Low-floor Bus Research Articles

중거리 저상 좌석버스 표준모델을 위한 교통약자의 이용 서비스 니즈 분석

This study targets the transportation vulnerable (persons with physical disabilities using wheelchairs, persons with physical disabilities using assistive devices other than wheelchairs, the visually impaired, the hearing impaired, the seniors over 65 years of age, pregnant women, and foreigners living in Korea) residing in 17 cities and provinces across the country. We investigated the needs for services using low-floor seat buses. Therefore, in order to guarantee the right to mid-distance transportation for the transportation vulnerable, basic research was conducted to successfully develop operation technology to develop and disseminate a standard model of a low-floor seat bus that can run on automobile-only roads. The survey was largely composed of four areas: individual-related matters, movement and activity situations, low-floor bus use status, and desire to use low-floor bus services. Based on the results of the analysis, the conclusions are drawn for developing a standard model for mid-distance low-floor seat buses in the future to ensure mobility rights and active social participation for the transportation vulnerable. First, mid-distance low-floor seat bus service is absolutely necessary. Second, systematic training of drivers is urgently needed. Third, more efforts should be made to improve awareness of the transportation vulnerable. Finally, there is a need for continued interest in the internal and external environmental structure of low-floor seat buses.

휠체어 이용 장애인의 저상버스 이용 실태 및 경험에 관한 연구: 인천광역시를 중심으로

This study aims to provide policy implications based on the actual usage of low-floor buses operating in Incheon Metropolitan City and the experiences of people with disabilities who use them. For the purpose of this study, a combination of quantitative research using frequency analysis based on monitoring sites and qualitative research revealing the experiences of the researcher was conducted. For this purpose, four people with severe disabilities who use wheelchairs were recruited, and the objectivity of the research was ensured through training for the recruited people with disabilities. The results of the study were derived through frequency analysis and thematic analysis of the surveyed sites, and the results were as follows: first, 80.4% of the low-floor buses were accessible, but 19.6% were not. Second, 77.5% of the bus stops were accessible. Third, 24.5% of the platform lifts (ramps) were not operational for low-floor buses. Fourth, regarding the friendliness of low-floor bus drivers, 28.2% were found to be unfriendly. Fifth, the survey revealed various inconveniences related to the place of alighting. The results of this study led to policy recommendations on the need to eradicate discrimination, introduce universal design for low-floor buses, distribute low-floor bus manuals and driver training, and expand the number of low-floor buses in order to improve the mobility rights of people with disabilities using wheelchairs.

Manual Development Research for the Diagnosis of the Introduction of Low-Floor Bus

Manual Development Research for the Diagnosis of the Introduction of Low-Floor Bus

Evaluation of Bus Rapid Transit System: Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia

Al Riyadh city, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is experiencing significant economic and population growth, it is also a major metropolitan area in Saudi Arabia and in the Gulf regions. This has led to a high level of car ownership and use of vehicles, and this has led to the construction of a series of slow-moving roads and roads around the city. Traffic congestion is a major problem, where road behavior has an economic and psychological impact on people. The Riyadh Bus stations and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System Project is an integral part of the current Riyadh metropolitan area including the new Riyadh Metro. The main objective of this paper’s is to study the “Bus Rapid Transit” network in the city of Al Riyadh and to assess the functioning of this network using geographic information systems and the theory of graphs. A centralized geodatabase has been built for BRT lines and stations. A geometric network was conducted for BRT routes to facilitate moving from any location to another within Riyadh city. The assessment and evaluation of BRT routes focused on routes and station distribution regarding Riyadh city and how BRT solved population needs in Riyadh city. Using the powerful GIS network analysis functions, a navigation system was developed to assist passengers in planning their trips from one station to another giving detailed information about route directions and different BRT lines used. The study reinforces the value of good design techniques for accessible public transportation systems. The utilization of accessible vehicles, such as low-floor buses, is needed but lacking for such an accessible system, planners and operators should be aware.

