Maria Siti

Flexible public transport is defined as a future mobility solution that adapts to user needs and the fluctuating demand patterns that mainly appear in rural areas. However, the temporal variations in traveler preferences for flexible bus services remain largely unexplored in existing research. This constrains the realization of adaptive and customized solutions. Therefore, this study attempts to develop a distinct method for strategic planning of a flexible bus service. To this end, a combinatorial method is undertaken: quantitative social research (questionnaires) and spatial analysis. This combinatorial approach is applied at Korinth and Loutraki in Greece, two significant rural areas neighboring the Athens Metropolitan Area. The results signify that cost and time are the most crucial factors affecting the use of a flexible service. Furthermore, respondents preferred a door-to-door service in the morning and a stop-based service in the afternoon/evening. Concerning route planning, eight routes with different purposes are suggested (e.g., train feeder, touristic, etc.) covering adequately both urban and rural parts of the study area. Notably, the applied methodological approach can be a guideline for planners and policymakers, assisting them in finding effective strategies for introducing flexible public transport in rural areas, especially in contexts where collective transport culture is limited.

Culture is frequently used as a means of promoting sustainable urban development. Indeed, in many areas across Europe, cultural and recreational routes or clusters have so far been utilized in order for urban regeneration and structural reconstruction to be pursued. Such routes have been developed in Greek cities as well, e.g., in the cities of Volos, Thessaloniki, and Athens. In the Greek capital, Athens, a couple of axes are actually recognized as cultural ones. Andreas Syngrou Avenue, initially designed as a six/eight-lane freeway located at the heart of the Athens metropolitan area, is one distinguished example. By focusing on this axis as a cultural route/cluster, the goal of this article is to elaborate on smart and sustainable mobility patterns for strengthening its cultural/recreational identity and increasing its attractiveness. To accomplish this goal, critical problems confining citizens’ mobility and access to various cultural landmarks in this area are identified and are properly dealt with, stressing the importance of sustainable mobility in relevant cultural planning endeavors. Based on the study and an assessment of the current state of this route (land uses, traffic loads, design qualities, and environmental affordances), a sustainable mobility proposal is provided in order for a master plan that enhances and develops the cultural function and identity of this route.