Active Paths to Sustainability: Unlocking Mobility in University Students |Chapter 4 | Scientific Research, New Technologies and Applications Vol. 6

 

Aims: This study aimed at investigating behavioral aspects related to sustainability mobility practices in a specific target group, known for being physically active: the students of the Physical Education and Sport Science Department in Serres, Northern Greece. This work aimed to shed light on gender differences in weekly physical activity levels, as well as gender’s respective effect on mobility practices.

 

Study Design: It was a cross-sectional study, using a tested research instrument, grounded on the Theory of Planned Behaviour within a specific population group.

 

Place and Duration of Study: Data were collected during the first semester of the academic year before the outburst of the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictive measures imposed by governments. University students filled in the questionnaires once during a typical academic week.

 

Methodology: 259 students from first year to nearing graduation from the Department of Physical Education and Sport Science in Serres, a medium-sized Greek city which is active in mobility issues, filled in a questionnaire, based on Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior and Godin–Shephard Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire for reporting physical activity weekly uptake.

 

Results: The results confirmed higher levels of physical activity in male students, although their attitude towards physical activity was less positive than that of their female classmates. Further positive attitudes in women were recorded towards sustainable mobility choices, although the evidence demonstrated a similar gap between the answers of the two genders. Car possession was higher in men, whereas car purchase intention was slightly lower in women, who had a lower income in general. Moreover, income impacted gender mobility preferences.

 

Conclusion: University student mobility research calls for behavioral approaches to ground relevant interventions. Recommendations can be guided by students’ sports preferences and can be gender-sensitive, taking income into account. The findings could provide implications for policy and practice, informing strategies for promoting sustainable mobility among students.

 

 

Author(s) Details

 

Foteini Mikiki

International Hellenic University, Greece.

Ermioni Katartzi

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.

Andreas Oikonomou

School of Pedagogical and Technological Education, Greece.

 

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/srnta/v6/2061

 

Public Transport Analysis in Petrosani Basin: Need for Sustainable Mobility | Chapter 7 | Research Developments in Science and Technology Vol. 7

 Sustainable urban public transportation necessitates striking a balance between the city's economic and social goals, providing residents' mobility without jeopardising the environment or their health. Because the Petrosani Basin is highly urbanised, implementing sustainable urban mobility requires starting with the findings of an investigation of the existing state of the public passenger transportation system. A first phase in this process was to investigate the impact of environmental, socio-political, transportation infrastructure and superstructure, operational methodologies, and economic elements unique to the Petrosani Basin on the public passenger transportation system. An essential topic to consider is the examination of transportation demand (passenger mobility per hour, day, and season). Given that the Petrosani Basin (population: 114,843) is made up of six communities, the Municipality Petrosani serves as both an attraction and an entry point to the Petrosani Basin (34,331 inhabitants). Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is becoming a priority in light of climate change mitigation aims. All of this contributes to a better knowledge of the Petrosani Basin's unique characteristics in terms of urban public passenger transportation. The SWOT analysis reveals that reorganising the public passenger transportation system is a viable strategy for achieving sustainable urban mobility. In these situations, the public transportation system must be redesigned to incorporate the use of environmentally friendly modes of transportation. As can be seen, one of the important avenues for the Petrosani Basin's growth is sustainable urban mobility. All parties, including the government, the county council, municipal councils, public transportation providers, and people, may work together to build a sustainable urban public passenger transportation system in the Petrosani Basin.

Author(s) Details:

Sorin Mihailescu,
Mechanical, Industrial and Transports Engineering Department, University of Petrosani, 20 Universitatii Street, 332006, Petrosani, Romania.

Gabriel Praporgescu,
Mechanical, Industrial and Transports Engineering Department, University of Petrosani, 20 Universitatii Street, 332006, Petrosani, Romania.

Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/RDST-V7/article/view/7098