Bus Transport Services Research Articles

The Impact of E-Ticketing System on Bus Transportation Service in Tanzania

This study investigates the impact of the e-ticketing system on bus transportation services in Tanzania. The main objective of the research is to assess how the e-ticketing system influences various aspects of bus transportation in Tanzania. Specific objectives include examining the role of e-ticketing, identifying the challenges it poses, and exploring strategies for its improvement. Primary data were collected through well-structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews, providing both quantitative and qualitative insights into the effectiveness of the e-ticketing system. The findings reveal that the e-ticketing system has significantly enhanced revenue management, passenger convenience, sustainability, and fraud prevention, with significance levels of .02, .01, .02, and .02, respectively. These results highlight the system's valuable contribution to improving service quality. However, the study also identifies several challenges, including technical issues, connectivity problems, resistance to change, and security concerns. To address these challenges, the study proposes strategies such as increasing awareness and educational campaigns, upgrading technology and infrastructure, implementing offline options, and enhancing feedback and support mechanisms. These recommendations aim to optimize the e-ticketing system's effectiveness and address its limitations, ultimately improving the overall bus transportation service in Tanzania.

Examining bus service quality among clusters of commuters: the case of Maputo Metropolitan Area, Mozambique

ABSTRACT The Maputo Metropolitan Area's bus transport service is comprised of both formal and informal operations, characterized by declined service quality. To improve service quality, the Maputo Metropolitan Transport Agency is transitioning to formal operations. The study aims to determine who experiences substandard bus service and where, to inform targeted actions. Data from 8,095 bus users were analysed using cluster analysis, Sankey diagrams, and multicriteria analysis, revealing four distinct behavioural clusters (C1–C4). C1 (Non-frequent-early evening) and C4 (Non-frequent-early morning) commuters experience low and very low service quality, respectively, needing increased bus frequency and easy-to-board buses. C2 (Non-frequent-daytime) commuters enjoy high service quality but could benefit from dedicated bus lanes to further improve frequency and convenience. C3 (Frequent-short travel time) commuters experience very high service quality but require direct bus lines from the suburbs to the CBD to reduce travel costs. The study findings form a basis for targeted bus service improvements.

Predicting costs of local public bus transport services through machine learning methods

The present study developed several machine learning-based cost models to predict an efficient total economic cost per vehicle revenue-mile of urban public bus transport. The models were trained on a built-in dataset from 269 transit agencies providing urban services in the United States from 2015 to 2019. A feature selection strategy was implemented, finding that, for each proposed model, a subset of features determined a large impact on unit cost. These “core” features included commercial speed, average salary expenses per employee, vehicle productivity, and fleet ownership cost per vehicle. Machine learning techniques outperformed the linear regression method in terms of predictive power and robustness (understood as the dispersion of predictive power measures over the training sets). Based on SHAP values, the sensitivity analyses showed that the proposed models could be used to predict the impact of changes in some critical features on corresponding unit costs. The results may be useful for: (i) introducing regulatory constraints to the allocation of national public resources to local public bus transport services, aimed at minimizing the resources needed to provide a given level of service; (ii) defining the maximum economic compensation required by firms involved in competitive tendering for the allotment of service concessions, or firms with monopoly rights (by political choice and/or local public ownership); and (iii) improving service contract management and design by identifying key cost drivers of transit services.

Comparing the Quality of Long-Distance Bus Transport Services in Ghana to Sierra Leone

ABSTRACT This study wishes to reveal the gap between perceptions and expectations of the quality of services offered by long-distance bus transport services in Ghana and Sierra Leone. The study also reveals if there are differences, with statistical significance, in the sample response due to the three variants which are pre-departure, departure, and arrival. The research uses the SERVQUAL instruments which have been applied to a random sample of 107 persons from both countries. The study outcomes show that the expectations are higher than the perceptions in terms of all dimensions in both countries and also demonstrate the differences among pre-departure, departure, and arrival variants among the two countries. The study provides suggestions to raise the quality of services delivered to passengers on those long-distance transport buses.

