Buses in Scotland, Aspects of Sustainable Transport Mode - Thesis Proposal Example

Aspects of sustainable transport mode - buses in scotland Table of Contents Research Problem 2. Aims and Objectives 3. Background 4. Research Methodology 4.1 Qualitative and Quantitative Research 4.2 Justification of research methods 4.3 Questionnaire 4.4 Participants 4.5 Analysis of results 5. Value of the study 6. Limitations of the study 7. Ethical Issues 8. Resources 9. Timescale 10. References 11. Online Sources 12. Appendix 12.1 Gantt Chart 12.2 Questionnaire 1. Research Problem The extreme climate conditions in many countries worldwide have led governments to search for appropriate plans of action; sustainability has been proved to offer the necessary framework for limiting the effects of human activities on the environment. In Scotland the efforts to promote sustainability are mostly related to the transport sector; in the above country, existing buses networks have been reviewed by the government in order to identify the level at which the specific means of transport can support the development of sustainability. 2. Aims and Objectives Current study focuses on the examination of the appropriateness of bus as a highly sustainable means of transport – especially compared to the car. In this context, the study’s aims and objectives can be described as follows: a) What is the evidence that more use of the bus is more sustainable? B) What load factors are needed for bus to have less CO2 per passenger kilometre than the car, so buses generally achieve these? c) Which cities have made most (and least) progress in making the bus network an alternative to car use? Why? d) Does better bus provision get drivers out of cars or does bus attract people who would otherwise be car passengers? e) What are the changes to bus provision that make bus attractive enough to attract a proportion of car drivers – speed, comfort, personal security and so on, f) Are the existing schemes – in regard to the improvement of the bus network (Scotland) in terms of sustainability – satisfactory? It should be noted that the study focuses on the examination of the aspects of buses as sustainable means of transport especially in Scotland; the study’s mains and objectives will be addressed using the relevant literature as well as figures released by governmental and non-governmental organizations in Scotland; material will be also retrieved through relevant authorities worldwide – in order to make a comparative analysis of the measures developed in Scotland towards the increase of sustainability of buses. The views of passengers and people working in the bus network in Scotland will be also employed in order to explore all aspects of the study’s aims and objectives – as described above. 3. Background Bus is an essential means of transport in Scotland; because of its importance for the local social and financial needs but also for the environment, the Scottish government has developed a framework of rules regulating the bus operation and use across the country. An indicative example is the bus network scheme developed by the city of Aberdeen (BBC News, 2007) and the plan developed by the Scottish government – referring to all the country’s regions (Scottish Executive, 2006); the latter is an example of the potential forms of bus networks in terms of sustainability. It seems that the development of bus network in Scotland is considered to be of high importance for the increase of sustainability in the transport sector; this fact can explain the level of investment made on the particular sector (Public Technology Net, 2009); however, despite the efforts made towards the increase of the role of bus as a sustainable means of transport it seems that still there are issues that need to be addressed in order for this effort to be successful; the above fact is highlighted in a recent Parliamentary Speech (Parliamentary Speech, 18/3/2010) where the need for developing and improving existing bus network is highly emphasized. The country’s Parliament has set additional rules in the improvement of buses in terms of sustainability (Scottish Government, 2010); the above efforts are considered as extremely important taking into consideration the level at which buses are used in daily traveling across Scotland (Scottish Government, 2010, Statistical Bulletin); the importance of the above issue is made clearer by referring to the effects of transport on climate changes – as these effects are indicated in the figures published by the British authority on statistics (Statistics, UK, 2004). Non governmental organizations have been also tried to propose schemes that could help towards the improvement of bus as a sustainable means of transport; the following initiatives can be indicatively mentioned: a) the scheme for the development of a Bio-Bus (The Bio Bus, 2010), b) the schemes developed by the bus operator ‘The Stagecoach Group’ (Stagecoach Group, 2010), c) the relevant schemes proposed by the Union ‘Unite’ (Unite The Union, 2010). It seems that the above schemes have affected the Scottish government’s decisions on the particular issue. As a result a series of relevant schemes and plans of action have been introduced or suggested by the Scottish authorities, like: a) the schemes suggested by the Transport Scotland in 2009 – following the schemes introduced by the above authority in 2008 (Transport Scotland, 2008 and 2009), b) the schemes proposed by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (2009), c) the schemes suggested by the Scottish Natural Heritage (2000) and d) the schemes developed and introduced by the Scottish government (2009 and 2010). 