Urban Transport Services Research Articles

Performance Study of Buy the Service Bus Trans Metro Dewata Based on Minimum Service Standards and Balance Number of Vehicle Fleet

The existence of reliable public transportation services will be able to reduce public dependence on the use of private vehicles. This goal will be achieved if public transport service quality improves. The Trans Metro Dewata bus is here in Bali with the Buy The Service program. This program is to buy urban mass transportation services to operators based on the services carried out according to the kilometres travelled. The operator operates 105 buses to serve 4 corridors. Technical and operational performance shows that the indicators of travel time, headway time, waiting time, stopping time, and travel speed follow the minimum service standards and technical guidelines for urban public transport. In contrast, the circulation time in corridors 1 and 4 exceeds the standard. Likewise, the load factor level of 2.40 – 32.65% is not following the performance standards of public transportation, which should be at least 70%. This is due to route accessibility factors, route effectiveness, feeder transportation availability, the bus stop's feasibility, and the lack of socialization and information to attract people to switch to public transportation. Analysis of the balance of the number of fleets shows an oversupply of around 14.86%-33.62%. However, this condition dramatically supports bus operational performance to meet minimum service standards. So the action that must be taken to maintain operational performance and balance the number of fleets is to increase demand or the number of passengers so that the load factor reaches a minimum of 70%.

Optimization of Travel in Bus Rapid Transit-Based Multimodal Corridors

Frequently, urban transportation infrastructure and services are operated in a suboptimal manner with respect to key policy objectives such as enhancing mobility, avoiding severe congestion, improving public transit ridership, reducing fuel consumption, and emissions. To overcome this problem, a hybrid simulation-optimization methodology was developed for identification of values of demand management variables that result in the most favorable travel condition in a multimodal corridor regarding a policy objective. This methodology was applied to a bus rapid transit-based major travel corridor in Ottawa (Canada). The travel simulation part of the model is implemented within the EMME/2 modeling framework, supported by a transitway simulation technique. The optimization part of the methodology is based on direct search method that identifies the optimal values of key demand management variables for policy responsiveness. Optimization results are presented for bus modal split, in-vehicle travel time, fuel consumption, and greenhouse gas emission.

Analyzing User Behavior in Selection of Ride-Hailing Services for Urban Travel in Developing Countries

Recent developments in urban transportation services are rapidly transforming the way people make their trips. Around the world, the most controversial and rapidly growing mobility services in recent years are ride-hailing services (RHS) offered by transportation network companies (TNCs) such as Uber and Ola. This research estimates the demand for RHS vis-à-vis other modes and further expands to estimate usage propensity of RHS in the capital city of India, New Delhi. A discrete choice modeling framework is developed based on a household travel surveys (N = 426) conducted in 2019. Two models were developed, a multinomial logit (MNL) model, to estimate the factors that lead to the adoption of RHS, and an ordered logit (OL) model, to estimate the frequency of usage of RHS. The results reveal a comprehensive set of socio-demographic and behavioral factors which leads to greater adoption of RHS. The variables such as household income, vehicle ownership, and use of smartphone are found to be important predictors (with a 95% significance level) of service adoption of RHS. The model results also suggest that RHS are likely to be used infrequently, and when it is being used, they are more likely to be used by the younger population and during the weekends. Overall, this research brings valuable and novel insights into the adoption and usage of RHS in India.

A Study on the Interdependence of Quality and Satisfaction with Public Transport in Rijeka

The paper aims to determine the interdependence between quality ratings and the level of satisfaction of Rijeka’s inhabitants with the city’s public urban transport system. The purpose of the study is to identify the effects that the individual elements of citizens’ satisfaction with public urban transport services have on public urban transport quality ratings. To accomplish the study’s objective and purpose, and to prove the main hypothesis that there is a statistically strong and positive relationship between quality ratings and satisfaction with public urban transport, numerous scientific methods have been applied, in particular the survey method, the method of analysis and synthesis, and the methods of descriptive and inferential statistics. The study’s main finding points to the low quality of Rijeka’s public urban transport system and to the low level of satisfaction of citizens with the system. A statistically strong and positive relationship was found between quality ratings and the satisfaction of citizens with public urban transport services. Citizens are the least satisfied with the frequency of public transport intensity and the availability of urban transport in evening.

