Effect of curbside bus stops on passenger car units and capacity in disordered traffic using simulation model

Abstract

ABSTRACT Representation of traffic in terms of Passenger Car Unit (PCU) is imperative to estimate capacity in disordered traffic. Many studies have been conducted on investigation of impacts of traffic and geometric conditions on traffic characteristics and PCUs. However, the sensitivity of PCUs due to roadside frictions are not adequately studied. To address this gap, this study aims to estimate PCU values for vehicles under the influence of curbside bus stop, which is the most common roadside friction in developing countries. Lack of space for providing exclusive bus bays and higher demand for public transport buses in urban roads justify the need for this study. Methodology of this study involves development and validation of a microscopic simulation model to quantify the impact of curbside bus stop on PCU as well as capacity. The results indicate the significant differences in PCU values due to the presence of curbside bus stop with varying traffic volume and composition.