4. Research Methodology 4.1 Qualitative and Quantitative Research This study will be based on two different research methods: a) the literature review – qualitative research and b) the survey – quantitative research. The first research method – the literature review – is based on the following principles: a) only recent studies, i.e. of the last 3-4 years – as possible – will be reviewed for answering the problems set through this study; however, older studies may also used in case that there is no other means available for addressing one or more issues of the study, b) only academic studies will be reviewed; material included in non-academic papers will not be included in the study; however, figures and information released in governmental and non-governmental organizations will be also included in the study – at the level that the credibility of the above material cannot be challenged. The second part of the research developed for this study, i.e. the quantitative research will be based on a survey; the questionnaire employed in the survey has been prepared and is presented in the Appendix section of this proposal. It should be noticed that the following limitations have been set in regard to the empirical research: a) about 300 questionnaires will be employed in the research, b) people in four specific Scottish cities will be asked to participate in the survey – referring to the following cities in Scotland: Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee c) the potential participants will be those waiting in bus stops or those traveling by bus – if a relevant permission will be given by the bus operators and d) the survey will be conducted in the third week of the study – though it may be extended by 2-3 more days if necessary. 4.2 Justification of research methods The choice of two different research methods for this study can be explained by referring to the following issues: a) certain aspects of the study may need further explanation; in other words, it is possible that the issues to which this study refers are not appropriately and adequately developed in the existing literature; for this reason, the use of the survey has been made unavoidable in order to ensure the credibility of the study; b) existing sources on one or more issues of the study may not be updated; i.e. they may reflect practices or trends that took place in the past; instead, the survey, which will be developed in the context of the study will reflect the actual perceptions of people on the potential role of buses on the promotion of sustainability. Finally, through the literature review it will be possible to retrieve additional issues – that are may not included in the study’s initial aims and objectives; the latter could be updated accordingly reflecting the actual role of buses in the development of sustainability across Scotland. 4.3 Questionnaire The questionnaire that will be used in the survey is presented in the Appendix section; the questionnaire is divided into three sections: the first section includes the demographic characteristics of the participants – effort has been made in order to avoid the reference to the personal details of the participants, the second section includes the questions and a series of suggested answers; the participants can avoid answering in one or more questions; however, a questionnaire that is only half-completed would be of low importance for the study. In the third section of the questionnaire the ethical rules of the study are presented; in this way, it is made sure that the participants are aware of the study’s issue and agree to participate in the survey. 4.4 Participants The questionnaire of the survey will be distributed to people in bus stops in four major Scottish cities: Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee. The participants will be given the questionnaire and are expected to return it before their boarding on the bus. However, because of the potential problems this method of surveying would present, an alternative plan of action has been developed: the permission of bus operators for the development of the survey in the bus will be asked. In this way, passengers would have more time to review and answer the questionnaire. About 300 questionnaires will be distributed; if the participation of the people will be limited, then the expansion of the survey for 2-3 more days would be decided. Despite the fact that no specific criteria have been set for the participants there is a limitation in regard to the distribution of the questionnaires: only people between 18 and 68 will be approached; the views of people of other ages will not be taken into consideration. 4.5 Analysis of results The findings of the research will be analyzed using the Microsoft Word and Excel; in other words, no statistical analysis of results will take place; instead, results will be graphically represented – using the features available in Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel. At the next level, the results will be discussed and evaluated using the view of the literature and the findings of the online research – referring to the research in the databases of governmental and non-governmental organizations related to the study’s issues (for instance, in the website of the Scottish Government, the website of bus operators in Scotland, the official website of British and Scottish statistics and so on). The following facts will be taken into consideration when analyzing the survey’s results: a) the empirical research will take place in four specific Scottish cities – as explained above; this means that the results of the survey will reflect the views of people in specific regions; however, these views can be indicative of the perceptions on bus as a sustainable means of transport – in the context of Scotland, b) the survey has been conducted in a rather limited period of time – about a week; additional questionnaires would be possible distributed in case that the survey would last more; at this point, the findings of the literature and the online research on the issue under discussion will be used to cover any gap in research, c) the views of participants may change in the near future – if different schemes on bus networks will be introduced by the Scottish government; however, still the results of the survey will indicate the level at which governmental initiatives on sustainability are supported by the public. 