Research

The State of Missouri, USA faces significant challenges related to environmental quality, changes in energy markets, and evolving public interests. Missouri has a strong foundation suitable for leadership in alternative energy sources, including industrial, governmental, and academic expertise.

Missouri Department of Transport (MoDOT) has committed to developing an efficient roadmap to successfully make the critical transition to the use of alternative energy sources. To better address this commitment and deliver tangible “Environmentally Responsible” results, MoDOT aims to develop applicable strategies to implement alternative energy in various areas.

In that regard, the objective of the attached report was to investigate environmentally friendly alternative energy sources that could be used by MoDOT in various areas, and to develop applicable and sustainable strategies to implement those energy sources.

This report will be useful to local government as a case study investigation of alternative energy resources from a country with significantly cheaper petrol costs than Australia.

This study evaluated cyclist and driver compliance regarding cycling infrastructure at signalised intersections to determine the effectiveness of the infrastructure in creating a designated space for cyclists.

A cross-sectional observational study was conducted during peak travel times at six sites in Melbourne in March 2009. Three types of infrastructure were observed: 1) bicycle storage box in front of left lane, 2) bicycle storage box in front of centre lane and 3) continuous green-painted bicycle lane.

In total, 2670 cyclists and 1243 vehicles were observed. Compliance was highest at the continuous bicycle lane sites for cyclists (95.4%) and drivers (97.7%). At bicycle storage box sites, cyclists (60.4%) were more compliant than drivers (49.6%). The placement of bicycle storage boxes may contribute to lower rates of driver compliance and cyclists’ perceptions of safety and subsequently cyclist compliance. Driver and cyclist education campaigns may increase compliance.

The results of this study indicate the current designs for bike boxes may not be achieving optimum safety outcomes for cyclist and may be detrimental for both cyclist and driver compliance. Local government will find this research useful in planning and implementing bicycle infrastructure to maximise safety and amenity for all road users.

This study aimed to identify risk factors for collisions and near-collisions involving on-road commuter cyclists and drivers.

A naturalistic cycling study was conducted in Melbourne, Australia, with cyclists wearing helmet-mounted video cameras. Video recordings captured cyclists’ perspective of the road and traffic behaviours including head checks, reactions and manoeuvres. Participants were adult cyclists and each filmed 12 hours of commuter cycling trips over a 4-week period.

In total, 127 hours and 38 minutes were analysed for 13 participants, 54 events were identified: 2 collisions, 6 near-collisions and 46 incidents. Prior to events, 88.9% of cyclists travelled in a safe/legal manner. Sideswipe was the most frequent event type (40.7%). Most events occurred at an intersection/intersection-related location (70.3%). The vehicle driver was judged at fault in the majority of events (87.0%) and no post-event driver reaction was observed (83.3%).

This study will be extremely useful for local governments in understanding the risks faced by cyclists in sharing the roads, the causes of these, and potential solutions to ensure cycling remains safe and accessible for your residents. The full details can be found in the attached document.

This paper investigates oil vulnerability in Australian cities and the implications of this problem for Australian urban planning and planning elsewhere.

The paper has four objectives. 

• investigate the changing global petroleum supply context and potential future supply trajectories. 
• use the concept of ‘oil vulnerability’ to investigate how such a changing global petroleum context might impact on cities and suburbs, with a focus on the Australia setting.
• examine current Australian planning practice to test whether metropolitan plans are addressing global petroleum supply questions.
• sets out the planning research and practice challenges and responsibilities for urban scholars and educators, both in Australia and elsewhere, in responding to the changing global petroleum context through engagement with pedagogy, policy and public debate.

This research will be useful to local governments in informing their approach to oil vulnerability and peak oil, as well and the subsequent implications for transport planning and practice.