Rural Bus Services Research Articles

Investigating the Impacts of Urban–Rural Bus Service Quality on Rural Residents’ Travel Choices Using an SEM–MNL Integration Model

The high-quality development of urban–rural buses is an important way to narrow the gap between urban and rural areas. However, studies on the quality of bus services and its impact on bus travel-mode choice have mostly focused on urban buses, with less attention paid to urban–rural buses. This paper aims to explore how urban–rural bus service quality affects rural residents’ travel-mode-choice behavior based on survey data from rural residents in Henan Province, China. A structural equation model (SEM) is applied to examine the critical factors affecting rural residents’ satisfaction with urban–rural bus service quality and the heterogeneity of satisfaction among rural residents with different attributes. Furthermore, an integrated approach of SEM and the multinomial logit (MNL) model is proposed to identify the key factors that affect rural residents’ bus travel-mode choice. The results indicate that reliability and convenience are the key factors affecting satisfaction with urban–rural bus service quality. There are significant differences in rural residents’ satisfaction by gender, age, income, education level, occupation, and travel-mode attributes. Urban–rural bus service quality has a significant positive impact on rural residents’ bus travel-choice behavior, and its degree of influence is greater than all explicit variables except private car ownership. The findings of this study can help operators and governments formulate policies to improve the service quality of urban–rural buses and ultimately promote the use of buses.

Optimization of a rural bus service integrated with e-commerce deliveries guided by a new sustainable policy in China

Electronic business has expanded, resulting in flourishing rural e-commerce globally, and particularly in China. This paper introduces a novel rural public transit system that integrates passenger and freight services—a rural electric bus service that provides services for passengers and e-commerce packages. This blended service reduces logistical costs and generates additional income for the transit operator. The objective is to minimise cost for the transit user and operator by using a mixed-integer linear programming model that solves bus routing and bus trip scheduling for multiple rural towns; in addition, the model is tested by the Gurobi solver at small-scale instances. The developed solution is a hybrid heuristic algorithm based on adaptive large neighborhood search and tabu search approaches. Finally, a case study in China is conducted to examine the proposed cost-effective methodology and ensure that the integrated scheme will significantly save operational system costs without causing any passenger inconvenience. The research also shows how to optimally design the size of rural electric buses to reduce purchasing and maintenance costs. The optimal results of the case study, comprising 5 towns and 78 villages, show an annual cost saving of approximately ¥847,000 (approximately $121,000) and an annual mileage saving of approximately 66,000 km for the proposed scheme. In addition, the case study explicates key parameters selected for transfer package requirements and the effective deployment of the proposed scheme.

Modeling Generalized Cost of Travel for Rural Bus Users: A Case Study

In order to formulate rational improvement proposal for rural bus services, it is necessary to understand how people value different attributes of travel. In this article, the disutilities of travel have been modeled based on stated choice data collected from trip-makers traveling along a rural bus route in Midnapur district, West Bengal, India. Multinomial Logit Model (MNL) is used to develop utility equations and the total disutility of travel is estimated in the form of generalized cost. The perceived values associated with in-vehicle travel time, service headway, and comfort level for the study route are estimated and found to be significant.

Commuter Satisfaction: The Foundation for a Feasibility Study of a New Transportation Terminal

Commuting is regularly recurring movement between one's place of residence and place of employment, or research, and in doing so exceed the boundaries of their residential group. The research focuses on the urban – rural bus service commuter’s satisfaction level in the selected settlements in the Municipality of Estancia. Estancia is to represent the Northern part of Western Visayas. This is still in a developing stage, which is yet to reach the advance level of large town. The main objectives are to evaluate the public transport service quality through commuter’s satisfaction survey. A total of 100 questionnaire forms are collected. The result indicates socio – demographic trip characteristics that have affected the level of satisfaction and aspirations of the commuters for potential terminal improvements. It was assessed as acceptability in terms of existing terminal operations, environment, architectural design and location. It offers a deeper understanding of the commuter’s attitude towards public transport and the sense of convenience in public transport services. Other than that, it was found that there is a difference between modes of transport in terms of commuter’s preferences over public transport. The result will help to improve the quality of operation of transport providers according to the satisfaction, expectations of the various modes of transport and acts as a guide for possible public transport terminal construction.

