THE USE OF PARK-AND-RIDE LOTS BY BUS COMMUTERS

In suburban corridors of large metropolitan areas, it is usually impossible to offer bus services on a network which can directly serve the residential districts of all commuters. Economic necessity requires that only a few trunk lines on radial corridors, usually on state highways, are operated and that passengers make their way between their homes and the nearest bus stop as best they can. Since the majority of commuters who wish to use such bus service are forced to drive to the bus stops, park-and-ride lots have been built, especially at the stops which serve large "market sheds". These same lots may also be used by comuters who leave their cars their to join carpools, vanpools, and subscription buses; in some situations they have also become sites where waiting passengers are offered rides by solo drivers who wish to qualify for use of HOV facilities. The lots are either specifically built for park-and-ride purposes, usually on state-owned land, or are located on portions of existing parking lots at shopping centers, churches etc. ("joint-use") where an agreement between the owner and the state to formalize the park-and ride activity has been concluded. A previous report analyzed the use of such lots and developed criteria for planning and designing future lots. This study concentrates on the use of these lots by bus commuters, who were surveyed at eleven lots in the San Francisco Bay Area and at four in the Los Angeles area. The responses indicate that passengers are generally satisfied with the park-and-ride lots and related bus services, but show concern about the safety of walking to and from bus stops, place a high value on shelters at inbound stops, and express the desire for improved bus service, primarily longer hours of service and, in the Los Angeles area, relief of overcrowding. (Author) and, in the Los Angeles area, relief of overcrowding. (Author)

• Corporate Authors:

  University of California, Berkeley

  Institute of Transportation Studies Library
  Berkeley, CA  United States  94720

  California Department of Transportation

  1120 N Street
  Sacramento, CA  United States  95814

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Stevens, A D
  • Homburger, W S
• Publication Date: 1984-11

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 94 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bus transit; Commuters; Consumer behavior; Consumer preferences; Park and ride; Utilization
• Old TRIS Terms: Bus transportation (Intracity)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Passenger Transportation; Public Transportation; Research; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00450596
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/CA/TO-84/4, UCB-ITS-RR-85-2
• Contract Numbers: RTA 13945-55A316 UCB
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Mar 31 1987 12:00AM