Traffic Safety and City Public Transport System: Case Study of Bengaluru, India

Vehicle crashes are a major concern in rapidly growing urban agglomerations. They also have attracted the attention of researchers, academicians, and policy makers. A large body of research literature exists that throws light on the magnitude of this problem and also indicates the interventions required. In a vast majority of Indian cities, buses are the main mode of public transport. An externality of the bus-based public transport system, like any other mode of transport, is the injuries and fatalities arising out of the crashes involving them. Buses are involved in 12-20 percent of fatal crashes in Indian cities. This paper presents an analysis of the fatal crashes that involved public transport buses in Bengaluru, India. The study suggests that low floor buses with mechanical doors and segregated pedestrian and bicycle lanes can have a major impact on reducing fatal crashes of bicycles and pedestrians involving buses.

Determinants of Bus Dwell Time

Bus dwell time data collection typically involves labor-intensive ride checks. This paper reports an analysis of bus dwell times that use archived automatic vehicle location (AVL)/automatic passenger counter (APC) data reported at the level of individual bus stops. The archived data provide a large number of observations that serve to better understand the determinants of dwells, including analysis of rare events, such as lift operations. The analysis of bus dwell times at bus stops is applicable to TriMet, the transit provider for the Portland metropolitan area, and transit agencies in general. The determinants of dwell time include passenger activity, lift operations, and other effects, such as low floor bus, time of day, and route type.

The Effects of Articulated Buses on Dwell and Running Times

Articulated buses are being operated more frequently on popular bus routes, as they can handle higher passenger loads and increase rider comfort. Dwell and running times associated with articulated buses are expected to be different from regular low-floor buses. We use archived bus operation and passenger information from three heavily-used bus routes operated by the Société de Transport de Montréal, Canada, to measure these differences. Operation of articulated buses yielded to savings in dwell time, especially with high levels of passenger activity and the use of the third door in alighting. These savings were not reflected in running time, due to increases in the time associated with acceleration, deceleration, and merging with traffic. This study gives transit planners and operators important information on the differences in operating environments between regular and articulated buses.

Prediction and analysis of semi low floor bus driver seat vibrations by using the response surface methodology

In India semi low floor (SLF) buses are used for shuttle within the cities. The main objective of the paper is to develop a quadratic model for prediction of driver seat vibration and analysis of r...

Prediction and analysis of semi low floor bus driver seat vibrations by using the response surface methodology

Prediction and analysis of semi low floor bus driver seat vibrations by using the response surface methodology

A 3D Measurement and Computerized Meshing Study to Promote Bus Ridership Among People Using Powered Mobility Aids

People who use powered mobility aids such as wheelchairs and scooters need and want to use public transport. Buses are the most affordable and efficient form of public transport, capable of connecting people across local communities. However, with curbside rather than platform boarding and internal space limitations, buses also present many accessibility challenges for people using mobility aids during ingress, egress and interior maneuverability. In Australia, people using mobility aids board low floor buses that are required to comply with the national bus accessibility standard, using the front doors. A new standard was recently created to provide a Blue Label identification for powered mobility aids suitable to access public transport. The accuracy of this standard to identify mobility aids suitable to use on buses has not been verified. This research used a world-first methodology that included 3-Dimensional (3D) scanning of 35 mobility aids and 21 buses. The resulting 735 scan combinations were efficiently meshed using Meshlab, an open-source software. The research demonstrated that (i) although none of the buses were compliant with the relevant standard in 3D, many could still facilitate the boarding of a variety of mobility aids, and (ii) the Blue Label, while a valuable guide, did not accurately identifying all mobility aids that would and would not be able to board buses. This research has shortlisted nine mobility aids that can be recommended to consumers as being able to fit all the full-size buses tested. The dimensions of mobility aids that appear to enable access on most buses were also identified for consumers to consider when purchasing a mobility aid. The novel 3D meshing methodology used in this research also revealed that most collision points between mobility aids and buses occur in the curved-corridor entry of the buses. To minimize this entry problem, future bus boarding designs should consider the option of double-door entry/exit in the middle of the bus, which is common in many other countries. Adoption of this strategy would mitigate some of the challenges that people using mobility aids encounter when accessing buses, thereby increasing public transport ridership among this group.