Replacing regional bus services with rail: Changes in rural public transport patronage in and around villages

Removing bus stops is often a prerequisite for introducing faster, more reliable, and more frequent rail or coach services in rural areas. Despite the potentially higher quality of service through trains or coaches, however, the bus-stop removals often become stumbling blocks. It is sometimes feared that the alterations to the public transport network will pose a threat to the possibilities of living in rural areas outside villages. In this study, we investigate how travel by public transport is affected in areas where bus services are substantially reduced in connection with the introduction of rail services with fewer stops. Through an analysis of access trips from rural areas surrounding the train stations, we are able to study the development of public transport patronage in these areas in comparison with a control group with retained rural bus services. A total of 28 villages with surrounding rural areas in southern Sweden are included in the study. Our results reveal a significantly larger patronage increase around new train stations compared to areas where regional bus services are kept, and importantly, the patronage increase does not only occur in the immediate surroundings of the stations. Outside the villages, in the rural areas where public transport services have been cut, the increase is of equal magnitude. Hence, our results oppose the idea of distortion between the villages and their surrounding rural areas, at least in terms of net effect on public transport usage.

A passion for walking

I have just finished walking a route across the UK from east to west— specifically from Margate in Kent to the north-west tip of Wales. At around 620 miles (1000...

Level of Services (LOS) for Public Bus and Passenger’s Aspiration in Kerian District, Malaysia

Public transportation facilitates the mobility of activities and goods from all sustainable development key dimensions. Over the past decades, more trips of public transportation move people towards a more sustainable future, by reducing congestion on the roads and increasing the efficiency of the road system. The research aims at analysing the passenger’s aspiration and perspective of sustainable public transport measure and evaluating Malaysian rural bus services, using the case study of Kerian District in the state of Perak. On-board intercept passenger survey and adoption of Geographical Information System (GIS) / Global Positioning System (GPS) were used to collect the primary data. The research suggested that whilst the services levels are less than those aspired by the passengers, there are many improvement areas to be prioritised in the near future.

PUBLIC BUS LEVEL OF SERVICE PERFORMANCE IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA: CORRELATION ANALYSES ON LEVEL OF SERVICE (LOS) AND PASSENGERS SATISFACTION LEVEL

This study explore the stage bus performance of 48 routes within selected urban and regional settlements in Peninsula Malaysia, using a quantitative traffic engineering measure known as Level of Service standards or LOS and validated through the evaluation of passengers’ satisfaction level. The findings on the level of service (LOS) highlight the poor performance of the urban and rural bus service with the tolerable threshold below D. There are clear disparities on LOS and passenger satisfaction level between the urban and rural bus operation systems in terms of frequency, operation hour, bus speed, and passengers’ load threshold.

PUBLIC BUS LEVEL OF SERVICE PERFORMANCE IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA: CORRELATION ANALYSES ON LEVEL OF SERVICE (LOS) AND PASSENGERS’ SATISFACTION LEVEL

This study explore the stage bus performance of 48 routes within selected urban and regional settlements in Peninsula Malaysia, using a quantitative traffic engineering measure known as Level of Service standards or LOS and validated through the evaluation of passengers’ satisfaction level. The findings on the level of service (LOS) highlight the poor performance of the urban and rural bus service with the tolerable threshold below D. There are clear disparities on LOS and passenger satisfaction level between the urban and rural bus operation systems in terms of frequency, operation hour, bus speed, and passengers’ load threshold.

Rural Public Bus Routing and Bus Stops Detecting Using Global Positioning System and Geographical Information System

This paper reports on the investigation of rural public bus routing and passengers’ boarding and alighting point detection using the application of GPS and GIS methods. Using the case study of rural bus operation in Kerian District of Perak, Malaysia, the two methods of GPS points captured during onboard survey and GIS mapping were deployed. The research aims to analyze the travel distance, travel time and passengers’ boarding and alighting points of rural bus services. Bus route map was presented as the main findings of the research investigation.

