THE EFFECT OF THE BUS GRANT ON URBAN TRANSPORT

THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT GRANT SCHEME DISCRIMINATES IN FAVOUR OF REAR-ENGINED RATHER THAN FRONT ENGINED DOUBLE-DECK BUSES. ONCE AN OPERATOR HAS PURCHASED A REAR-ENGINED DOUBLE-DECKER IT IS TO HIS FINANCIAL ADVANTAGE TO OPERATE IT WITH ONE MAN BUT IT IS DEMONSTRATED THAT THE REAL SAVING IN COST COMPARED WITH A FRONT-ENGINED CREW OPERATED VEHICLE MAY BE ONLY 5% OR LESS. BUS COMPANIES SHOULD BE FREE TO CONVERT SERVICES TO ONE MAN-OPERATION IF THE TRUE ECONOMIC CASE WARRANTS THIS. HOWEVER THE PASSENGER SUFFERS A MARKED DETERIORATION OF SERVICE AS A RESULT OF ONE MAN OPERATION ON BUSY ROUTES AND DESPITE VIEWS HELD WITHIN THE INDUSTRY, IS AS INTERESTED IN THE QUALITY AND FREQUENCY OF SERVICE AS IN PAYING THE LOWEST POSSIBLE FARE. THE AUTHOR SUGGESTS THAT THE BUS GRANT SCHEME WHICH IS DUE TO CONTINUE UNTIL 1980, SHOULD APPLY TO ALL TYPES OF BUSES ON CONDITION THAT THEY REACH A MINIMUM LEVEL OF PASSENGER COMFORT. IN ADDITION, THE INDUSTRY NEEDS THE AID OF TRANSPORT PLANNING TO PREVENT PARKING IN BUSY STREETS TO INTRODUCE MORE BUS LANES, AND TO ASSIST IN THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF ROAD PRICING. FASTER AND MORE DIRECT SERVICES IN URBAN AREAS WILL RESULT IN GENUINE COST SAVINGS TO THE OPERATOR AND MAY LEAD TO A RAPID RECOVERY OF PASSENGER TRAFFIC.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/856156
• Corporate Authors:

  London School of Economics and Political Science

  Houghton Street, Aldwych
  London WC2A 2AE,   England 
• Authors:
  • Kerridge, MSP
• Publication Date: 1974-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 237-243
• Serial:
  • Journal of Transport Economics and Policy
  • Publisher: University of Bath
  • ISSN: 0022-5258
  • Serial URL: http://www.jtep.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bus drivers; Bus lanes; Buses; Double deck buses; Economic factors; Economics; Fares; Financing; Level of service; Passenger comfort; Personnel; Public transit; Road pricing; Transportation; Travel time; Trip length; Urban areas; Urban transportation; Vehicle power plants; Vehicle rear end
• Uncontrolled Terms: One
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• Old TRIS Terms: Rear engined vehicles
• ITRD Terms: 1272: Bus; 263: Economics of transport; 244: Financing; 697: Journey time; 653: Level of service; 9054: One; 102: Personnel; 8119: United Kingdom; 313: Urban area
• Subject Areas: Economics; Finance; Planning and Forecasting; Transportation (General); I10: Economics and Administration; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00083247
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: May 1 1982 12:00AM