Research on parking sharing strategies considering user overtime parking.

A parking sharing strategy is proposed to solve the problems of parking difficulty caused by the imbalance between parking spaces and parking demand. The vacant parking spaces of residential area can be efficiently utilized to meet the parking demands of those who are working at nearby or come for other activities based on the parking sharing strategy. The paper analyzes the distribution of vehicle arrival numbers and parking durations, then establishes a shared parking allocation model aiming to maximize the parking benefit considering the overtime-parking behavior of the parking users. Simulation methods are used to the analyze the relationship among the parking benefit, proportion of reserved parking, numbers of parking demand, acceptance rate of parking demand and utilization of shared parking spaces. Then, based on the principle of maximum parking benefit, we can determine the optimal proportion of reserved parking, number of shared parking spaces that should be purchased from the residents. Taking the utilization of shared parking spaces as an indicator, the validity of the static allocation principle is proved to be effective. Some allocation rules for parking demand are proposed to guarantees the maximum parking revenue and minimum impact on residents simultaneously.

Ecological Analysis of Parking Prices and Active Commuting in US Cities, 2009.

We conducted an ecological study to determine whether parking prices are associated with active commuting across US cities. We obtained parking prices for 107 US cities from the Drexel University Central Business District Public Parking Survey, obtained city prevalence of walking and bicycling to work from the American Community Survey, and used weighted least squares linear regression to explore associations between parking prices and active commuting. After adjusting for several covariates, walking to work was 3.1% higher for every additional dollar charged for off-street daily parking, but only among more densely populated cities, and no such association was detected for bicycling to work. These preliminary results hint at the potential for parking policies to influence commuting mode choice, a link that city planners and public health officials could consider when evaluating parking policies and active transportation behaviors.

Detection and Measurement of Unhealthy, Environment-Derived Aerosol Materials in an Emergency Department.

OBJECTIVE: To measure unhealthy aerosol materials in an Emergency Department (ED) and identify their sources for mitigation efforts. BACKGROUND: Based on pilot findings of elevated ED particulate matter (PM) levels, investigators hypothesized that unhealthy aerosol materials derive from exogenous (vehicular) sources at ambulance receiving entrances. METHODS: The Aerosol Environmental Toxicity in Healthcare-related Exposure and Risk program was conducted as an observational study. Calibrated sensors monitored PM and toxic gases at Ambulance Triage Exterior (ATE), Ambulance Triage Desk (ATD), and control Public Triage Desk (PTD) on a 3/3/3-day cycle. Cassette sampling characterized PM; meteorological and ambulance traffic data were logged. Descriptive and multiple linear regression analyses assessed for interactions between aerosol material levels, location, temporal variables, ambulance activity, and meteorological factors. RESULTS: Sensors acquired 93,682 PM0.3, 90,250 PM2.5, and 93,768 PM5 measurements over 366 days to generate a data set representing at least 85.6% of planned measurements. PM0.3, PM2.5, and PM5 mean counts were lowest in PTD; 56%, 224%, and 223% higher in ATD; and 996%, 200%, and 63% higher in ATE, respectively (all p < .001). Qualitative analyses showed similar PM compositions in ATD and ATE. On multiple linear regression analysis, PM0.3 counts correlated primarily with location; PM2.5 and PM5 counts correlated most strongly with location and ambulance presence. PM < 2.5 and toxic gas concentrations at ATD and PTD patient care areas did not exceed hazard levels; PM0.3 counts did not have formal safety thresholds for comparison. CONCLUSIONS: Higher levels of PM were linked with ED ambulance areas, although their health impact is unclear.

[Hygienic evaluation of air pollution with asbestos dust in subway parkings].

Hygienic research and analysis of literature on subway parkings air pollution with respirable fibrous particles that are formed during automobile exploitation due to attrition of friction parts (brake blocks, clutch plates) helped to come to a conclusion that level of air pollution with fibrous particles does not exceed allowable hygienic norms and accordingly does not harm health of workers and visitors of subway parkings, therefore there is no need in improvement of present hygienic regulations of such objects in view of preventing asbestos-induced diseases.

Predictors of initiating and maintaining active commuting to work using transport and public health perspectives in Australia.

OBJECTIVE: To identify predictors for initiating and maintaining active commuting (AC) to work following the 2003 Australia's Walk to Work Day (WTWD) campaign. METHODS: Pre- and post-campaign telephone surveys of a cohort of working age (18-65 years) adults (n=1100, 55% response rate). Two dependent campaign outcomes were assessed: initiating or maintaining AC (i.e., walk/cycle and public transport) on a single day (WTWD), and increasing or maintaining health-enhancing active commuting (HEAC) level (> or = 30 min/day) in a usual week following WTWD campaign. RESULTS: A significant population-level increase in HEAC (3.9%) was observed (McNemar's chi(2)=6.53, p=0.01) with 136 (19.0%) achieving HEAC at post campaign. High confidence in incorporating walking into commute, being active pre-campaign and younger age (<46years) were positively associated with both outcomes. The utility of AC for avoiding parking hassles (AOR=2.1, 95% CI: 1.2-3.6), for less expense (AOR=1.8, 95% CI: 1.1-3.1), for increasing one's health (AOR=2.5, 95% CI: 1.1-5.6) and for clean air (AOR=2.2, 95% CI: 1.0-4.4) predicted HEAC outcome whereas avoiding the stress of driving (AOR=2.6, 95% CI: 1.4-5.0) and the hassle of parking predicted the single-day AC. CONCLUSIONS: Transportation interventions targeting parking and costs could be further enhanced by emphasizing health benefits of AC. AC was less likely to occur among inactive employees.