Spatial and social inequalities of job accessibility in Kunshan city, China: Application of the Amap API and mobile phone signaling data

The equity distribution of job accessibility for different traffic modes or different groups of people is a socio-spatial inequalities issue, which analyses and identifies job accessibility gaps. However, few studies have focused on the inequality of accessibility in medium-sized cities of developing countries. This paper aims to determine the spatial gaps of urban public transportation services in Kunshan by analyzing the difference in job accessibility between public transportation and private cars, and social inequalities between different housing price communities. First, resident population and employments data were obtained by mobile phone signaling data, and the travel time of different traffic modes during the morning peak hour were used by the Amap Application Programming Interface (API). This method helps researchers obtain more accurate travel costs because it provides real-time information about traffic conditions. Then we use relative accessibility to identify areas with large accessibility gaps, using the Gini index to evaluate the equity of different housing price communities' job accessibility. The study finds that as the travel time threshold changes, the job accessibility gaps between public transportation and private cars gradually narrow. At the same time, the results of the Gini index show that high house prices communities have a fairer distribution of job accessibility. This research provides a scientific basis for optimizing the socio-spatial distribution of public transportation services in China context.

Kent İçi Toplu Ulaşımın Operasyon ve Bakım Uygulamalarında Yeni Model Arayışları

Kent içi toplu ulaşım gelişmekte olan ülkelerde genel olarak lastik tekerlekli sistemler üzerinden yürütülmektedir. Lastik tekerlekli kent içi ulaşım operasyonlarında en temel modeller, özkaynak modeli ve belirli bileşenlerin piyasadan satın alındığı modellerdir. Türkiye’de kent içi toplu ulaşım hizmeti sağlama görev, yetki ve sorumluluğu belediyelerdedir. Belediyeler, lastik tekerlekli sistemlerin işletilmesi konusunda artan personel maliyetleri, yükselen filo yaşı ve kanuni kısıt gibi nedenlerle son yıllarda yeni model arayışlarına girmiştir. Çalışmada lastik tekerlekli kent içi toplu ulaşımda temel modeller incelenmiştir. Devamında Türkiye’de son yıllarda uygulanmaya çalışılan yeni modellerin detayları ve uygulama sonuçları ortaya konulmuştur. Uygulanan yeni modellerin güçlü ve zayıf yanlarına değinilmiştir. Çalışmanın önemi, kent içi ulaşımda lastik tekerlekli sistemlerin operasyonunda temel modeller ile yeni model arayışlarının kıyaslanması ile ilgili çalışma boşluğunun doldurulmasıdır. Çalışma sonucunda temel modellerde personel aidiyeti ve yüksek maliyetlerin; hizmetlerin piyasadan temin edildiği dış kaynaklara dayalı modellerde rekabet, operasyon istikrarı, ödeme performansı, bakım kalitesizliği ve çalışanların memnuniyetsizliğinin önemli olduğu sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Belediye tarafından destekleme ödemesi yapılmasına dayalı modellerde yolcu memnuniyeti, sefer artışı ve belediyenin katlanmak zorunda olduğu maliyetlerin artması ön plana çıkan hususlardır.

Computationally efficient train timetable generation of metro networks with uncertain transfer walking time to reduce passenger waiting time: A generalized Benders decomposition-based method

With more and more interchange stations in a large-scale metro network, passengers tend to transfer between different metro lines from origination to destination, sometimes even more than once. Passenger waiting time is one of the critical standards for measuring the quality of urban public transport services. To support high service quality, this paper proposes a mixed integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) model for the train timetable generation problem of a metro network that minimizes the transfer waiting times and access passenger waiting times. In the mathematical formulation of the model, the transfer walking times at the interchange stations between two connected lines are treated as uncertain parameters. The robust train timetable generation model is formulated to optimize timetables by adjusting arrival and departure times of each train in the metro network to reduce access and transfer passenger waiting times. A robust counterpart is further derived that transforms the formulated robust model into a deterministic one. Moreover, a generalized Benders decomposition technique based approach is developed to decompose the robust counterpart into a subproblem and a master problem. The subproblem is a convex quadratic programming problem that can be solved efficiently. Finally, two sets of numerical examples, consisting of a small case and a large-scale case based on a real-world portion of the Beijing metro network, are performed to demonstrate the validity and practicability of the proposed model and solution approach.

