Nikolaos Eliou

Under growing urbanization and environmental challenges, sustainable urban mobility has become a critical priority for cities worldwide. Public Transport (PT) systems play a central role in reducing car dependency, lowering emissions, increasing network capacity, and promoting more equitable and efficient access to urban spaces for all users. Hence, the present paper aims to investigate PT preferences in the city of Larissa, Greece. Larissa is a medium-sized city currently serviced only by buses, and is currently focusing on the potential introduction of a new tram system to operate in parallel with existing bus services. To this end, a SP survey was designed and implemented, resulting in 972 observations that were collected for further statistical analysis. Survey results show a slight preference for trams over buses, with 54.63% selecting the tram and 45.37% favoring the buses. Moreover, a context-based segmentation pipeline was established using PCA, DBSCAN and t-SNE algorithms, aiding the visualization of existing clusters for transport choice approaches. Afterwards, a series of mixed logit models was applied, and statistically significant variables influencing mode choice were determined. The study also examines Value of Time (VoT) metrics and finds that respondents assign lower VoTs to trams than to buses, especially in out-of-vehicle segments of the journey, such as waiting and walking, and therefore consider trams as more pleasant and less burdensome. The findings also indicate that passengers place a high value on the quality of infrastructure related to access and waiting times, underlining the need to improve the overall user experience beyond the vehicle itself. In summary, the present research offers valuable insights into how the introduction of a tram system could possibly reshape PT usage patterns when compared with the legacy existing bus services.

This study explores and evaluates different methodologies for designing the edge-of-traveled-way turning paths at right-angle at-grade intersections, with emphasis on low-speed maneuvers involving large design vehicles. Three geometric approaches are examined as follows: the standard AASHTO configuration, the German RAS-K-1 triple-radius method, and a clothoid-based transition curve design. Simulations using representative design vehicles, conducted under speeds ≤ 15 km/h, are used to assess each method’s performance in terms of spatial efficiency, steering continuity, and lateral clearance. The findings suggest that while the AASHTO asymmetric compound curve offers an effective balance between clearance and compactness, clothoid curves may improve transition smoothness and provide an alternative option for designing the edge-of-traveled-way turning paths at right-angle at-grade intersections.

The impact of cycling-related traffic crashes on public health has increased significantly in recent decades, with cyclists being among the most vulnerable road users. The risk of severe injury in traffic crashes is notably high for cyclists, especially when distracted. Research indicates that distraction while cycling significantly increases the crash risk. This study investigates cycling distraction through a field operational test involving 100 participants. Riders followed a predetermined course while being exposed to external visual and auditory stimuli, including alarms, advertising signs, and car horns. Distraction levels were measured using eye-tracking technology. Data were analyzed by means of descriptive statistics, cluster, and correlation analyses. Our findings showed that auditory stimuli distract a higher percentage of cyclists, while audiovisual stimuli from road-related factors cause longer-lasting distractions. Additionally, five distraction clusters were identified based on stimulus duration. Lastly, it was found that males were more likely to belong to high-distraction clusters, whereas females and daily cyclists were more likely to fall into the lowest-distraction group.

Over the last years, distracted driving constitutes a considerably increasing road safety problem with disastrous results and it possesses a leading position among the accidents causes. The present study deals with driver’s distraction due to out of the vehicle factors as well as factors related to the driver such as age, gender, driving experience etc. Considering exterior factors as the most significant, we can group them in four categories: built roadway, situational entities, the natural environment, and the built environment. Regarding the fourth category, it is related to the wide variety of civil infrastructure, the commercial land use combined with the high vehicle speeds. All these contribute to the setup of a very dangerous environment by increasing driver’s distraction and inattention. This research is based on a medium scale experimental procedure which took place in three urban freeways in Greece, using a sample of 77 drivers. The distraction of the driver’s attention is evaluated via a continuous recording of his gaze which acts as the main indicator regarding driver’s performance. The main objective of this paper is to assess the side effects of roadside advertising and overloaded informational signs to driver’s distraction and inattention. The results of this type of research procedures are very useful as a tool to prevent the forthcoming pressure for more and more billboards and trademarks on the roads as well as to encourage the adaptation of more precise regulations with regard to the road infrastructure, the placement of roadside elements, etc.

Promotion of cycling can improve the sustainability level of a city or an urban area. This study presents a methodology that audits the bikeability level of the urban road environment across three selected routes in the city of Volos, Greece. This methodology is a useful toolkit in order to evaluate and improve the bikeability level of the urban road environment and also evaluate existing bikeways. Four suitably trained auditors rode their bikes and evaluated the bikeability level using an audit tool in order to audit specific features that influence bicycling suitability across the road segments and intersections of the selected routes. Furthermore, the auditors graded specific features of the road environment in order to set a bikeability score for each tested route. Finally, this study concludes that the bikeability level of the selected routes was moderate and certain actions are necessary in order to be improved.