EFFECT OF WITH-FLOW BUS LANES ON BUS TRAVEL TIMES

Improvements in bus performance due to introduction of reserved bus lanes have traditionally been evaluated in terms of savings in total travel time. Little attention is usually paid to changes in individual segment times (i.e., travel times between consecutive bus stops along the bus route). An approach is presented that investigates the effect of an urban reserved bus lane on bus travel time on individual segments. Subsequently, the change in segment time is related to characteristics and traffic regulations at respective segments. Data were obtained by analysis of videotapes recorded before and after the introduction of exclusive curb bus lanes on a major arterial road in downtown Toronto. The data indicate that time savings are most likely to occur on segments where buses previously experienced considerable congestion, as well as at traffic signals, especially when bus stops are arranged with one on the near side and the next on the far side of their respective intersections. However, these time savings generate additional ridership, resulting in longer dwell times at stops and a corresponding overall increase in total travel time. Thus, the perception of transit service improvement may have more impacts on ridership change than any substantive change in performance. The results of the study suggest opportunities for using reserved bus lanes on a more selective basis along a particular route and the need to reconsider whether taxis should be permitted to use these lanes.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1994/1433/1433-004.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=EFFECT+OF+WITH-FLOW+BUS+LANES+ON+BUS+TRAVEL+TIMES&author=A.+Shalaby&author=R.+Soberman&publication_year=1994
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309055105
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1433, Public Transportation: Bus, Rail, Ridesharing, Paratransit Services, and Transit Security. 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
• Authors:
  • Shalaby, Amer S
  • Soberman, Richard M
• Publication Date: 1994

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 24-30
• Monograph Title: Public transportation: bus, rail, ridesharing, paratransit services, and transit security
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1433
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Before and after studies; Bus lanes; Bus travel; Buses; Dwell time; Improvements; Level of service; Perception; Performance; Ridership; Taxicabs; Travel time; Videotapes
• Geographic Terms: Toronto (Canada)
• Old TRIS Terms: Bus performance; Route segments
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00667616
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309055105
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Oct 7 1994 12:00AM