BUS RAPID TRANSIT AND THE OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES OF SUSTAINABLE URBAN TRANSPORTATION IN METROPOLITAN KANO, NIGERIA

Kano metropolitan area is witnessing increasing population growth with transportation problems that has continued to pose serious mobility crisis of ever-increasing congestions on her roads. With growing inadequacy of public transport services, benefits of efficient planning for sustainable transportation system for a city like Kano cannot be overemphasized. This research assessed the likely challenges and opportunities of proposed Bus Rapid Transit Operations in Kano Metropolis. Through quantitative data survey and analysis, the study revealed that Kano metropolis public transport are commonly used by the low-income city residents and often fall short of demands. Although, the Kano State Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA) has been managing traffic problems in the metropolis, introducing BRT can further accelerate successful realization of the goals of 21st urban transport services that can become model for similar cities in Nigeria and beyond. Even though Kano is ancient city, it is anticipated that there would be little challenges in the introduction, building and operations of the proposed BRT in regards to structural construction and similar road expansion exercise. Generally low-income level of the city residents and the equally low revenue base of the state are also issues that, although, important but, can hardly derail the present and future prospects of the project. We concluded that, just as the pre-colonial Trans-Sahara trades and the 20th century north-south movements were aided by camels and trains for the city of Kano, this same ancient city is yet on the verge of receiving another veritable impetus of urban and regional economic development in this 21st century of urbanization through the BRT.

IMPACT OF URBAN EXPANSION ON URBAN TRANSPORT IN THE CITY, STUDY CASE: CITY OF BORDJ BOU ARRERIDJ, ALGERIA

Urban transport is one of the most dynamic and a vital element within the urban sphere, as it has a significant impact on the growth and development of cities in all respects; it determines the size and direction of urbanization and directs it properly as well. Bordj Bou Arreridj is an Algerian city that witnessed a spectacular urban expansion, which resulted in great difficulties in terms of urban transport. This resulted in the inability to fulfill the role assigned to it, especially with regard to the urban expansion of the city, given the insufficient means of urban transport, especially collective ones - Old urban bus barns – and thus, meeting the growing demand for transport due to the large demographic growth. In addition to that, the fragility of the urban transport system as a whole has led to lack of harmony and interconnectedness of all parts of the city, and to the imbalance in the management of the sector. The study concluded that the urban area of the city is characterized by an important network of roads and streets that ensure good connectivity between its parts, but the existing urban transport network does not cover all its components (49% is the covered area in the city), as some areas lack urban transport service, especially those located on its suburbs as a result of the rapid urbanization. In order to redress this phenomenon, it was necessary to reconsider the general urban transportation system on both management and organizational sides, taking into account all urban components of the city, especially future expansions, in order to reach a harmonious and interconnected city under a balanced and effective transportation system.

Public Transport Affordability Evaluation for Addis Ababa City

The affordability of transportation services refers to the financial burden the travelers bear in purchasing such services. Key factors that affect affordability include travel demand, supply, competitiveness, quality, and cost of transport services. Surveys indicate that transport users consider affordability an important planning objective, but conventional transport planning tends to give little consideration to it. Public transport is one of the key instruments to bring sustainable mobility to cities, and its supply and quality must be maintained at acceptable levels for it to be a desirable mode of transportation. The ever-increasing demand for mass mobility resulting from rapid population growth and extended urbanization in the City of Addis Ababa calls for the provision of good quality, affordable urban public transport services. In this research, the affordability of public transport of Addis Ababa was studied. The majority of data were acquired from the City Transport Bureau. The analysis of data produced a city-wide observed affordability index (Affo) of 14.13% with the highest and lowest values of 32.11 and 3.69% for Q5 and Q1, respectively. The difference between potential and observed affordability is 28.34%. This indicates that, to reach the same motorized trip rates as the third quintile, those households in the lowest quintile need to increase their transport expenditure by 28.34% in Addis Ababa. The results of this study show that the dual affordability metric both in terms observed and potential affordability can provide an effective basis to improve the affordability of public transport in the city by adopting measures that are customized according to regional characteristics at the sub-city level.