Recommendations for Improving the Quality of Intercity Bus Transportation Services in Bali Province Results of the Questionnaire

The quality of public transportation services has not been able to meet the transportation needs of the community. The purpose of the study was to determine the recommendations for improving the Intercity Bus Within the Province (AKDP) service. The quantitative method was used to determine the quality of AKDP Bus public transportation services in Bali from the analysis of questionnaire data. The respondent population was users of AKDP Bus public transportation services who stopped at the Mengwi Terminal. The number of respondents was 371 people. The analysis of service quality was carried out using the Importance Performance Analysis (IPA) method in the form of quadrant analysis and gap analysis to determine recommendations for superior services and priority services for improvement. Recommendations for service improvements include the provision of glass breaker tools or hammers, emergency doors, and special space in the trunk for storing wheelchairs. In addition, it is necessary to check the vehicle before it is operated and provide information at the counter about the routes to be served. The results of the study can be used by AKDP bus service providers to improve services.

Integration of Modernized application of smart Bus Pass.

The Android Smart Bus Pass System and the proposed digitalization initiative for the traditional bus transportation system converge to redefine and elevate the public transportation experience. The Android Smart Bus Pass System, designed to leverage mobile technology, streamlines fare management, and enhances user convenience. It eliminates physical tickets through mobile ticketing, supports contactless payments, and provides real-time pass updates, route information, and robust security features. In alignment with this, the proposed digitalization initiative aims to revolutionize the current manual processes associated with bus pass applications and renewals. The goal is to establish a user-friendly online platform, liberating citizens, especially students, from the constraints of physical documents and inconvenient counter transactions. The integration of modern digital solutions seeks to break free from traditional practices, allowing users to apply for and renew passes effortlessly at their convenience. This collaborative effort represents a transformative shift towards a technologically advanced and user-centric public transportation network. By digitizing the bus pass application and renewal process, the initiative aligns with the Android Smart Bus Pass System's goal of simplifying ticketing processes, reducing queues, and improving overall transportation efficiency. Together, these innovations aim to create a seamless and accessible public transportation experience for citizens, ultimately shaping the future of bus transportation services.

Ownership frictions in a procurement market: Evidence from London buses

This paper investigates the efficiency impact of garage ownership frictions in the procurement of public bus transportation services in London. In this market, operators are less competitive for routes far from their garages, leading to local monopoly rents. Empty bus travel between garages and routes (dead miles) is found to account for about 13 percent of driving time in this market. Consequentially, sizeable effects of dead mile minutes on bids and procurement costs are estimated. Taking the urban context and the demand side as given, and treating this market as a typical network industry, counterfactual simulations evaluate the effect of unbundling the ownership of bus garages from the operation of the bus routes. Letting a central dispatcher allocate buses to garages would reduce total dead miles by 14 percent, with corresponding reductions of operating costs and of polluting exhaust emissions.

Bus Pass with Barcode Card Scan Code

Abstract: The "Bus Pass with Barcode Scan Project" aims to enhance the efficiency and security of bus transportation services by implementing a barcode-based pass system. This theoretical project focuses on the conceptual framework and key components required for the successful implementation of such a system. Implementing a secure and convenient bus pass system using barcode technology. Improves the accuracy and speed of passenger boarding by automating the pass verification process. Enhancing data management and analytics for better service planning and passenger experience. Developing a system for generating unique barcodesfor each bus pass holder. Ensures that the generated barcodes are tamper-proof and secure against duplication. Installing barcode scanners on buses to read the passenger's bus pass barcode. Ensures compatibility with various barcode types (e.g., QR codes, traditional barcodes). Creates a centralized database that store passenger information, including name, pass details, and barcode data. Implementing data encryption and security protocols to protect passenger information. Developing a mobile application for passengers to purchase, renew, or display their bus pass on their smartphones. Enabling easy scanning of the mobile app's barcode at the bus entry point.

Reflections on Labour Productivity of the Sri Lanka Transport Board: An Analysis of Patterns and Evolution

The predominant reliance on buses, particularly by low-income commuters, has made the bus transportation industry one of the most pivotal contributors to the domestic economy. Therefore, as the single largest public bus transportation service provider in Sri Lanka, SLTB’s ability to generate higher volumes of output by employing fewer inputs is increasingly crucial. However, SLTB is a state-owned enterprise that has been criticised for its inefficient factor productivity for a long time. Such allegations against the leading transport service provider of the country would raise serious economic concerns. Thus, this study attempted to examine SLTB’s labour productivity in its physical dimensions as reflected through the elasticity of output on labour inputs to determine the underlying causes for any inefficiency in the utilisation of labour in the organisation. The scale and evolution of elasticities of output of SLTB’s operations on labour inputs between 2011 and 2019 were subject to econometric scrutiny in this study. The results of the study revealed that the SLTB’s elasticity of output on labour inputs has been negative at the overall national level. However, a favourable evolution of the elasticity of output on labour could be observed over the years. The results also revealed the presence of significant differences in region-specific effects on the elasticity of output on labour inputs compared to the national level, indicating that different regions have different labour productivity levels.

