URBAN BUS REVENUE COLLECTION: CURRENT METHODS AND DIRECTIONS OF DEVELOPMENT

A review of existing and future urban bus revenue collection methods, both in the UK and in other parts of the western world, is reported. It is found that conversions to one-person-operation have continued, with two-person-operation tending to be retained only where there are special circumstances. There is some diversity of opinion about the best operating systems, but there is a general preference for simple equipment, and there has been an increase in the use of off-bus ticket sales, though the full economic implications of such sales are not fully understood. Development of several specifications of new driver-based machinery, with related slot readers for handling coded season tickets, is currently taking place in the UK. It is also becoming technically feasible to develop advanced automated systems, for example utilizing stored value tokens, or credit cards, and some innovations have occurred in the USA. However, having converted to one-person-operation, the lack of scope for further major staff savings makes the justification of investment in expensive equipment difficult, with the result that such systems are unlikely to be in widespread use on UK buses in the short term. (Author/TRRL)

• Corporate Authors:

  Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)

  Wokingham, Berkshire  United Kingdom 
• Authors:
  • WATTS, P F
  • Naysmith, A
• Publication Date: 1980

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 24 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automatic control; Automation; Bus transit; Buses; Choice models; Development; Drivers; Equipment; Fare collection; Fares; Investments; Methodology; Payment; Personnel; Public transit; Revenues; Tickets; Time duration; Transportation planning; Urban areas; Urban transportation
• Uncontrolled Terms: One; Short term
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• Old TRIS Terms: Bus transportation (Intracity)
• ITRD Terms: 3882: Automatic; 1272: Bus; 9013: Development; 1772: Driver; 3674: Equipment; 227: Investment; 9102: Method; 9054: One; 272: Payment; 102: Personnel; 250: Season ticket; 9072: Selection; 241: Tariff; 8119: United Kingdom; 313: Urban area
• Subject Areas: Finance; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Society; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00335012
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Report/Paper Numbers: SR 629 Monograph
• Files: ITRD, TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Oct 28 1982 12:00AM