EVALUATION OF SPATIAL FAIRNESS OF URBAN PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICE：A CASE STUDY OF WUHAN CITY

Abstract. Spatial equity of urban public transport service is an important index to evaluate the potential of sustainable development of urban transport. This paper, taking Wuhan as the study area, the use of public transport network data and population density of 1 km2 grid data, using Moran’s I reveals research area spatial correlation between different variables and the significance, in order to under different scales of whole and local area in Wuhan city public traffic service demand and supply of the current situation and problems of space fairness is analyzed. The research shows that there are significant differences in spatial fairness of public transport service in Wuhan, and the service configuration level of central urban areas is higher than that of non-central urban areas. According to the Moran’s I, Huangpi District was the worst administrative district in spatial fairness, and Dongxihu District was the best administrative district. The evaluation based on spatial fairness can help to realize the rapid optimization of public transport service system, improve the spatial inequity of service supply and demand, and provide scientific basis for the optimization and upgrading of public transport system.

An Improved Ant Colony Algorithm for Urban Bus Network Optimization Based on Existing Bus Routes

Adding new lines on the basis of the existing public transport network is an important way to improve public transport operation networks and the quality of urban public transport service. Aiming at the problem that existing routes are rarely considered in the previous research on public transportation network planning, a public transportation network optimization method based on an ant colony optimization (ACO) algorithm coupled with the existing routes is proposed. First, the actual road network and existing bus lines were abstracted with a graph data structure, and the integration with origin–destination passenger flow data was completed. Second, according to the ACO algorithm, combined with the existing line structure constraints and ant transfer rules at adjacent nodes, new bus-line planning was realized. Finally, according to the change of direct passenger flow in the entire network, the optimal bus-line network optimization scheme was determined. In the process of node transfer calculation, the algorithm adopts the Softmax strategy to realize path diversity and increase the path search range, while avoiding premature convergence and falling into local optimization. Moreover, the elite ant strategy increases the pheromone release on the current optimal path and accelerates the convergence of the algorithm. Based on existing road network and bus lines, the algorithm carries out new line planning, which increases the rationality and practical feasibility of the new bus-line structure.

Enhancing navigation integrity for Urban Air Mobility with redundant inertial sensors

Urban Air Mobility (UAM) uses highly automated air vehicles to offer safe and efficient low-altitude urban air transportation services, for which ensuring navigation safety (measured by integrity) is an essential precondition. UAM vehicles can navigate themselves using Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS)/Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) tightly coupled systems. However, these systems are vulnerable to IMU failures aside from GNSS faults, given that UAM vehicles will use low-cost IMUs. IMU faults can severely degrade navigation integrity, thereby threatening UAM operational safety and increasing the difficulty of urban air traffic management. This issue can be mitigated by employing redundant IMUs. Civil aircraft use consistency checks among multiple high-performance Inertial Navigation Systems (INSs) to enhance navigation integrity. But this approach is not suitable for low-cost IMUs because of fast error accumulation. In response, this work proposes a new approach to enhance navigation integrity for UAM by integrating multiple IMUs with GNSS. In this approach, multiple IMUs and GNSS are tightly coupled by a centralized Kalman filter, and the corresponding integrity monitoring algorithm is developed to (a) detect the faults in GNSS and/or IMUs and (b) evaluate the probabilistic upper bounds on navigation errors, namely protection levels. Simulations are conducted to demonstrate the proposed method and to present sensitivity analyses, and the results suggest the effectiveness of the new approach. This method is beneficial to improving UAM operational safety and can potentially be applied to civil aircraft in the future.