Local delivery of bus transportation services: a model of interdependency of provision and production choices

ABSTRACT The article employs a model of interdependency of institutional choices and seeks to investigate the determinants of the provision and production of bus transportation services. We find that municipal population size and low levels of debt are the main drivers of service provision. The decision to cooperate in the provision of bus services is associated with municipalities that have lower levels of financial autonomy. Lastly, we find that larger municipalities and those not run by center left-wing mayors are more likely to opt for the externalization of bus services, either to municipal corporations or to private providers.

Are New Campus Mobility Trends Causing Health Concerns?

An influx of new mobility trends such as fare-free bus transportation, ride hail, and e-scooter services to improve access and affordability of transportation on campus may be shifting the travel behavior of campus patrons such that it affects their long-term health outcomes. The main research questions explored in this study are as follows: (1) why university patrons choose new modes of travel?; (2) what existing mode did the new modes of travel replace for the riders?; and (3) is the average body mass index (BMI) of users primarily using non-motorized transit options lower than those using motorized or both (referred to as hybrid) for on-campus travel needs? An online survey was administered to a campus community (n = 3309) including students (48%), faculty (15%), and staff (37%) in fall of 2018 when fare-free bus transportation and e-scooters became available on campus, and a gradual increase in ridership of ride-hail services was simultaneously observed. This study found that campus patrons were more inclined to replace active modes of travel with affordable and accessible modes of transportation, thereby substituting their walking or biking routine with app-based transportation services. The mean BMI among travelers who chose motorized transportation modes was more than active travelers, and the BMI was statistically significantly associated with age, gender, race, class standing (undergraduate/graduate), and residence on/off campus. This study concludes with suggestions to prevent substitution of active with non-active transport choices and provides policy guidelines to increase awareness on achieving physical activity levels through active modes of travel for university patrons.

Analyzing Consumer Feedback on the Quality of Bus Services in Sidoarjo: A Comprehensive Study

This research investigates the challenges faced by bus transportation services in Sidoarjo, highlighting the decline in passenger interest over time. Focusing on the year 2015 as a pivotal period for Sidoarjo's bus transportation development, the study employs a qualitative descriptive method to assess service quality through the lenses of reliability, responsiveness, and assurance. Findings reveal that while service officer responsiveness is commendable, improvements are needed in time clarity for reliability, and passenger assurances hinge significantly on the courtesy and friendliness of trans bus service officers. The study aims to provide recommendations for enhancing the appeal of Sidoarjo trans bus services to prevent declining enthusiasm among passengers, emphasizing the importance of comfort factors such as reliability, responsiveness, and assurance. Highlights : Enhancing Service Appeal: Investigating the factors influencing declining passenger interest in Sidoarjo's bus transportation. Reliability and Time Clarity: Identifying the need for improved time clarity to enhance the reliability of the Sidoarjo trans bus system. Assuring Passenger Comfort: Emphasizing the significance of service officer courtesy and friendliness for passenger assurance in bus transportation services Keywords: Bus Transportation, Passenger Satisfaction, Service Quality, Reliability, Responsiveness

Pengaruh Kualitas Layanan Transportasi Suroboyo Bus Terhadap Peningkatan Kepuasan Masyarakat Kota Surabaya

The study aims to analyze the impact of Suroboyo Bus transportation services on improving the satisfaction of the people of Surabaya. The type of research used in this research is quantitative with survey methods and cross-sectional design. The research was carried out on the Suroboyo Bus public transportation route Rajawali-Purabaya Terminal. This research uses a questionnaire-type instrument using the Likert scale. The number of samples used in this study was calculated using the Slovin formula and samples were obtained from as many as 400 respondents. The data analysis techniques used in this study are instrumental testing, classical assumption testing, hypothesis testing, and double linear regression testing. Instrumental testing results refer to valid and reliable instruments. The results of classic assumptions also showed normal-distributed data and variables X and Y have a linear relationship. The results of the hypothesis test with the F test obtained a P-value of 0,000, so there is a significant influence on the quality of public transport services Suroboyo Bus in general on the improvement of public satisfaction. The result of the analysis of dual linear regregation can be known that all free variables have a positive value coefficient. The determinant coefficent test results showed a large influence of service quality on public satisfactions is 77.49%.

