Transportist: June 2024
Welcome to the latest issue of The Transportist, especially to our new readers. As always you can follow on Mastodon or RSS.
It’s been a busy month at Transportist world HQ. Also I will be attending WSTLUR in Bogota this month.
This month
Posts: Western Sydney Airport risks becoming our `ghost city’, The Velocity of Knowledge, The Cost of Auto vs. Transit Use, Opportunity Cost is Opportunity Lost, Victim Blaming, Thoughts on Substack.
Research: The racial composition of road users, traffic citations, and police stops, Transformative Technologies in Transportation, Scheduling optimisation of alcohol test sites.
News and Links: Many links, sorted by topic.
I will be en Bogotá Colombia, del 17 al 20 de Junio del 2024 at WSTLUR, hope to see some of you there.
Posts
Western Sydney Airport risks becoming our ‘ghost city‘
“Western Sydney Airport risks becoming our ‘ghost city’” in the Daily Telegraph. [My full submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry is here] I say some things: University of Sydney Transport Professor, David Levinson, argued “while we might expect the WSA and Aerotropolis will eventually be successful, this may take decades”.
Also the SMH:
Sydney University transport professor David Levinson cautions that the airport is a major but as yet unproven investment in western Sydney, saying that it may take decades to become successful. He cites the decades it took for Dulles Airport, about 42 kilometres from the centre of Washington DC, to gain significant use after it opened in 1962.
The Velocity of Knowledge
As much as I gripe, the peer review system plays a crucial role in both the supply and circulation of knowledge. It acts as a gatekeeper, ensuring that only high-quality, credible research is added to the supply of knowledge. But as the review process can be time-consuming,
The Cost of Auto vs Transit Use
There is an article in an online publication that is drawing some social media snark for the bias in comparing the cost of driving with the cost of public transport. (I won’t link to it, unless the author asks). Prior to its publication I was “interviewed” in that I was emailed a set of questions, and answered them, though they didn’t make it into the a…
Opportunity Cost is Opportunity Lost
Choosing one option often means foregoing the opportunity to pursue another. This basic observation is often forgotten in transport. The Guardian reported on a recent story: ‘The cheap option’? Why the Gold Coast may be on track to build the most expensive light rail in the world
Victim Blaming
Assigning Blame: Whose Fault is Crime? Consider the scenario where you find yourself walking late at night and, unfortunately, you become a victim of a crime, such as robbery. You were well aware of the risk associated with such late-night excursions; therefore, does it imply that you are to share some blame? In some interpretations of causality, your actions indeed were a necessary factor in the crime taking place. If you had chosen not to walk at that hour, the crime would not have occurred. In essence, your presence at that place and time contributed to the commission of the crime.
Thoughts on Substack
I’ve used Substack for a few years now, having migrated The Transportist (previously the Transportationist) from WordPress.com, and before that from Moveable Type hosted by the University of Minnesota Library, and before that from Blosxom on my own internet-connected desktop at work, back when they allowed us to host from our own desktops. I also use …
Research
The racial composition of road users, traffic citations, and police stops
Recently published: Xu, W., Smart, M., Tilahun, N., Askari, S., Dennis, Z., Li, H., and Levinson, D. (2024) The racial composition of road users, traffic citations, and police stops. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences [doi] Significance
Transformative Technologies in Transportation
Recently published: “Qiao, Wenxin; Briceno-Garmendia, Cecilia. 2024. Global Report - “Transformative Technologies in Transportation”. Washington, DC: World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/41440 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.” Abstract Transport is quickly evolving, adapting, shaping, and being shaped by global megatrends, promoting energy efficiency and envir…
Scheduling optimisation of alcohol test sites
Recently published: Yu, H., Moylan, E., Bambach, M. Ramezani, M, and Levinson, D. Scheduling optimisation of alcohol test sites. Nature Scientific Reports 14, 12202 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-63026-7 Drink driving is an infamous factor in road crashes and fatalities. Alcohol testing is a major countermeasure, and random breath tests (RBT…
News and Links
Aviation
Singapore Airlines Turbulence. Always wear your seatbelt.
Energy
Bridges
Pedestrians
WalkSydney member and board advisor, Professor David Levinson said the Kamay Greenway initiative promises to significantly enhance local infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists, offering a safe and scenic route connecting Kyeemagh to Sandringham.
"Its focus on ecological restoration and connectivity across various green spaces showcases a commitment to sustainable urban planning and community health," Mr Levinson said.
"We are particularly supportive of the proposed route's design considerations that respect the natural landscape and community needs."The non-invasive, ecologically sensitive planning principles ensure that the Greenway will serve not just today's community but also future generations.
Weapon of Choice
Rail
Australia’s Rail Nightmare! Massive Engineering Mistakes [YouTube] … Faithful Transportist reader, and rail engineer and expert witness, Alex Wardrop is there to provide evidence about the 2003 Waterfall Rail Accident. The Waterfall segment starts about 35:40 into the video.