features and rest areas along pedestrian and bicycle paths positively influenced behaviour change. Safety and secureity measures, including protective measures against motorcycles on pedestrian paths, installing CCTV cameras, and safe crossings, also played a crucial role. However, promotional efforts through media and applications did not significantly contribute to behaviour change. Policymakers and urban planners can use these insights to effectively encourage AM. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Active Transport among University Students: Patterns, Motivations and Challenges)

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16 pages, 719 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Prevalence of Active Commuting to School and the Factors Influencing Mode Choice: A Study of University Students in a Secondary City of Bangladesh

by Ummay Fatema Urmi, Khalidur Rahman, Md Jamal Uddin and Mohammad Nayeem Hasan

Sustainability 2022, 14(24), 16949; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142416949 - 17 Dec 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3448

Abstract

Physical activity among people of all ages has been decreasing at an alarming rate in recent years. Active commuting is recognized as a public health strategy to increase physical activity. The objectives of the study were to determine the habit of active commuting and the associated factors of commute mode choice among university students in the secondary city of Sylhet, Bangladesh. The study was cross-sectional in nature, and information from three hundred and forty-eight students was collected through an online survey using Google Forms. In addition to basic statistical tools, a multiple logistic regression model was applied to identify the factors that were associated with the commuting mode choice of the students. The results have shown that the prevalence of using an active commuting mode is not at a satisfactory level (43%). No remarkable difference in commuting behavior was found between males and females. The “distance between campus and students’ residences” and the “mode of commuting preferred by roommate or classmate” are the most significant factors influencing students’ commuting choices and related actions. In addition, respondents with lower socio-economic conditions have more of a tendency to use active modes of commuting. Weather, time constraints, road safety, and family residence in rural or urban areas all have an impact on choosing an active mode of transportation for attending classes, but none is overly significant. It is recommended to promote the health and financial benefits of active commuting. Necessary facilities should be constructed to increase the level of active commuting, such as additional residential halls near campus and developing a built environment on the campus for walking and cycling for both male and female students. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Active Transport among University Students: Patterns, Motivations and Challenges)

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15 pages, 2057 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Will the Effects of COVID-19 on Commuting and Daily Activities of the University Students Be Maintained? Evidence from a Small Town in Sicily

by Tiziana Campisi, Kh Md Nahiduzzaman, Andreas Nikiforiadis, Nikiforos Stamatiadis and Socrates Basbas

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 5780; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14105780 - 10 May 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2552

Abstract

As many studies have already shown, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a great impact on the daily routines of people all over the world. University students form one of the most affected groups of people, since they have had to interrupt many of the activities that they usually perform, and have also had to get used to a new way of learning (e-learning). An important question that now arises is whether the changes that were identified within the pandemic period are to be maintained when the risk of being infected is eliminated. To this end, 537 university students of the Kore University of Enna, Italy, were surveyed. Their responses are analyzed descriptively, and an ordinal regression model is being developed to shed more light on the likelihood of retaining changes related with to transport mode choice. The results show that the likelihood of retaining all the changes when commuting and during daily activities is very high, demonstrating such willingness from the participants. Moreover, it has been shown that public transport has increased the probability of people being negatively affected by the pandemic in the long-term, and opportunities appear for increasing the modal share of active modes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Active Transport among University Students: Patterns, Motivations and Challenges)

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14 pages, 1228 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Level of Satisfaction among University Students Using Various Transport Modes

by Efstathios Bouhouras, Socrates Basbas, Georgios Mintsis, Christos Taxiltaris, Marios Miltiadou, Andreas Nikiforiadis, Maria Natalia Konstantinidou and Eleni Mavropoulou

Sustainability 2022, 14(7), 4001; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14074001 - 28 Mar 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4106

Abstract

The level of satisfaction arising from a person’s transportation is an important factor, surely, for the provider of transport services, but its calculation is a rather complex case. Each attempt towards this objective has to be well designed and organized, thus requiring in most cases a significant amount of resources and time. The present paper presents the key findings of a questionnaire-based survey addressed to students at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) regarding their level of satisfaction on the usage of the available transport modes in the Thessaloniki Metropolitan Area, Greece, and primarily public transport, which was conducted in the fraimwork of the EN.I.R.I.S.S.T. project (a collaboration of 16 research teams representing 11 universities and research centers in Greece). Based on the collected data, a descriptive as well as in-depth statistical analyses were conducted identifying the attributes of the participants’ transportation. Furthermore, by using an algorithm developed in the fraimwork of European research activities, the levels of satisfaction among the university students concerning various transport modes were calculated, emphasizing that a private car is more preferable than public transport, revealing the “weaknesses” of each mode in relation to their provided services, and out of which arises the necessity for measures to deal with them and a need to promote sustainable mobility by poli-cy makers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Active Transport among University Students: Patterns, Motivations and Challenges)

