Within the high-speed rail debate (HSR) there has been lacking in-depth theoretical and evidential research on the role HSR has on tacit knowledge flows between industrial clusters or regions of economic productivity. The research that has begun to emerge has focused on knowledge indicators such as patents for social/tacit knowledge exchange, which this paper raises concerns over. This review aims to discover new links for HSR with cluster economics through social knowledge theory and aims to create a conceptual framework that will provide a new perspective for future research in the HSR debate concerning social knowledge exchange. Potential implications are presented for future transport policy decision-making, based on the relationship HSR may have with inter-regional tacit knowledge flows and accessibility benefits in regional balancing. Future research considerations are pointed out that argue to measure the flow of knowledge from HSR, research needs to go in-depth to the social aspect of interactions and relationship buildings, as quantitative data will struggle to capture tacit knowledge flow itself, due to the tacit nature of such information. The presented framework highlights the tacit nature of interactions facilitated by HSR connectivity.
Employers significantly influence employee travel habits through their policies and benefits, impacting workforce selection, equality of opportunities, and the environment. This study analyses what the fast-growing body of business sustainability standards and reporting frameworks (also known as Corporate Social Responsibility or Environment-Social-Governance (ESG) reporting) require from employers with respect to employee mobility. Analysing 29 leading frameworks using document analysis methods, our findings reveal that the majority (n = 19) do not address employee mobility in their reporting requirements. Among those that do (n = 10), their focus is notably limited, primarily centred on greenhouse gas emissions calculations. Only two frameworks emphasise employer responsibility for preventing transport injuries as part of workforce health and safety management. None of the frameworks mandate reporting on efforts to create an accessible workplace for all potential employees, regardless of abilities or car ownership. These results highlight a significant disparity between the limited expectations expressed in reporting frameworks and the far-reaching impacts of workplace mobility policies. We critique the GHG protocol's methodology concerning business travel and employee commuting on practical and normative grounds. We recommend that future reporting frameworks adopt broader requirements for employer transport policies, in the expectation that higher standards will trigger greener and more inclusive employer policies.
Despite many years of research and rapid changes in the field of bicycle route choice modelling, a review of factors associated with cyclists’ route choice decisions is missing. This paper reviews 33 studies that employed GPS data and statistical modelling to explain the route choice behaviour of cyclists on utilitarian trips. Factors associated with bicycle route choice are divided into network, contextual, and individual factors. Findings from this review demonstrate that a refined categorisation of model attributes is essential, as the preferences vary greatly between different route attributes. Moreover, the analysis indicates a strong influence of the local context on the attribute definitions and route choice preferences. Although some commonalities between studies w.r.t. the network factors (e.g. a preference towards bicycle infrastructure or avoidance of slopes) can be determined, many results are contradictory or intertwined with other factors. Specifically, results related to intersections, land use characteristics, and interaction with other modes of transport are not always conclusive and are strongly dependent on the local context. However, the explanation of some of the unclear effects can be facilitated by incorporating contextual or individual information in the models. Based on the analysis of the existing studies, this review encourages a joint consideration of studies employing quantitative and qualitative methods to explain cyclists’ behaviour. Moreover, reporting model results in an accessible form (e.g. through relatable values or visualisation) is essential to build bridges between bicycle research and policymaking. Future research is encouraged to study cyclists’ route choice decisions from the perspective of objective well-being, quantifying and modelling the influence of factors such as safety, health, energy expenditure, or noise exposure.