Optimization of Rural Demand-Responsive Transportation through Transfer Point Allocation

Rural mobility has a lack of innovative proposals in contrast with its urban counterpart. This research aims to bring solutions that ease the implementation of reliable and flexible rural transportation. Demand-responsive transportation is chosen to develop a public transportation service providing interurban trips among several rural settlements. Given the characteristics of rural displacement demand, a novel approach is introduced to optimize the service’s economic costs: the dynamic transfer point allocation. The problem is fully formulated and an architecture is introduced describing the workflow of the whole system. Data from an interurban bus transportation service are used to build a case study of a rural area of Valencia, Spain, and develop several examples illustrating the benefits of the proposed approach. The results reveal that the dynamic creation of transfer points can simplify the transportation fleet’s itineraries and boost the amount of served travel requests. Finally, a discussion of the benefits and dangers of flexible features in rural transportation is developed, underscoring the need to achieve a balance between dynamic operation and service quality.

Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchal Process for Sustainable Public Transport System

The analytic The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is a well-established methodology for tackling complex multi-criteria decision problems in practical contexts. However, like many decision-making approaches, AHP confronts certain limitations, particularly in scenarios where evaluations are fraught with uncertainty and imprecision. This study sets out to enhance the capabilities of the AHP method and provide a comprehensive evaluation of public bus transport service quality within Budapest, Hungary. To address the inherent uncertainties in real-world decision-making, the study leverages the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP), a fusion of Fuzzy Set Theory with the traditional AHP. This novel approach equips decision-makers with a more robust framework to handle the multifaceted nature of real-world decision problems. The study is grounded in empirical data obtained through dynamic surveys, ensuring its relevance to the actual conditions experienced in Budapest. Expert evaluators, well-versed in the field, contribute their assessments to enrich the analysis. This novel FAHP approach doesn't just promise improved decision-making outcomes; it also champions simplicity and comprehensibility. Its computational efficiency streamlines the decision-making process, providing a powerful tool for evaluating public bus transport service quality, thereby offering a significant contribution to the sustainable development of Budapest's transportation system.

The Influence of Service Quality On Customer Loyalty and Satisfaction as an Intervening Variable in using Bus Transportation Services

Research Objectives: The aim of this research is to determine the quality of service that directly influences loyalty to using bus transportation services. To find out whether the quality of service has a direct effect on consumer satisfaction when using bus transportation services. To find out customer satisfaction has a direct effect on loyalty in using bus transportation services. To find out the indirect effect of service quality on loyalty through customer satisfaction as an intervening variable in using bus transportation services.
 Design/Method/Approach: This research uses explanatory research, this research was conducted on bus customers.
 Research Findings: The results of this research show that Service Quality directly has a positive and significant effect on Consumer Satisfaction in using Bus transportation services. Service Quality directly has a positive and significant effect on Loyalty in using Bus transportation services. Consumer satisfaction has a positive and significant direct effect on loyalty in using bus transportation services. Service quality indirectly influences loyalty with customer satisfaction as an intervening variable in using bus transportation services.
 Theoretical Contribution/ Originality: This research integrates service quality, consumer satisfaction, and loyalty in the context of bus transportation and provides a holistic view of the relationship between the three.
 Practical Implications: The results of this research can help bus companies improve service and customer satisfaction to strengthen loyalty
 Research Limitations: This research focuses on one industry, so the generality of the findings is limited to the bus transportation context. Further research is needed to dig deeper into other factors that might influence customer loyalty.

In-Depth Appraisal of Bus Transport Services for Sustainability Performance: A Cost–Benefit Analysis Approach

Public transport is arguably considered the backbone of today’s urban mobility ecosystem and is generally regarded as an important element of the sustainable mobility paradigm. As systems, they comprise vast societal investment owing to the infrastructures and operations required to provide the designated service. As projects, public transport systems have financial, societal, and environmental impacts that ought to be assessed through the scope of sustainability. Through sustainability, future generations’ financial, societal, and environmental needs are not compromised to meet the present generation’s needs. Thus, sustainability assessments can assist decision makers in perceiving the impacts and implications of an existing or under-consideration system on society and deciding on corrective actions. For the case of public transport systems, such assessments can assist in evaluating the expenditure distribution of the system and suggest actions that could maximize welfare gains under financial, social, and environmental criteria. Within this scope, the current paper proposes a methodological framework for unraveling transport systems’ sustainability to reveal their spatiotemporal dependencies. The study proposes a cost–benefit analysis framework where a public transport system is segmented and assessed into three levels: stops, lines, and administrative areas. Stop and line levels incorporate essential characteristics allowing their independent evaluation. The assessment of administrative areas aggregates characteristics from previous levels, spatially distributing the public transport system’s evaluation. By incorporating additional sociodemographic data, the administrative area level’s assessment links the evaluated transport system to societal characteristics, enhancing the decision maker’s perspective. The framework is showcased with Nicosia’s public bus transport system.

