COMPARATIVE COSTS OF DIAL-A-RIDES. APPROACHES TO ASSESSING EFFICIENCY. A DISCUSSION PAPER

This paper examines ways of measuring cost-effectiveness and discusses factors which help to explain variations of costs between different dial-a-rides. These fall under three main headings: (a) invalid comparison; (b) variations in the operational environment beyond the control of dial-a-ride management and (c) differences in operational practices. This paper concentrates on the first two. A comparison is made between the cost per trip of London's dial-a-rides and that of Birmingham's ring and ride. Features of the operational environment that affect the costs/passenger capacity of individual dial-a-rides include: coverage, labour costs, traffic speed, density of population and facilities, and resource levels. It is unreasonable to expect that a universal cost per trip figure can be achieved. The use of any blanket measure of cost effectiveness involves too simplistic an approach in evaluating the efficiency of a dial-a-service for mobility handicapped people. (TRRL)

• Corporate Authors:

  Federation of London Dial-A-Ride

  St Margarets, 25 Leighton Road
  London,   United Kingdom 
• Authors:
  • Potter, S
• Publication Date: 1985-11

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: 23 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cost effectiveness; Fares; Mobility; Operating costs; Paratransit services; Performance; Persons with disabilities
• Uncontrolled Terms: Performance indicators
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 1251: Capacity (veh); 1157: Community transport; 224: Cost; 1157: Dial a ride; 1726: Disabled person; 237: Economic efficiency; 698: Journey; 1054: Network (traffic); 1144: Operations (transp network); 1128: Paratransit; 102: Personnel; 335: Population; 5408: Speed; 8119: United Kingdom; 313: Urban area
• Subject Areas: Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00458707
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 28 2004 3:54AM