교통약자 이동지원센터의 이용정보를 활용한 저상버스 정류장 입지선정에 관한 연구

교통약자 이동지원센터의 이용정보를 활용한 저상버스 정류장 입지선정에 관한 연구

Modelling bus bunching under variable transit demand using cellular automata

Bunching is an operational problem, in bus transit systems with high service frequency, that can lower capacity and affects user satisfaction. The headway (i.e. amount of time between transit vehicle arrivals at a stop) is intrinsically unstable, such that minor disturbances can cause divergence from the scheduled service. In this paper, a bus route is modelled using a one-dimensional cellular automata to investigate the effects of variations in passenger demand on headway instability and the bus bunching phenomenon. Unlike previous research, this study utilizes a typical route design approach, rather than obtaining a phase diagram from random passenger demand and service frequency. The results show that a one-second decrease in boarding and alighting times per passenger can significantly reduce bunching formation. Such a reduction can be achieved by adopting in-station fare collection methods as opposed to onboard ones, and/or using low-floor buses with wider/multiple doors/channels. In addition, an active mitigation strategy is proposed to prevent the formation of bunching. It is shown that limiting the waiting time for the delayed bus at stops has a great effect on regulating headways and mitigating bunching. Further, to compare different bunching situations, a new index is proposed to evaluate bunching severity (i.e. the number of buses involved in bunching) and intensity (i.e. the overall deviation from the scheduled headway). Using the developed index, it is found that a high Peak-Hour Coefficient acts like an uncontrolled traffic light that regulates the bus flow, resulting in less severe bunching, regardless of the subsequent total delay in the service.

85 kHz Band 44 kW Wireless Rapid Charging System for Field Test and Public Road Operation of Electric Bus

Wireless charging technology for heavy-duty vehicles has been investigated for eco-friendly transportation. We present a new wireless power transfer system for 44 kW rapid charging of electric buses. The transmission distance between the charging pads is from 10 to 13 cm. The large air gap can be fulfilled by the ordinary kneeling function, equipped on most low-floor buses. Dual-block parallel transmission with opposite-phase-current-feeding suppresses magnetic radiation. The system operates in the common 85 kHz band with the light-duty vehicle system. The result of the field test and the public road operation of two electric buses confirm the CO2 reduction effect described.

CNG and diesel urban buses in India: A life-cycle cost comparison

Delhi’s bus fleet is powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) to address poor air quality. CNG has also been implemented in buses in other Indian cities. We evaluate the life-cycle costs (LCCs) of the Standard (high-floor), low-floor, and low-floor air-conditioned CNG buses and their diesel counterparts in India. Given the importance of fuel economy and fuel price for fuel costs, we analyze the sensitivity of the LCCs to these factors. Also, to assess the effect of fuel prices if they were market driven, we evaluate the LCCs of low-floor air-conditioned CNG and diesel buses in India, but with US fuel prices. Our study aims to inform decision-making regarding the implementation of CNG buses, in concert with an assessment of their environmental and health benefits.The LCCs for CNG are higher than for diesel, but CNG negatively affects the LCC of Standard buses proportionately more than for the low-floor buses. The LCC is significantly higher for the low-floor air-conditioned, relative to that of the low-floor, and in particular the Standard, CNG buses. The significantly higher LCCs for the low-floor and low-floor air-conditioned buses, even for diesel, raises the questions of whether these buses are justified by increased patronage, and how they affect transit supply and affordability.The fuel price and fuel economy of CNG are critical for the competitiveness of CNG relative to diesel buses. This, along with the wide variation in CNG and diesel prices, demonstrates the need for careful fuel pricing policies when CNG is implemented in bus transit.

Self-reported difficulty and preferences of wheeled mobility device users for simulated low-floor bus boarding, interior circulation and disembarking

