CAN MINIBUSES REALLY ATTRACT PASSENGERS OUT OF CARS?
This article shows how the conversion of conventional urban bus services to more frequent minibus services can attract passengers from cars, with resulting beneficial effects on the urban environment. Extensive user surveys of converted routes have shown that the most frequently cited reasons for increased use are: (1) frequency; (2) 'hail and ride' facilities; (3) improved penetration into housing estates. All other factors, including the alleged 'friendly atmosphere' of minibuses, were found to be considerably less important. The results of surveys in Swansea and Newbury are reported. In both these towns, about 50% of the net growth in bus ridership came from former car occupants, suggesting considerable scope for improvement in energy efficiency and use of car space; although more fuel was used for minibuses than for the previous buses, this could have been more than offset by savings in petrol for car use. City congestion could also be affected by diversion from car to minibus, although the effect could be very marginal in relation to total traffic flow. The results presented here refer to successful minibus conversions, where the initial service level was low and operation was fairly reliable after conversion. Results may be much less good where minibuses have to compete with other services. (TRRL)
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Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/24067173
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Corporate Authors:
Landor Publishing Limited
Quadrant House 250 Kennington Lane
London SE11 5RD, England -
Authors:
- White, P
- Turner, R
- Publication Date: 1991-1-2
Media Info
- Pagination: p. 23-25
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Serial:
- Urban Transport International
- Publisher: Groupe Actis
- ISSN: 1268-2241
- Serial URL: http://urban.transport.free.fr
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Automobile travel; Minibuses; Ridership
- ITRD Terms: 9032: Increase; 1263: Minibus; 744: Public transport; 8119: United Kingdom; 313: Urban area; 9084: Use
- Subject Areas: Public Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00620082
- Record Type: Publication
- Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
- Files: ITRD, TRIS
- Created Date: Mar 31 1992 12:00AM