The Gravity Model

Urban Mathematics – video 4

OK, here it is, I’ll try to explain this urban behavioral model, The Gravity Model, as clearly as I can. It would probably be tricky to follow but fortunately, I’ll elaborate later on. So, deep breath…

My goal here is to show the mathematical equivalent of (don’t panic) Nash equilibrium on a large scale with many players. Just as in the example of the ice cream vendors, I am looking for the easiest way to explain why businesses are clustered in the city, using the simplest possible model.

Hmm, sounds reasonable. Let’s go.

Published as an article here:
The hard stuff

Theory of Transportation, applied to Remote Controls, Cars, Bikes and MaaS

Urban Mathematics – video 3

No scary formulas, only the basic principle of Hassle Distance, the key factor for understanding people’s choice of transportation mean.

20 Minutes, take your time.

How efficient can Urban Transportation Networks be?

Do you want to understand the inherited efficiency issues of the big transportation companies?

Ride-hailing companies like Uber or Lyft, bike, and e-scooter sharing companies like Bird or Lime, busses, trains and more. All these have a unique Network Economics that determine their efficiency.

Should we plan for bicycles?

Should we plan for bicycles?
Are those bicycles?

They go at a different speed, they allow a different range, so why are we only regarding the physical resemblance of those new micro-mobility tools and Copy-Paste concepts designed for pedal bikes?

Talking about the new micro-mobility with the Transportation Department of Tel Aviv Municipality.

The downside of congestion fees

Congestion fees have recently been presented as the tool to solve all urban problems. Economists vouch for it, city leaders praise it, and only the general public dislike it.

“The general public is dumb”, say some economists. “They don’t know what’s good for them”.
“It will only improve the lives of people who live in the periphery”, say economists living in the center of metropolitan areas.
“You are suspicious for nothing”, they conclude after considering data from other economists living in central cities like London, Stockholm or Singapore.

Well, are they right?

Continue reading “The downside of congestion fees”