A Bus-Scheduling Method Based on Multi-Sensor Data Fusion and Payment Authenticity Verification

It is of great significance to ensure public transportation management capabilities by improving urban public transport services. One method is to solve the problems related to the quality of data submitted for public funding as well as the accuracy and transparency of the supervision and review processes; moreover, improving public-transportation-service systems is a viable method to solve such problems. With technological advancements and the application of new technologies such as automatic driving and multiple payment, it has gradually become difficult for user-data verification systems, based on the original single bus payment method, to cater to these new technologies. Diversified payment and complex management methods have highlighted the need for new verification methods. Firstly, in this paper, we constructed the Origin–Destination (OD) model of bus-passenger flows by using real-time transmission of passenger-multiple-payment data, on-board-video passenger flow detection data and vehicle real-time positioning data. On this basis, the bus waybill data of other intelligent bus systems and the wait data of bus stations were integrated, so as to establish the travel chain theory by matching passenger flow and the temporal and spatial distribution model. Then, an OD analysis of public-transport passenger flows could be carried out, with a detailed analysis of vehicle, station and line-passenger flow, and the travel characteristics of public transport passenger flow could be excavated. Then, according to the means-end chain theory, the spatiotemporal distribution of the passenger flow data was obtained to carry out an OD analysis of the passenger flow, so as to perform a refinement analysis of the vehicle, station, and passenger flow. Thereby, the characteristics of the passenger flow were explored. Subsequently, payment-authenticity-verification models were established for the data-validity assessment, video-data analysis, passenger-flow estimation, and early warnings in order to determine the authenticity of the payment data. Lastly, based on the multi-sensor passenger flow data fusion and the data authenticity verification models, combined with the application of new technologies such as the use of autonomous buses, the test was promoted. That is, by taking intelligent bus scheduling as the scenario, the research method was tested and verified with real-time passenger flow data according to historical data. The results showed that the method accurately predicted the passenger flow, and had a positive role in improving the efficiency of payment-data-authenticity verification. The application of the method can enhance the management and service quality of public transportation.

How sustainable are urban transport services? A comparison of MaaS and UCC

It is believed that a transition toward more sustainable transport will be a cornerstone of plans to reduce global emissions. Two services that show great potential to improve the sustainability of urban transport are Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) and Urban Consolidation Centers (UCC): MaaS is focused on the transport of people and UCC on freight transport. MaaS and UCC both involve a network of actors, present a clear vision for sustainability, can be applied in urban contexts, use new technologies, and are nascent transport solutions that are yet to be fully established and see large-scale implementation as transport services in urban areas. Despite showing significant potential, there are still some questions over how sustainable these transport services actually are. In this paper, we systematically review literature on MaaS and UCC; we analyze 137 papers to compare the environmental, social, and economic sustainability of these two urban transport services. In the review, these new transport services promise to deliver both social and environmental sustainability, but these promises have yet to be fulfilled. Several studies point to problems related to social and environmental sustainability. Similarly, the economic viability of these business models is yet to be proven. Future research topics are suggested.

MARKETING COMMUNICATION POLICY OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES AS A TOOL FOR FORMING THE IMAGE OF MUNICIPAL SERVICE PROVIDERS

A part of research results concerning the state of the effectiveness of marketing activities of local authorities of Ukraine, in which authors took part and prepared the analyst report, and also their own researches are presented in the paper. The study found that marketing communication activities for forming the image of urban transport service providers in the studied regions were carried out mainly in the form of information campaigns and weren’t aimed at target audiences. The study discovered that in 2017—2020 in Ukraine (except for the temporarily occupied territories) there were some measures to increase awareness of the responsibility and important role of urban transport service providers. It is established that citizens of Ukraine are informed about the problems of urban public transport at three levels. First, at the national level, the most popular were information and educational activities, image social advertising in national media, Internet portals, information and educational programs and publications, reproduction and distribution of printed materials (booklets, leaflets, posters, academic literature). Secondly, at the regional level (oblast level) were popular publications and videos on the Internet, manuals, radio and television programs, social advertising on regional state television and radio, outdoor advertising (billboards, city lights, posters), conference organization were disseminated and seminars, flash mobs and social events. Third, lectures, classes, role-playing games, business games, workshops, booklets, leaflets and conference materials were organized at the local level. At the same time, the system in conducting marketing communication activities for forming the image of urban transport service providers during the study could not be found. The study identified shortcomings in the communication process of public services with target social groups. An analysis of marketing communication activities implemented and planned for implementation by local authorities. On the basis of research results and conclusions some recommendations are offered in the article.