5. Value of the study Current study is considered to be extremely valuable because of the following reasons: a) no similar study has been identified in the existing literature; this means that the specific issue remains unexplored despite its importance for the environment – both in Scotland and worldwide, b) bus is a means of transport highly used in countries worldwide as an alternative to the car; the findings of the study would help the planners of such schemes to understand the level at which buses could help to the increase of sustainability in the context of a specific region, c) at the next level, the findings of the study would be of interest for academic researchers that study the issue of sustainability; the specific concept has been proved to be quite important for controlling the effects of human activities on the environment and d) the study would also help people living in Scotland to understand the potential effects of their choices – referring to the means of transport chosen by people living across Scotland. More specifically, current study would make clear the value of bus network in Scotland not just because of its low cost – compared to the car – but also because of its support in the limitation of the environmental pollution, which is usually related with the use of the car. 6. Limitations of the study Current study is based on two different research methods: the literature review and the empirical research; in this context, it is expected to offer credible explanations in regard to all its issues; however, it is also possible that certain aspects of the study’s aims and objectives are not adequately explored; this fact would be the result of the non existence of sufficient and appropriate resources on the relevant issues; this problem has been addressed by using an extensive empirical research; about 300 questionnaires will be distributed to passengers – in bus stops and on buses – in four major cities of Scotland (as explained above in the research methodology section); it is expected that any potential gap in relation to the study’s main issues will be sufficiently explored. Still, it is possible that certain aspects of this study would be more developed; figures and information released in governmental and non-governmental organizations have been combined with existing literature in order to minimize the above risk. However, the update of governmental schemes is likely to take place with no previous notice – especially in regard to issues that they are considered to be of high importance for the public’s health; in this context, it is possible that the bus network schemes included and analyzed in the study – always with reference to the sustainability – are changed in the near future; this fact would limit the study’s value but not its credibility; instead, the findings of the study could be used to evaluate any future scheme of this type developed by the Scottish Government. 7. Ethical Issues The development of the study will be based on existing research ethics; this means that all the phases of the study will be aligned with the ethical standards held in the area of the academic research. For this reason, the material retrieved through the literature will be appropriately cited. In the same context, the source of information included in the study will be mentioned – referring to details retrieved through online sources, like in the case of the websites of governmental and non-governmental organizations. At the next level, the empirical research developed for this study will be based on certain ethical principles – which are also mentioned in the questionnaire used in the survey conducted for this study – see also Questionnaire, Appendix Section; additional ethical rules would be also applied on the study’s empirical research, for example: a) the participants will be of a certain age – ideally between 18 and 68, as explained in the ‘participants’ section above; people that do not belong in this category will be not asked to participate in the research; in case that they are given a questionnaire and they will return it completed their answers will not be taken into consideration when evaluating the results, b) the participants will be asked to return the questionnaire signed – meaning that they are aware of its ethical rules, which are explained in the last section of the questionnaire, c) no personal details of the participants will be included in the questionnaire – see the Ethical Rules list, Questionnaire; however, if a participant writes his/ her personal details on the questionnaire there will be no problem since the questionnaire will be accessible only to the researcher – as explained in the Questionnaire. In other words, efforts will be made so that all phases of the study are ethical – in accordance with the rules governing the academic research. Ethics in academic research is a concept that can be related to different priorities; however, its main context remains the same – no matter the academic area to which a study refers. 