Background: Low ridership of public transit buses among wheeled mobility device users suggests the need to identify vehicle design conditions that are either particularly accommodating or challenging. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of low-floor bus interior seating configuration and passenger load on wheeled mobility device user-reported difficulty, overall acceptability and design preference.Methods: Forty-eight wheeled mobility users evaluated three interior design layouts at two levels of passenger load (high vs. low) after simulating boarding and disembarking tasks on a static full-scale low-floor bus mockup.Results: User self-reports of task difficulty, acceptability and design preference were analyzed across the different test conditions. Ramp ascent was the most difficult task for manual wheelchair users relative to other tasks. The most difficult tasks for users of power wheelchairs and scooters were related to interior circulation, including moving to the securement area, entry and positioning in the securement area and exiting the securement area. Boarding and disembarking at the rear doorway was significantly more acceptable and preferred compared to the layouts with front doorways.Conclusion: Understanding transit usability barriers, perceptions and preferences among wheeled mobility users is an important consideration for clinicians who recommend mobility-related device interventions to those who use public transportation.Implications for RehabilitationIn order to maximize community participation opportunities for wheeled mobility users, clinicians should consider potential public transit barriers during the processes of wheelchair device selection and skills training.Usability barriers experienced by wheeled mobility device users on transit vehicles differ by mobility device type and vehicle configurations.Full-scale environment simulations are an effective means of identifying usability barriers and design needs in people with mobility impairments and may provide an alternative model for determining readiness for using fixed route buses or eligibility for paratransit.

Effects of transit bus interior configuration on performance of wheeled mobility users during simulated boarding and disembarking

The emergence of low-floor bus designs and related regulatory standards in the U.S. have resulted in substantial improvements in public transit accessibility. However, passengers using wheeled mobility devices still experience safety concerns and inefficiencies in boarding, disembarking, and interior circulation on low-floor buses. This study investigates effects of low-floor bus interior configuration and passenger crowding on boarding and disembarking efficiency and safety. Users of manual wheelchairs (n = 18), powered wheelchairs (n = 21) and electric scooters (n = 9) simulated boarding and disembarking in three interior layout configurations at low and high passenger crowding conditions on a full-scale laboratory mock-up of a low-floor bus. Dependent measures comprised task times and critical incidents during access ramp use, fare payment, and movement to and from the doorway and wheeled mobility securement area. Individual times for unassisted boarding ranged from 15.2 to 245.3 s and for disembarking ranged from 9.1 to 164.6 s across layout and passenger crowding conditions. Nonparametric analysis of variance showed significant differences and interactions across vehicle design conditions, passenger load and mobility device type on user performance. The configuration having electronic on-board fare payment, rear-bus entrance doorways and adjacent device securement areas demonstrated greatest efficiency and safety. High passenger load adversely impacted efficiency and frequency of critical incidents during on-board circulation across all three layouts. Findings have broader implications for improving transit system efficiency and quality of service across the spectrum of transit users.

A Proposal for expansion of the low-floor bus based on analysis of living area for the handicapped mobility people in Seoul Using R

A Proposal for expansion of the low-floor bus based on analysis of living area for the handicapped mobility people in Seoul Using R

중형저상버스의 개별주행모드에 따른 연료소비율 평가

국토교통부에서는 교통약자의 이동 편의 증진을 위하여 승하차에 편리한 저상버스를 도입하였다. 표준모델로 고시된 저상버스는 11 m 급, 압축천연가스(CNG, Compressed Natural Gas)를 사용하는 차량으로 개발되었다. 11 m 급 저상버스는 길이 좁은 농어촌 및 산간지역 도로여건에서의 운행과, CNG 연료의 특성상 충전시설의 한계로 인하여 연료보급의 단점을 가지고 있다. 본 연구에서는 국토교통부에서 교통약자의 이동편의 증진을 위해 진행하는 중형저상버스 표준모델 기술개발 과제의 일환으로 (주)타타대우상용차에서 제작한 LF-40을 대상으로 공차(CVW, Curb Vehicle Weight), 반적차(HVW, Half Vehicle Weight), 적차(GVW, Gross Vehicle Weight) 3가지 중량조건으로 실도로 타행주행을 통하여 주행저항 값을 취득하였고, WHVC, NIER-06, 복합 에너지 소비효율 측정 대상차량 외 차량의 에너지 소비 효율을 측정하기 위한 시험 방법인 정속주행 (60 km/h)모드를 사용하였다. 시험 결과 공차상태의 연비가 가장 좋았으며, 대표적으로 WHVC 모드에서는 공차대비 반적차는 3.5 %, 공차대비 적차는 12 % 연비소모율의 차이를 보였다. 60 km/h 정속 주행모드에서는 다른 시험모드와 다르게 공차보다 반적차의 연비가 높은 것으로 측정되었다. 추후 배출가스 데이터의 분석이 필요할 것으로 판단된다. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has introduced low-floor buses, which are convenient for passengers getting on and off the bus and for the handicapped. The standard bus model is 11 m long and uses compressed natural gas (CNG). However, this model has drawbacks in narrow rural road conditions such as those in farming and fishing villages and mountainous areas, as well as difficulty in refueling since CNG facilities are not readily available. In this study, running resistance values were obtained by coasting performance tests on actual roads using a Tata Daewoo LF-40 model with three different weight conditions: curb vehicle weight (CVW), half vehicle weight (HVW), and gross vehicle weight (GVW).The test methods include WHVC, NIER-06, and constant-speed driving at 60 km/h. These tests were used to measure the fuel economy of vehicles other than the target vehicles to obtain the combined fuel economy. The energy efficiency was highest in the case of CVW. In the WHVC mode, the fuel consumption rates of HVW and GVW were typically 3.5% and 12% higher than that of CVW, respectively. In constant-speed driving, the fuel efficiency of HVW was higher than that of CVW. Further research is required to analyze the exhaust gas data.

