What Quality and Capacity Can Bus Systems Achieve in Europe?

Bus rapid transit (BRT) is seen as a way to offer high levels of service, similar to that of a light rail system, but at a fraction of the cost. This article examines how the BRT concept can best be applied to the European urban and economic context. Technical visits were conducted in 10 European cities that have launched BRT or buses with a high level of service (BHLS) projects. The findings from these observations suggest that BHLS is highly promising in small towns, medium-sized conurbations and the outlying zones of large metropolitan areas. Successful BHLS projects require lengthy dialogue, especially in choosing the right mode and configurations. Although cities have experimented with several configurations, express services similar to those in North and South America have not yet been developed in Europe. Some BLHS projects are designed to be upgraded into tramway systems once there is sufficient demand. A market for buses specifically designed for BHLS appears to be emerging as well. These preliminary findings are part of a broader project, continuing until 2011, examining the infrastructure, rolling-stock, operating issues, and social/economic issues of BHLS/BRT in Europe.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/1016796X
• Authors:
  • Rambaud, Francois
  • Cristobal-Pinto, Carlos
• Publication Date: 2009-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: pp 22-24
• Serial:
  • Public Transport International
  • Volume: 58
  • Issue Number: 5
  • Publisher: International Association of Public Transport (UITP)
  • ISSN: 1016-796X
  • Serial URL: http://www.uitp.org/publications/public-transport-magazine.cfm

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bus rapid transit; Bus transit; Bus transit operations; Quality of service; Reports of visits; Ridership; Transit buses
• Geographic Terms: Europe
• Subject Areas: Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01147984
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 25 2010 8:07AM