The significance of ITS applications for the new mobility culture in the cities

Abstract

Negative influence of the transportation on urban environment is a real fact in the case of a number of cities. Its background is in the increase in urban density and in the mobility of the inhabitants primarily due to the growth in individual motoring. Also the analysis of the task and workload split in transportation confirms the domination of the road transportation. Other challenges due to the transportation activities are: permanent congestion, deteriorating quality of air in the cities and the growth in the number of accidents. All of the above require reflection and call for changes. The changed approach to mobility in the cities has been termed the new mobility culture. Important position on the way to sustainable mobility has been taken by the activities related to the applications of intelligent transportation systems. The identification of the related issues to be solved as well as the options and potential solutions in the context of the new mobility culture have been discussed in the present paper. New mobility culture is at the same time a way to a better and more environmentally friendly transportation in the cities. It allows a wide spectrum of actions. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.