MEASURES OF OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE FOR URBAN BUS SERVICES

Abstract

The paper deals with the problem of measuring the effectiveness of the running of a bus service along a particular route to a predetermined schedule and set of fares. Potential performance measures are categorized as efficiency measures, which evaluate the quality of system management and operation, or effectiveness measures that determine the quality of the service, the utilization of the service and its cost-effectiveness. The measure of service performance should reflect management objectives, should not require extensive and expensive data collection and should be capable of monitoring changes in conditions. The author reports on the indicators used by British bus operators and assesses the effectiveness of each measure. No single optimum measure is found, but those measures which relate most closely to the aspects of service most important to passengers (reliability, availability of a seat) require extensive data collection for valid statistical analysis. It is suggested that the extent of late running approaches is a 'cost-effective' measure in that it can be related to reliability and passenger waiting times, and it requires only moderate data collection. (TRRL)

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