Investigating the Intention of Rural Residents to Use Transit in Cixi, China

AbstractTransit is a very important traveling mode for rural residents in developing China. The intention of rural and suburban residents to choose a transit mode is affected by various types of factors. Based on the revealed data, this paper focuses on analyzing the transit mode choice intention of rural residents in China. A structure equation model is applied to examine the critical factors affecting the intension of rural residents to use transit in the city of Cixi, China. The internal relationships among those factors are also discussed. Results indicate that residents’ income, automobile ownership, and satisfaction with the convenience and reliability of rural bus service are noticeable affecting factors. This study provides valuable insights to improving bus services in rural areas of China.

ASSESSING THE URBAN AND RURAL STAGE BUS SERVICES DISPARITIES IN PENINSULA MALAYSIA

Disparities between services and goods provision have been the concerns of various regional development proponents. Among the gaps that needed to be addressed by regional policies and initiatives were accessibility and mobility levels between urbanites and the rural population. This study reports on the differences of the urban versus rural bus services. For this purpose, this study extends the exploration of approximately 48 routes within selected urban and regional settlements in Peninsula Malaysia, using a quantitative traffic engineering measure known as Level of Service standards or LOS. Three performance measures, namely fixed-route hour of service, fixed-route service frequency and passenger-load threshold were evaluated in determining the existence and extent of such disparities. The passengers’ satisfaction and preference survey were conducted to complement some qualitative explanations left void by the LOS evaluation. Methods of on-board face to face intercept survey and adoption of Geographical Information System (GIS) /Global Positioning System (GPS) were deployed in the collection of primary data. More than 1600 survey forms were distributed, but after collection and data cleaning, only a total of 1130 were analysed. Findings of the study supported and confirmed the existence of such spatial imbalances of services provision. They also further accentuated that many developing nations’ rural settlements were indeed stigmatised by a lower level of stage bus services (average at LOS D) compared to those enjoyed by the urbanites (average services at LOS C).

ASSESSING THE URBAN AND RURAL STAGE BUS SERVICES DISPARITIES IN PENINSULA MALAYSIA

Disparities between services and goods provision have been the concerns of various regional development proponents. Among the gaps that needed to be addressed by regional policies and initiatives were accessibility and mobility levels between urbanites and the rural population. This study reports on the differences of the urban versus rural bus services. For this purpose, this study extends the exploration of approximately 48 routes within selected urban and regional settlements in Peninsula Malaysia, using a quantitative traffic engineering measure known as Level of Service standards or LOS. Three performance measures, namely fixed-route hour of service, fixed-route service frequency and passenger-load threshold were evaluated in determining the existence and extent of such disparities. The passengers’ satisfaction and preference survey were conducted to complement some qualitative explanations left void by the LOS evaluation. Methods of on-board face to face intercept survey and adoption of Geographical Information System (GIS) /Global Positioning System (GPS) were deployed in the collection of primary data. More than 1600 survey forms were distributed, but after collection and data cleaning, only a total of 1130 were analysed. Findings of the study supported and confirmed the existence of such spatial imbalances of services provision. They also further accentuated that many developing nations’ rural settlements were indeed stigmatised by a lower level of stage bus services (average at LOS D) compared to those enjoyed by the urbanites (average services at LOS C).Â

Passenger's Aspiration Towards Sustainable Public Transportation System: Kerian District, Perak, Malaysia

Transportation implies the mobility of activities and goods from all sustainable development key dimensions. Over the past years, more trips of public transportation moves people towards a more sustainable future, by reduce congestion on the roads and increase the efficiency of the road system. The research aims at analysing the passenger's aspiration and perspective of sustainable public transport measure and focuses on the evaluation Malaysia rural bus services. Methods of On-board passenger survey and adoption of Geographical Information System (GIS) / Global Positioning System (GPS) used to collect the primary data.

