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Ecological corridors are essential in facilitating the movement and dispersal of flora and fauna between separate and often isolated habitat patches. In recent years, Israel has confronted significant challenges due to the rapid pace of construction, driven in part by exceptional population growth that sets it apart on the global demographic stage. This accelerated development creates an unprecedented long-term impact on ecosystems. A key obstacle to maintaining ecological corridors is the Israeli government's decision to construct thousands of housing units using expedited plans that circumvent standard planning processes. Such projects significantly impact these corridors, given that approximately 16% of their designated areas overlap with ecological corridors. This raises two pressing questions: Can the existing ecological corridors endure these changes and remain functional, or does the role of ecological corridors need to be redefined due to increasing urban development? What are the necessary institutional frameworks required to effectively manage these corridors in an environment that is becoming progressively denser? The research focuses on two case studies in the densely populated Central District in Israel, encompassing both local and regional ecological corridors. The regulatory assessment will point out key stakeholders, identify potential threats to the corridors, and explore existing regulatory mechanisms for planning and managing these corridors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are hypothesized to replace or change the use of the transport system by facilitating new or different activities. This article offers a review of more than 40 years of research regarding the relationship between ICTs and urban mobility. We discuss the expectations for the changes in travel demand, travel patterns, and the urban form as a result of the development and introduction of ICTs. Much of the interest in the relationships between ICTs and mobility is premised on the expectation of substitution effects, but empirical findings often suggest more complex effects than direct substitution. Although research on single types of travel activity may sometimes indicate simple substitution effects, examination of the broader impacts may also reveal travel generation effects as well. As such, ICTs do not simply substitute mobility patterns butchangethem. A growing body of research focuses on changing mobility patterns (in terms of time and space), changes in the experience of travel and changes in the perceptions of travel costs due to the interaction between old and new technologies for overcoming distance. ICTs are gradually becoming embedded within the transport system, enabling flexibility, multitasking, and an increase in human activities. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Many policy makers suggest that rail is the solution for the development of the periphery, often conceived as a space suffering from under-development and lack of accessibility to the core. However, this policy, promoted around the world, does not consider core-periphery reliance as one of the rail investments' impacts. This study will examine the question: to what extent does the peripheral city, connected to the rail service, has a larger reliance on the core city? This study is a cross-sectional study that focuses on the passenger rail of an existing line to the periphery and of a planned line. The research reveals that rail does not necessarily induce the local development of the periphery but it induces larger reliance on the core. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to study the mobility and accessibility challenges tourists confront within a central tourist district. The subjects of mobility and accessibility have been studied extensively, particularly in relation to individual commuting flows, or shopping. However, for both commuting and shopping activities, individuals are dealing with a familiar area. On the other hand, the tourist's spatial experience occurs in a far less known environment and has less been examined. Th e study focuses on the domestic tourist experience in the Tel-Aviv-Jaff a area. In depth face-to-face interviews were conducted to evaluate how considerations of spatial mobility and accessibility are perceived among domestic tourists in comparison to other aspects of the tourist experience. In addition, interviews with planners and policy makers on the municipal and national levels were conducted to evaluate the services given to tourists, existing and future plans, and the care for tourists' needs. The research depicts that the spatial mobility challenges tourists face have a great influence on tourist satisfaction, even greater than the tourist product itself. Moreover, the study points to the correlation between land-use density in tourist places of residence and their perception of spatial challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]