Environmental impacts of commuting
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@2011
Environmental impacts of commuting
Introduction
High quality and elegant travelling is the desire for every commuter regardless of distance model of transport or the means by which the passengers use. In reference to Routemaster travelling buses in the United Kingdom, most commuters have continued to rely on these buses for quite sometime because of their convenience while travelling. Since the introduction of these buses, the impact on the commuter transport design has been greatly influenced.
Much of the transport in the United Kingdom has greatly influenced the designs of the travelling vehicles both interiorly and externally in order to meet the passengers needs. For over 50 years now the Routemaster buses have continued to be an icon to be imitated by many transport service offers in most of the United Kingdom including London. The reliability of these buses is the key factor that attracts most of the commuters in the United Kingdom who prefer them more than any other transport competitor.
The Routemaster is well advanced and over time it has provided significant services to the customers because of its safety that comes as a result of its design by use of steel both internally and externally (Fujii & Kitamura, 2007).
The sustainability of this kind of transport is necessary in terms of environment and service delivery. The discussion of this topic will look into details the effects the Routemaster buses have to the environment both sustainable and unsustainable in comparison with Shinkansen trains of Japan which for along period of time have continued to display great advancements in terms of technology. Unlike the Routemaster, the Shinkansen trains of Japan have continued to evolve to meet changing and varying needs of its customers while the Routemaster have remained unchanged for over 50 years since their introduction in 1959 (Fujii, Garling & Kitamura, 2001).
Literature review
The Routemaster of the United Kingdom is a double Decker bus which was built by The Associated Equipment Company in 1954. Its production lasted between 1954 and 1964. The Routemaster services continued till 2005 when it reduced its routes into serving central London.
The pioneering design of the Routemaster lasted over a period of time after which the design was sold to the London transport bus for use by other operators. The design of these buses coincided with boarding away from the stop. The conductors assisted in maintaining security and reducing the time spent on boarding by the customers thus making it cost effective.
The original Routemaster had famous features in London that acted as tourist points thus imitated even across the world with some of its features spotted in foreign countries. The design of these buses made them lighter and therefore consuming less fuel making it cost friendly and environmental friendly because of less emissions. Although the primary reason of constructing the buses was to serve London, it came to replace the trolley buses that were common in London
The Routemaster for along period never did any changes to the designs of their buses something has made them less sustainable in terms of environmental impacts, however, their original design was done to increase safety and reduce its emissions to the environment because of its construction from steel rather than timber
Since the end of world war 11, the reconstruction of the Shinkensen trains commenced after a long period as a result of building Japanese economy to increase freights for commuters. The first Shinkansen to be constructed was a development of the Romancecar.
In the 1950s in most developed countries, the railway transport was believed to be outdated however the president of Japan National Railways, Shinji Sogo was committed to the development the high speed railway that show the evolvement of the Shinkansen in 1950s.
The government approved the Japan National Railways in 1958 after which the first Shinkansen came into operation connecting Tokyo and Osaka the cost of construction of the first train cost the company 200 billion yen after the company was given some loan from the government and the World Bank.
The Conventional Limited Express Train took nearly seven hours from Osaka To japan while the Shinkansen moved through the two cities in three hours thus making it much faster thus making so many day trips between the two cities.
Shinkansen trains
Since its introduction over 50 years ago, Shinkansen buses have had nearly 8 billion-commuters travelling with them with very minimal fatalities which occur as a result of frequent collisions, earthquakes and even typhoons. This is because of the bus attendants were employed to assist customers. The Japanese Shinkansen trains on the other hand, have offered remedy to both long and short distance commuters because of their speed, comfortability and safety to the millions of Japanese people and it has made even the air transport to be affordable although environmental may have increased through competition. Comfortability is higher with these trains and many people can now travel using their facilities because of its convenience and speed.
Since the invention of these trains, Shinkansen has remained being an icon of transport in Japan for commuters by overtaking both air and road travel whereby approximately 23000 people travel daily using the facility thus impacting positively in the Japanese economy and its environs.
The Shinkansen wide spread networks, has led to its popularity over the rest of transport in Japan. The company has come up with sustainable that will see its customers having great experience while travelling.