8. Resources As explained above, the study is based on both the literature review and the empirical research; the literature required for the study will be identified through the University Library and the Internet – where online databases of scientific journals but also of governmental and non – governmental organizations are available; books and journals will be thoroughly examined in order to retrieve the material required; at the next level, a PC will be needed in order to write the dissertation; the PC will be also used for developing the questionnaires and analyze the relevant results. Other libraries – apart from the University’s – will be also helpful – in order to retrieve information required for the explanation of the study’s issues – for example, local libraries in cities across Scotland may have material related with the study’s issues. No other resources will be required for this study – taking into consideration the fact that any issue, which is not adequately covered in the literature, will be explained through the empirical research. 9. Timescale The research on the issue under discussion is expected to last for 6 weeks. In the first week the evaluation of existing resources will take place; at this phase of the research it will be decided whether certain issues will be highlighted or not – taking into consideration the resources available; it will be also decided whether additional issues will be included in the study – always in relevance with the study’s aims and objectives. The development of the research tasks will take place as following: a) in the first week the literature retrieved will be evaluated – at the first level; the potential for the retrieval of additional resources will be examined, b) in the second week the review of the literature – which is also developed in the first week – will take place; it is during the second week that the existing literature will be thoroughly checked; the literature review part of the study will be finished during this period, c) in the third week an important part of the study will be developed – the empirical research; the questionnaires will be distributed, gathered and evaluated – only as of their credibility (for instance if most questions have been answered by the participants, identification of the areas most represented in the research and so on), d) in the third and the fourth week the results of the empirical research will be categorized and evaluated; it is during the third and the fourth week that the empirical research part of the study will be fully developed; e) at the next level, the results of the survey will be compared with the findings of the literature in order to decide on the arguments included in the ‘conclusions/ recommendations’ part of the study, f) in the last week – the sixth one – the study will be checked as all of its parts; points that need further explanation will be identified and appropriately developed; also, issues that are considered as of high importance will be highlighted. The timescale of the study is presented in the Gantt chart – Appendix section – where the succession in research activities is made clearer. 10. References/ Bibliography Banister, D., Button, K., 1993. Transport, the environment and sustainable development. Taylor & Francis Banister, D., 1998. Transport policy and the environment. Taylor & Francis Barry, J., Frankland, G., 2002. International encyclopedia of environmental politics. Taylor & Francis Black, J., 1981. Urban transport planning: theory and practice. Taylor & Francis Button, K., 1993. Transport economics. Edward Elgar Publishing Coyle, E., Huws, D., Monaghan, S., Roddy, G., 2009. Transport and health – a five-country perspective. Public Health, Volume 123, Issue 1, pp. 21-23 Docherty, I., Shaw, J., 2003. A new deal for transport?: the UKs struggle with the sustainable transport agenda. Wiley-Blackwell Gilbert, R., Wiederkehr, P., 2002. Policy instruments for achieving environmentally sustainable transport. OECD Publishing Gouldson, A., Roberts, P., 2000. Integrating environment and economy: strategies for local and regional government. Routledge Hensher, D., Button, K., 2003. Handbook of transport and the environment. Emerald Group Publishing Hester, R., Harrison, R., 2004. Transport and the environment. Royal Society of Chemistry Hine, J., Preston, J., 2003. Integrated futures and transport choices: UK transport policy beyond the 1998 white paper and transport acts. Ashgate Publishing Krzyżanowski , M., Dibbert, B., 2005. Health effects of transport-related air pollution. WHO Regional Office Europe Morris, P., Therivel, R., 2001. Methods of environmental impact assessment. The natural and built environment series. Taylor & Francis Newlands, D., Danson, M., McCarthy, J., 2004. Divided Scotland?: the nature, causes and consequences of economic disparities within Scotland. Urban and regional planning and development. Ashgate Publishing OECD. 2004. Assessment & decision making for sustainable transport. OECD Publishing Roson, R., Small, K., 1998. Environment and transport in economic modeling. Springer Russell, S., Thomson, I., 2009. Analysing the role of sustainable development indicators in accounting for and constructing a Sustainable Scotland. Accounting Forum, Volume 33, Issue 3, pp. 225-244 Smith, K., Petley, D., 2009. Environmental hazards: assessing risk and reducing disaster. Taylor & Francis Vigar, G., 2002. The politics of mobility: transport, the environment, and public policy. Taylor & Francis White, P., 2002. Public transport: its planning, management, and operation. Natural and built environment series. Taylor & Francis 11. Online Sources BBC News, 19 February 2007, Aberdeen bus HQ plans submitted, online, available