rural settlements

Rural settlement system in Saratov region is in constant development. Transformation of rural settlement is considered for 1959–2015. The study of rural settlement is relevant due to system of local government reform. Number of rural municipalities is being reduced and the number of settlements in them is growing. The number of rural settlements is in reduction. The share of population living in large settlements increases (as a result of the change of status of a rural settlement to an urban one included).

The aim of the study is to examine the dynamics of transport use and transport service in urban and rural settlements of Russia with different population sizes in 2014–2022. The hypothesis of the study is that the dynamics of transport use and transport service in rural settlements repeats the dynamics of transport use and transport service in urban settlements with a certain time delay.