Modeling Willingness-to-Pay Values for Rural Bus Attributes Under Different Trip Purposes

Modeling Willingness-to-Pay Values for Rural Bus Attributes Under Different Trip Purposes

A journey from adversary to partnership bus reform in NSW

This paper continues to debate the importance of understanding in the NSW Bus reform process of the relationship between central agencies, service providers, the academic community, key consultants and contractors within the setting of the transport service organisation framework. Sydney is a modern city with heavy rail, light-rail, monorail and an extensive Harbour, with bus services owned by Government as well as private interests. The paper addresses the case for reforms, the approach taken, competition policy, the subsequent development of partnerships, performance of the regulator, passenger benefits, growth and the differences between Metropolitan/Outer Metropolitan and Regional and Rural bus services.

These roads were made for walking? The nature and use of rural public transport services in Garut Regency, West Java, Indonesia

Public passenger transport services receive relatively little space in the literatures on rural transport in developing economies, which mostly focus on the provision, or socioeconomic impacts, of roads. The implication is either that rural people are able to purchase or have access to motorized transport – or that they can walk on thoroughfares intended for vehicles. Statistics from Indonesia show that a low proportion of rural households own motor vehicles, but that rural bus services have seen a substantial expansion since the late 1970s; however, the coverage of the rural population is not complete. Based on survey data from villages (desa) in West Java, Indonesia, this paper explores several issues with respect to bus operations and motorcycle taxi (ojek) services in rural areas: the nature of public passenger services, the users of those services and the nature of trips made.

Willingness-to-Pay and Preference Heterogeneity for Rural Bus Attributes

This paper presents estimations of willingness-to-pay (WTP) values in the context of rural bus service in a developing country. Using stated choice data collected from rural bus users, WTP values are estimated by developing standard multinomial logit model (MNL) and three different random parameter logit (RPL) models: One with independent or uncorrelated responses, another taking into account the correlations among responses, and the other allowing heterogeneity around the mean of in-vehicle travel time. While developing the RPL models, successful application of the sparsely used constrained triangular distribution is demonstrated. WTP values are estimated separately for commuting and noncommuting trips. Higher WTP values for travel time are observed for commuting trips, while for noncommuting trips higher WTP values are found for qualitative attribute. Preference heterogeneity associated with the mean is investigated, and the “travel distance” is found to have a statistically significant decomposition effect on the mean of in-vehicle travel time for commuting trips. The traditional MNL model, in general, is found to underestimate the WTP values as compared to RPL models.

Using bus service subsidy to develop the network

This paper looks at the effects of using bus service subsidy to develop the local bus network through tendering, specifically within the city of Plymouth. However, much of this may be applicable to other urban areas. The authors argue that while tendered rural bus services may never cover their marginal costs and hence become commercially sustainable, within the urban context seed-corn funding can frequently be used to pump prime services, which then go on to become commercial operations, as has been demonstrated in Plymouth. By so doing, this releases that subsidy to be used elsewhere within the network, to develop a further section of that network. For Plymouth, the average time that this takes is approximately five years. The issue of operators ceasing to cross-subsidise services which may cover their marginal costs and contribute to overheads, but instead require external subsidy, is examined. A further question is posed regarding whether the remaining municipal bus companies (which still includes Plymouth Citybus) deliver better value for money than the publicly listed operators. Finally, although Best Value is supposedly designed to test value for money, a note of caution is sounded about its use in this context.

Using bus service subsidy to develop the network

This paper looks at the effects of using bus service subsidy to develop the local bus network through tendering, specifically within the city of Plymouth. However, much of this may be applicable to other urban areas. The authors argue that while tendered rural bus services may never cover their marginal costs and hence become commercially sustainable, within the urban context seed-corn funding can frequently be used to pump prime services, which then go on to become commercial operations, as has been demonstrated in Plymouth. By so doing, this releases that subsidy to be used elsewhere within the network, to develop a further section of that network. For Plymouth, the average time that this takes is approximately five years. The issue of operators ceasing to cross-subsidise services which may cover their marginal costs and contribute to overheads, but instead require external subsidy, is examined. A further question is posed regarding whether the remaining municipal bus companies (which still includes Plymouth Citybus) deliver better value for money than the publicly listed operators. Finally, although Best Value is supposedly designed to test value for money, a note of caution is sounded about its use in this context.