TREND ON REAL TIME INFORMATION PROVISION IN URBAN BUS TRANSPORT IN JAPAN
Urban bus transport in Japan has been facing loss of patronage for many years. Service has not improved sufficiently; but, many bus operators have introduced real-time information systems, such as approaching information, often subsidized by the Ministry of Transport. This paper reviews and discusses the technology, its history, characteristics, and problems. The bus approaching system was developed in the 1970s, providing signals directly from bus vehicles to bus stops. An improved bus location system was developed later, including operation of schedules. Many systems now have full wireless transmission, which is less expensive and advantageous in snow seasons. There has been progress, such as provision of predicted departure time calculated by computers, installation of systems at hospitals, police offices, and even each room of a condominium, and development of portable information equipments. From this perspective, the bus system is said to be catching up with the information age. Several problems, however, are evident. First, operators are less interested in basic information service like timetables and maps, which is more important for patronage. Second, there is a gap between passengers' demand and operators' supply since most operators are interested only in how to manage drivers and vehicles. Third, initial cost is subsidized, maintenance cost is not. Finally, since systems are not compatible technically, common information cannot be provided at bus terminals with different operators. These problems can be addressed with the development of additional systems from an urban transportation planning point of view as well as from a technical perspective.
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Supplemental Notes:
- Five volumes of papers and one volume of abstracts comprise the published set of conference materials.
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Corporate Authors:
VERTIS
TORANOMOM 34 MORI BUILDING 1-25-5
TORANOMON, MINATOKU, TOKYO 105 Japan -
Authors:
- Nakamura, F
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Conference:
- Steps Forward. Intelligent Transport Systems World Congress
- Location: Yokohama, Japan
- Date: 1995-11-9 to 1995-11-11
- Publication Date: 1995-11
Language
- English
Media Info
- Pagination: p. 979
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Bus transportation; Graphics; Information services; Intelligent transportation systems; Intercity bus lines; Real time control; Timetables; Travel demand
- Uncontrolled Terms: Passenger demand
- Geographic Terms: Japan
- Old TRIS Terms: Graphic displays; Real-time systems
- Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Motor Carriers; Operations and Traffic Management; Public Transportation;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00722024
- Record Type: Publication
- Report/Paper Numbers: Volume 2
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: Jun 23 1996 12:00AM