TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT. SINO-BRITISH HIGHWAYS AND URBAN TRAFFIC CONFERENCE. PAPERS PRESENTED AT THE CONFERENCE HELD IN BEIJING 17TH-22ND NOVEMBER 1986

Throughout South East Asia, buses in one form or another constitute the principal method of urban transport, carrying more people than rail or any other motorised mode, and sometimes even a majority of road users. Bus services are crucially important to the social and economic life of these cities. This paper emphasises some of the factors affecting bus operations, which should be considered when designing traffic control and management systems. The principal factors affecting bus operations in cities are: (1) road network characteristics; (2) bus service characteristics; (3) travel demands. Some recent studies by the mva consultancy in Bangkok, Singapore, and Hong Kong show that the impacts of all the factors affecting bus operations are expressed in two key variables, journey time and journey time variability. Typically, the following stages should be followed in determining the most appropriate policies for improving bus operations: (1) surveys; (2) analyses; (3) design; (4) implementation and monitoring. The management measures that can improve bus operations include: (1) traffic management, including area traffic control and special traffic signal measures; (2) bus priorities, including bus lanes, bus gates, and bus-only turns; (3) busways and bus guidance; (4) vehicle location and traffic restraint. (TRRL)