TRANSIT PASSENGER COUNTS: ERRORS, CONTROLS, ANALYSIS

The paper reports work performed to determine the accuracy of two methods of counting bus riders (by onboard and by roadside observers), and to provide estimates of the errors inherent in the procedures. Bus riders were counted by both methods at selected locations on a screen line in San Francisco. Based on statistical estimates of error, it was concluded that the standard counting procedure, using roadside observers, contributed relatively little to the overall variability of the data. The largest source of variation, and the one that controlled required sample sizes, was the normal fluctuation of ridership between buses. It was estimated that five-day samples taken in two observation periods would be required to permit the detection, on the average, of a 10% change in total daily ridership crossing a single screen line station.

• Corporate Authors:

  Metropolitan Transportation Commission

  Hotel Claremont
  Berkeley, CA  United States  94705

  Department of Transportation

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  Department of Housing and Urban Development

  451 7th Street, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20410
• Authors:
  • Ungar, A
• Publication Date: 1974-11

Media Info

• Pagination: 53 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bus transportation; Errors; Passenger counting; Public transit; Ridership; Statistical analysis; Surveys
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Data and Information Technology; Highways; Motor Carriers; Operations and Traffic Management; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00090535
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: WP-11-1-75
• Contract Numbers: DOT-OS-30176
• Files: NTIS, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Sep 30 1981 12:00AM