Impact of transportation on the environment
This part of our topic seeks to discuss the various impacts that transport can have to the environment and its effects to the economy. We are concerned with negative impacts of transport and their significant effects to the environment and how they make transport unsustainable in the long-term if not controlled.
Sustainable transport can be described as a process by which all travel patterns can provide transport needs in a more efficient manner without compromising the environment.
The environmental effects that can determine the sustainability of transport include the following;
Global warming, which results as result of emissions to of harmful gases to the environment, many environmental effects include noise pollution as a result of sound produced by moving vehicles, trains, and buses. Land and lakes pollution, which impacts on plant and animal kingdom, the impact of waste materials from scrap metals of old machines, can also affect the environment negatively if not well recycled to be used for other purposes.
The human lives are also endangered in cases where the people inherit dangerous emissions that are produced that will affect their internal respiratory system. Some diseases are also likely to occur where the environment is not clean making it easier for contamination.
The influence interior design within unsustainable transport has on commuters’ mobility methods and how the specific interior parts of airplanes like in the case of Airbus Quantus affect the choice of travel by commuters.
The interior design of a transporting vessel greatly determines the comfortability of the bus. No doubt no passenger can go for something not good when there are other options which are even better and satisfying. For example in a case of the airbus, the interior design can affect the commuters’ choice. To start with, the customer requires some nice seats well fixed and spacious enough. Travellers need some privacy while travelling something must be put into consideration when designing the interior parts of the plane.
The interior of the airbus Quantus are well designed to accommodate fully furnished beds with large soft linen for great feel by customers thus offering above the class services. The upper decks of seats are USB enabled that are connected to laptops for use. They also provide large LCD screens of 15.4 Inch for entertainment.
The seats of these buses are also configured in such a manner to permit easy rounding for the passengers. The upper decks have special and unique design for executive travellers with prestigious seats that can be used for sleeping with more space for DVT.
The colours on the interior design must be those that reflect coolness and satisfaction. The interior must be conducive well furnished with proper painting that reflects great experiences (Ross, 2005).
The Shinkansen trains and how their high speed rail infrastructure and the interiors influence the 23,000 daily travellers.The Shinkansen trains of Japan over a long period of time exhibited high class train travel all over the world with fastest trains and most convenience. The sustainability of these trains over long distances has made commuting easier in japans for many people
The design of these trains is done in such a manner has made it more competitive and sustainable. High speed trains are presently providing a more comfortable transport and convenience in travelling for over 23 000 commuters daily. Expanded network has also made many commuters trust the railway transport because of its reliability (Bailey, 2008).
Through the use of Japanese culture, beauty and elegance has been achieved that has demonstrated great attraction to the customers and for along time the Shankansen trains have been able to sustain its mobility and created impact to the environment.
Well designed curtains made in form of ropes properly combined with elements of technology like heating swinging seats and lighting play great role in enticing commuters and make their travel a lively.
The Shinkansen has the option of using seats that are more comfortable, the seats that are there for the first come first served. There is also availability of drinks next to the seats
These are electronically booked.
The communication systems by use of well designed computers real aid in communication and play great role in the success of the interior design.
Conclusion
Through the survey the following conclusions that there is need for stakeholders in the transport sector to join hands to come with recommendations on the possible ways to handle transport system to avoid many effects to the environment for sustained mobility. The sector I san an important area of the economy as it provides the services for business people and other economy players.
For sustained transport there is need to come up with designs that can be used to manufacture transport vehicles in order to reduce its environmental effects. It’s clear that if the factors are not well managed, the long term effects on the economy are likely to increase and create more problems to the society.
Bailey, C., 2008, Jeremy Clarkson causes outrage after blowing up Routemaster, London, Shinkansen.
Ross, L., 2005, Last bell sounds for No 19 as Ken goes back on his word, Evening Standard,
Fujii S, Garling T & Kitamura R. 2001, “Changes in drivers’ perceptions an duse of public Transportation during a freeway closure: Effects of temporary structural change on Cooperation in a real-life social dilemma.” Environment and Behaviour 33 96-808
Fujii S, & Kitamura R. 2007. “What does a one-month free bus pass ticket do to habitual drivers?” Transportation. 2003: 81-95