Analysis of service quality factors affecting passenger satisfaction with bus service based on a structural equation modeling: A case study of Ho Chi Minh City

This study aims to examine service quality factors and the extent of their influence on passenger satisfaction with public bus transport service. The study will describe the steps of creating a SEM (Structural Equation Modeling) model to demonstrate the service quality - satisfaction relations. Survey data conducted by the Ho Chi Minh Public Transport Management Centre in collaboration with the World Bank consultants from December 2019 to January 2020 includes 3,913 questionnaires on 25 subsidized bus routes. The analysis results from the SEM model indicate that the factors with the strongest impact on satisfaction are availability possibility, service information, fare, service attitude and friendliness with the environment. This result suggests that public transport should focus on improving these service quality factors to ensure a high level of passengers’ satisfaction.

Microsimulation Modelling and Scenario Analysis of a Congested Abu Dhabi Highway

Today’s roadways are subject to traffic congestion, the deterioration of surface-assets (often due to the overreliance on private vehicle traffic), increasing vehicle-operation and fuel costs, and pollutant emissions. In Abu Dhabi, private car traffic forms the major share on urban highways, as the infrastructure was built to a high quality and the public transport network needs expansion, resulting in traffic congestion on major highways. These issues are arguably addressable by appropriate decisions at the planning stage. Microsimulation modeling of driving behavior in Abu Dhabi is presented for empirical assessment of traffic management scenarios. This paper presents a technique for developing, calibrating, validating, and the scenario analysis of a detailed VISSIM-based microsimulation model of a 3.5 km section of a 5-lane divided highway in Abu Dhabi. Traffic-count data collected from two sources, i.e., the local transport department (year 2007) and municipality (2007 and 2015–2016) were used. Gaps in traffic-counts between ramps and the highway mainline were noted, which is a common occurrence in real-world data situations. A composite dataset for a representative week in 2015 was constructed, and the model was calibrated and validated with a 15% (<100 vehicles per hour) margin of error. Scenario analysis of a potential public bus transport service operating at 15 min headway and 40% capacity was assessed against the base case, for a 2015–2020 projected period. The results showed a significant capacity enhancement and improvement in the traffic flow. A reduction in the variation between vehicle travel times was observed for the bus-based scenario, as less bottlenecking and congestion were noted for automobiles in the mainline segments. The developed model could be used for further scenario analyses, to find optimized traffic management strategies over the highway’s lifecycle, whereas it could also be used for similar evaluations of other major roads in Abu Dhabi post-calibration.

Towards inclusive transport: The responsiveness of intercity bus services to the needs of people with disabilities in Tamale, Ghana

AbstractPeople with disabilities (PWDs) have an equal right to independent mobility and dignified involvement in society, which is intrinsically related to their access to inclusive public transit systems. Yet, very often PWDs face injustices of unequal mobilities emanating from a combination of access barriers. Based on qualitative interviews and Focus Group Discussions with PWDs and station managers, this exploratory study assessed the responsiveness of public intercity bus services to the needs of PWDs with vision, hearing and walking/climbing difficulties. The findings show that, despite the Persons with Disabilities Act's passage in 2006, intercity public bus transportation services in Tamale, Ghana, do not meet the needs of PWDs. Intercity bus stations and vehicles are not disability‐friendly, leading to people with disabilities facing severe discrimination and having a more difficult time using intercity bus services. This is due to a combination of environmental barriers, legislative/policy inadequacies, negative public attitudes and low compliance of transport operators to transport provisions in the Disability Act. PWDs express deep‐seated feelings of marginalisation and resentment about the uneven access to transport services and the violation of their rights to autonomy in movement. It is concluded that the journey experiences of PWDs have a significant adverse influence on their travel decisions and full participation in society. Hence, suggestions for further research and policy recommendations to promote inclusive transport systems have been proffered.