at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/north_east/6369139.stm East Midlands Trains, 2010, Stage Coach Group launches new sustainability strategy, online, available at http://www.eastmidlandstrains.co.uk/EMTrains/AboutUs/News/_StageCoachGrouplaunchesnewsustainabilitystrategy_.htm Environmental Defense Fund, 2008, Transportation by the Numbers, online, available at http://www.edf.org/article.cfm?contentID=7007 First Group, 2010. £500,000 Clean Air Boost For Scotland, online, available at http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/scotland/swscot/news/archive.php?item=595&show=1 Parliamentary Speech, 18/3/2010, Building Better Buses, online, available at http://www.charlesgordonmsp.com/parliamentary%20speeches/18th%20March%202010%20Building%20Better%20Buses.html Public Technology Net, 2009. Scotland dishes out 650,000 funding for science projects, online, available at http://www.publictechnology.net/content/21039 Scottish Executive, 2006, Moving into the future buses – An Action Plan for buses in Scotland, online, available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/157450/0042432.pdf Scottish Government, 2010, Scottish Environment Statistics Online, available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Environment/seso Scottish Government, 2010, Statistical Bulletin: Trn/2006/2: Bus and Coach Statistics: 2004-05, online, available at http://scottish-schools.gov.uk/Publications/2006/02/20144624/43 Scottish Natural Heritage, 2000. Transport Tourism and the Environment in Scotland Report No. F00NC17, online, available at http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/publications/commissioned_reports/f00nc17.pdf Scottish Parliament, 2010. Environmental Features, online, available at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/holyrood/building/Environmentalfeatures.htm Stagecoach Group, 2010, Environment, online, available at http://www.stagecoachgroup.com/scg/csr/environment/ Statistics, UK, 2004, Greenhouse gas emissions from transport, online, available at http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_environment/transport_report.pdf Sustainable Scotland, 2010. Climate Change, online, available at http://www.sustainablescotland.com/tag/climate-change.html Sustainable Scotland, 2009, Building Sustainable Communities, online, available at http://www.sustainablescotland.com/communities/funding-news/climate-challenge-fund-round-5-projects.html Sustainable Scotland Network, 2010, online, available at http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/page.asp?pg=71 The Bio Bus, 2010, online, available at http://www.thebiobus.com/ The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, The Scottish Region website, 2008, online, available at http://www.ciltscotland.com/news08002.html Transform Scotland, 2010, online, available at http://www.transformscotland.org.uk/home.aspx Transport Scotland, 2009. Sustainable Development Policy, online, available at http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/files/documents/projects/forth-replacement/frc_-_sustainability_development_policy_-_January_2009.pdf Transport Scotland, 2008. Strategic Transport Projects Review: Environmental Report, online, available at http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/reports/road/j10194b-005.htm Unite The Union, 2010, Unite welcomes bus-build motion for Alexander Dennis, online, available at http://www.unitetheunion.com/news__events/latest_news/unite_welcomes_bus-build_motio.aspx Unison, 2010. The Green Workplace, online, available at http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/greenworkplace/index.html 12. Appendix 12.1. Gantt Chart Weeks/ Research Activities 1 2 3 4 5 6 Evaluation of resources/ time available Review of the literature Development of empirical research Categorization/ analysis of results Comparative analysis of literature/ empirical research Conclusion/ Recommendations Part Overview/ check of the study 12.2 Questionnaire Section A Demographics Area of residence Age Gender Car owner (yes/no) Section B – Questionnaire 1. How often do you use bus in your daily activities? a. Every day b. Once-Twice a week c. Once-Twice a month d. I don’t use the bus 2. Do you think that bus is less harmful for the environment compared to other means of transport? a. Yes b. No 3. Do you prefer bus instead of car? a. Yes b. No 4. Is the bus network available in your area satisfactory? a. Yes b. No 5. Has the quality of the bus network in your area affected your decision to use bus instead of car? a. Yes b. No 6. Why would you prefer bus instead of car? a. For safety reasons b. Because of its lower cost 7. Which do you consider as the major advantage of car against the bus? a. More comfort b. Less time required to reach the destination c. Choice of itinery 8. Do you think that the governmental provisions in regard to the improvement of the existing bus network are satisfactory? a. Yes b. No 9. What changes would be required on existing schemes in regard to the bus networks in Scotland? a. Increase of destinations b. Increase of the frequency of journeys c. Reduction of bus fare d. Change of vehicles 10. Do you participate in activities aiming to improve the bus network in your area? a. Yes b. No 11. Are you aware of the effects of buses on the environment? a. Yes b. No 12. Do you think that using the bus instead of the car would decrease environmental pollution? a. Yes b. No Section C Ethical Issues 1. The questionnaire will be accessible only to the researcher 2. The questionnaire will be used only for current study 3. The participants can avoid answering in one or more questions 4. No personal details of the participants will be included in the questionnaire Read More