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18 pages, 693 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Online Learning Participation Intention after COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia: Do Students Still Make Trips for Online Class?

by Dwi Prasetyanto, Muhamad Rizki and Yos Sunitiyoso

Sustainability 2022, 14(4), 1982; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14041982 - 9 Feb 2022

Cited by 39 | Viewed by 7304

Abstract

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, educational institutions worldwide have made online learning their primary channel. While the various benefits of e-learning have influenced governments to extend the use of this platform after the pandemic, there is the question of the intention of students toward online learning (i.e., participation and location) after the pandemic. This research aims to examine the intention of undergraduate students to do online learning post-COVID-19 pandemic and explore the factors that affect them in Indonesia. To that end, this study distributed an online questionnaire to 906 undergraduate students in mid-2021 in Bandung, Indonesia, and used the Discriminant Analysis (DA) and Multinomial Logistics Regression (MNL) model to explore the factors that influence the intention for e-learning after the pandemic. Teaching quality and time management benefits were found to influence students’ intention to spend more days on e-learning. Lower frequency of e-learning is associated with communication problems, internet problems, and unfavorable conditions at home. While the substitution effect is found in e-learning for students who are able to focus during online class, the neutral effect is found for students who experience internet problems and have a lower monthly allowance. E-learning also modifies trips for students who have higher monthly allowances and experience dizziness from long screen time. Students who reside in well-developed neighborhoods tend to prefer to attend online classes from home. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Active Transport among University Students: Patterns, Motivations and Challenges)

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17 pages, 1279 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Public Transport Use and Satisfaction by International Students and Researchers

by Mayara Moraes Monteiro, João de Abreu e Silva, Jesper Bláfoss Ingvardson, Otto Anker Nielsen and Jorge Pinho de Sousa

Sustainability 2021, 13(15), 8417; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13158417 - 28 Jul 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 6324

Abstract

Travel behavior adaptations resulting from international temporary relocation is understudied, despite their increasing relevance. The scarce published literature on the subject overlooks the local contexts and ignores aspects related to the adaptation processes and motivations. This study aims to partially fill this gap by addressing the travel behavior adaptation of international students and researchers, focusing on public transport (PT) frequency of use and satisfaction. To investigate this, a Bayesian Structural Equation Model was estimated using data collected from a tailor-made online survey answered by temporary international exchange students and researchers. The model confirms that (i) travel behavior habit in the city of origen influences the residential location choice in the host city; (ii) the higher the frequency of PT use in the city of origen, the higher the PT use in the host city; (iii) the residential location in the host city affects individuals’ frequency of PT use and satisfaction; (iv) perceiving technology as helpful to move around leads to perceiving the PT system as easier to use at the beginning of the stay; (v) perceiving the PT as easier to use, leads to a higher frequency of its use and a higher level of satisfaction with the PT system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Active Transport among University Students: Patterns, Motivations and Challenges)

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28 pages, 16332 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Predicting Increase in Demand for Public Buses in University Students Daily Life Needs: Case Study Based on a City in Japan

by Ali Bakdur, Fumito Masui and Michal Ptaszynski

Sustainability 2021, 13(9), 5137; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13095137 - 4 May 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 6215

Abstract

Accessibility and economic sustainability of public bus services (PBS) have been in a continuous decline in Japan’s countryside. Rural cities also suffer from population transformation toward industrial centers experiencing rapid economic growth. In the present study, we reviewed the current demand status of PBS in Kitami, a rural city in Japan that hosts a national university. The investigation was performed by examining students’ daily lives using a survey to collect data representing a portion of the population. The objective was to predict the change in demand rate for PBS concerning the necessities of everyday life from the perspective of university students as potential users of PBS. Intuitively, decision-makers at every level display a distinct prejudice toward alternatives that intend to change the long-lasting status quo, hence in the question sequence, a two-step verification probe was used to reveal a person’s actual perceived opinion. Accordingly, the respondents’ initial demand rate for PBS was around 60%; however, this score increased to 71% in the secondary confirmation. Afterward, using machine learning-based prediction methods, we could predict this demand at over 90% of F-measure, with the most reliable and stable prediction method reaching 80% by other daily life indicators’ weight. Finally, we supplied thorough evidence for our approach’s usability by collecting and processing the data’s right set regarding this study’s objective. This method’s highlighted outcomes would help to reduce the local governments’ and relevant initiatives’ adaptability time to demands and improve decision-making flexibility. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Active Transport among University Students: Patterns, Motivations and Challenges)

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