Work-related fatal injuries in parking lots, 1993-2002.

PROBLEM: Although parking facilities are a common feature of the landscape in the United States, little is known about their safety. METHOD: A dataset of parking lot fatalities for 1993-2002, created from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injury (CFOI) research file, was analyzed. RESULTS: The most common events in parking lots were contact with objects (15%), pedestrian fatalities (13%), homicides (36%), and suicides (11%). The perpetrators of parking lot fatalities, compared to all workplace homicides, were more likely to be known to the victim. CONCLUSION: The 206 work-related fatalities per year in parking lots present challenges to the safety community. Although much of the risk results from the usage of motor vehicles, violent acts are even more prominent. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: Because homicides are most prevalent in parking lots, both administrative and environmental measures may lower the risk of homicide. Although difficult to assess, various elements of the design of parking facilities may have an influence on the occurrence of injuries.

Access to dental services for people with a physical disability: a survey of general dental practitioners in Leicestershire, UK.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the availability of facilities, including parking, accessibility and toilet amenities, for physically disabled people at dental practices in Leicestershire, and views relating to the provision of treatment, as reported by general dental practitioners. BASIC RESEARCH DESIGN: A cross-sectional postal questionnaire-based study. SETTING: General Dental Service practices in Leicestershire, United Kingdom. PARTICIPANTS: Questionnaires were sent to all General Dental Service practices (n=123) within Leicestershire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Facilities for physically disabled people as reported by general dental practitioners and views of practitioners in relation to provision of treatment. RESULTS: The response rate from general dental practices was 80%. The views of 120 (42%) of the 284 dentists approached relating to the provision of treatment to people with a physical disability were recorded. Although up to 77% of the dental practices were considered by practitioners to be accessible to someone using a wheelchair, only 7% also had suitable parking and toilet facilities. The majority of responding dentists treated patients with a physical disability, but 76% of practitioners found it difficult to provide treatment to this group. Concerns regarding the financial cost of providing treatment were raised. There is evidence that conditions are less than optimal in general practice settings for patients with a physical disability receiving treatment. Only nine of the 123 practices in Leicestershire had appropriate parking, access and toilet facilities for physically disabled people. CONCLUSION(S): Facilities for physically disabled people at general practices in Leicestershire are limited. If inequalities in dental health among the physically disabled are to be successfully reduced, steps must be taken to make practices more easily accessible with suitable facilities, and to increase awareness of services offered by appropriate dental practices.

A retrospective study of unplanned out-of-hospital deliveries.

Our objective was to determine maternal characteristics and perinatal outcome of unplanned unattended deliveries en route to the hospital in comparison to unplanned deliveries attended by medical personnel within the parking facility of the hospital. All singleton deliveries occurring between 1988 and 1999 were analyzed from the computerized perinatal database. Maternal characteristics and pregnancy outcome of unattended, unplanned out-of-hospital births were compared with unplanned deliveries in the hospital parking lot, with the assistance of medical personnel. Out of 2328 out-of-hospital deliveries, 5.7% ( n=133) were managed by medical personnel in the parking lot and 94.3% ( n=2195) occurred en route to the hospital. The birth weight of newborns from the attended out-of-hospital delivery group was significantly higher than the comparison group (3126.2+/-516 g vs. 3019+/-522 g; P=0.023). A significant linear association was found between birth weight and attended out-of-hospital births (Mantel-Haenszel test for linear association; P=0.002). Moreover, these newborns were significantly more likely to be large for gestational age (OR=2.2, 95% CI 1.2-3.9; P=0.004). Parturients who delivered in the parking lot with the assistance of medical personnel, had significantly higher rates of grade 2 perineal tears (OR=8.4, 95% CI 1.1-5.4; P=0.041). Perinatal mortality was non-significantly higher among attended out-of-hospital deliveries (OR=2.8, 95% CI 0.8-8.3; P=0.279) as compared to unattended out-of-hospital deliveries. The attendance of medical personnel in unplanned out-of-hospital deliveries did not influence the birth outcome.

Patients' views of oral day surgery.

Day case surgery is an expanding area of health care and is an invaluable method of treating patients in many aspects of oral surgical practice. Two questionnaires were used to sample the opinions of 200 patients who had undergone care in a 3-month period. A total of 80% of patients rated their overall experience of oral day surgery as excellent or good. Less disruption to routine was the most common perceived advantage of oral day surgery (35% of patients). Providing patients are carefully selected, much of oral surgery previously undertaken on an in-patient basis may now be carried out as a day case.