Discussion of the safety, serviceability and suitability of bus rapid transit services

Abstract

Bus rapid transit maximises the capacity of mass transit serviced by buses. Dedicated transit ways, specially designed stations and buses, customised fare-collection methods and dispatch management are instrumental to achieve this capacity maximisation. The increased mass transit capacity provided by bus rapid transit services (BRTSs) is comparable to transit capacities provided by urban rail transit systems. Due to their perceived simplicity of implementation and implementation costs, the adoption of bus rapid transit is favoured by municipalities for mass transit in a number of cities around the world. BRTSs provide a fast and effective solution to increased transit demand that surpasses the limits of ordinary bus services in mixed traffic. However, BRTSs have inherent limitations in terms of control, capacity, safety, serviceability and urban well-being. These limitations result in significant service failures and reduced safety. This study raises some concerns and discusses some aspects of bus rapid transit with regard to its safety and serviceability. The study then investigates the types and occurrences of adverse events such as accidents, incidents and service failures experienced in the BRTS in Istanbul since its inauguration and assesses the adverse events that have occurred.