Multi-layer perceptron based transfer passenger flow prediction in Istanbul transportation system

Estimating passenger movement in transportation networks is a critical aspect of public transportation systems. It allows for a greater understanding of traffic patterns, as well as efficient system evaluation and monitoring. It could also help with precise timing to emergencies or important events, as well as the improvement of urban transport system weaknesses and service quality. The number of transfer passengers demand in Istanbul, Turkey's biggest and most developed metropolis, was used to construct a real-world forecasting model in this study. The number of transfer passengers has been forecasted using popular machine learning methods such as kNN (k-Nearest Neighbours), LR (Linear Regression), RF (Random Forest), SVM (Support Vector Machine), XGBoost and MLP. The dataset utilized is made up of hourly passenger transfer counts gathered at two public transportation transfer stations in Istanbul in January 2020. Using MSE, RMSE, MAE and R2 parameters, each model's experimental data have been thoroughly evaluated. MLP has more successfully other machine learning algorithms in the majority of transportation lines, according to the experimental results.

Development of Sustainable Urban Railway Service Model Using Micmac-Mactor: A Case Study in Jabodetabek Mega-Region Indonesia

Electric trains (KRL) provide services to residents living in Jabodetabek, one of the world's most significant regions. Although KRL is used daily by about 973,366 residents to carry out their activities, some factors influence its usage. Therefore, this study aims to identify the critical elements that affect train services and the patterns of relationships amongst actors to construct a model for long-term sustainability. This study was carried out using the Micmac and Mactor methods. Micmac is a causal structural matrix that can investigate the relationship between parameters in a system. The Mactor technique, on the other hand, is applied to a variety of tactics involving many actors and a set of related interests and goals. The results showed five critical variables for sustainable urban rail service, namely Safety, Capital, Eco monitoring and evaluation, Eco plan, and COVID control are needed. Meanwhile, The General Administration of Railways, Ministry of Transport, and Indonesian commuter train company are two institutions or actors that are very influential in mobilizing the safety of KRL users amid a pandemic to ensure the continuity of train services. This study also finds that critical variables, key actors, and rail destinations strongly influence the sustainability of social, economic, and environmental aspects of urban rail transportation services. In conclusion, this study provides new insight into developing a sustainable urban rail service model in Jabodetabek KRL.

Regulação de Transportes Urbanos Rodoviários: o Embate Entre Ônibus e Vans no Rio de Janeiro

This paper intends to contribute to the debate about public policy for the urban transport sector, especially road passenger transportation. The first part provides an overview of the need to regulate urban public transport services and discusses regulatory policies for the bus modal. It presents some good practices in regulation and the risks associated.The second part of the paper examines the regulatory framework for public road transport service in the city of Rio de Janeiro, taking as reference the theory presented in the previous session. It concludes that the concession model adopted in Rio de Janeiro extinguishes (unnecessarily) the competitive pressure in the sector, that the pricing policy adopted contributes to the loss of productivity of public transport and that the ascension of the irregular transport is linked to the failures of the traditional transportation system. The third part of the paper examines precisely an ideal regulatory model – the opposite from the actual practice, which took the urban transport system in Rio to the criminal news.

Co-producing an urban mobility service? The role of actors, policies, and technology in the boom and bust of dockless bike-sharing programmes

ABSTRACT This paper examines the role of actors, policies and technology in the evolution of a basic urban transport service by investigating a complex range of factors shaping the inception and adaptation of the bike-sharing programme. Media data were analysed in relation to two major programmes, supplemented by further investigation into the broader discourse of the programmes. The findings reveal that an array of actors in the categories of government, citizen, business maker and investor, together with evolving policies and technology, collectively determine the sustainability of the programme. The operator-investor centred unorthodox co-production and delivery of dockless bike-sharing provides an alternative model to urban basic service provision which is currently dominated by the centralised and government-citizen centred co-production models.