중형저상버스 병렬형 하이브리드화를 위한 동력전달계 용량매칭

그 동안 하이브리드 버스에 대한 연구로 플러그인 하이브리드, 직렬형, 병렬형 하이브리드 등에 대한 연구가 많이 진행되어져 왔다. 하지만 연구가 진행된 대부분의 차량들은 대형 버스이며 현재 국내에는 중형저상버스에 대한 연구는 전무한 실정이다. 또한 중형저상버스의 하이브리드화에 대한 연구 역시 미미한 실정이다. 본 논문은 MATLAB을 이용한 시뮬레이션을 통해 디젤 중형저상버스의 연비 평가를 수행하였으며, 이를 하이브리드화하였을 경우에 대한 최적의 용량 조합과 기어비를 제시하고 내연기관 시뮬레이션 연비 결과와 비교 분석하였다. 하이브리드화를 위한 구조로 전륜과 후륜이 독립적으로 동력을 전달하는 병렬형 하이브리드 시스템을 선택하였다. 동력원 용량 설계를 위해 목표 성능을 만족하는 요구파워를 계산하여 적용 가능한 동력원 용량 영역을 설계하였다. 설계 영역을 만족하는 각 단품들의 용량은 스케일링하여 구성하였으며, 엔진과 모터에 대한 동력 전달계의 용량 설계 알고리즘을 제시하고 동적 계획법을 이용하여 최적화를 수행하였다. 최종적으로 본 연구를 통해 내연기관 차량인 중형저상버스를 하이브리드화하였을 경우에 대한 연비 향상률과 최적의 동력원 용량, 기어비를 제시하였다. Most studies on hybrid buses are on large-sized buses and not mid-sized low-floor buses. This study uses MATLAB simulation to evaluate the fuel efficiency of such buses powered by diesel. Based on the results, a hybrid electric vehicle system is recommended for the best combination of power and gear ratio. A parallel hybrid system was selected for the hybridization, which transmits front and rear wheel power independently. The necessary power to satisfy the target performance was calculated, and the applicable capacity area was designed. Dynamic programing was used to create and optimize a component sizing algorithm, which was used to scale the capacity of each component of the power source to satisfy the design criteria. The fuel efficiency rate, optimum power source capacity, and gear ratio can be improved by converting a conventional bus into a parallel hybrid bus.

RESEARCH OF DYNAMICS OF LOW FLOOR BUS / ŽEMAGRINDŽIO AUTOBUSO DINAMINIAI TYRIMAI

The article describes the dynamics researches of low floor bus. The goal of research is to determine the stability of mechanical system of low floor bus. Performed the dynamic model of ½ bus which was conducted the theoretical research in Matlab environment. Darbo tyrimų tikslas – išanalizuoti žemagrindžio autobuso dinamines charakteristikas taikant virpesių lygtis. Tikslui pasiekti pirmiausia buvo sudarytas ½ autobuso sistemos dinaminis modelis ir atliktas sistemos modeliavimas žadinant realių amplitudžių reikšmėmis. Sudarytas autobuso sistemos dinaminis modelis leidžia analizuoti charakteringus ir pavojingus autobusui dinaminius virpesius.