AUTOMOBILES USED AS MINIBUSES: HELP FOR HARRIED COMMUTERS

A concept has been developed that is based on the idea that some commuter automobiles may be turned into minibuses that pick up and discharge passengers on relatively fixed routes. In this Community Auto Rapid Transit System (CARTS), drivers wishing to participate are investigated for their safety record and insurability and issued a color-coded decal card for indentification. During a 1-pass cruise in a designated pickup route, passengers flag cars heading for their destination. Fares are paid directly and fixed by a regulatory agency. Benefits that could be derived can include gasoline conservation, reduction of traffic congestion and air pollution, lower capital expenditure for the local public transportation system and the provision of feeder service for public transit. However limitations exist: CARTS will have to serve a minimum population of 20,000 and a central business district or employment center. Crime could also pose a problem.

• Record URL:
  • https://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trnews/tr-news-61-02.pdf
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/07386826
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Publication Date: 1975

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: p. 9-11
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research News
  • Issue Number: 61
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0738-6826

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air quality management; Automobiles; Commuting; Driver records; Fares; Feeder services; Minibuses; Paratransit services; Passengers; Private passenger vehicles; Public transit; Safety; Traffic congestion; Vehicle sharing
• Subject Areas: Environment; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Passenger Transportation; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00131349
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: May 14 1981 12:00AM