improving access & affordability of urban bus services...
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Improving Access & Affordability of Urban Bus Services:
Case Study of Bangalore
Ashwin Prabhu
Manager – Urban Transport
EMBARQ India
Email: [email protected]
Comfortable
Affordable
Comfortable
Case Study
of
Bangalore
5th largest
urban area
Pop: 9.6 Million
Density:
7,600/sq.km.
47% Decadal
Growth
(2001-2011)
Bangalore
Introduction: BMTC System Indicators
6,472 Buses (688 AC, 5655 Ordinary)
4.9 Million Passengers Daily
2,398 Routes
Source(s): BMTC, Urban Mobility Indicators 2013
52% of Motorised Trips
Bangalore
in
2001
Bangalore
in
2011
Structural Issue: Direct Services Model
Bangalore, like most cities in India, utilises the Direct Services model for bus transport
This means every locality in the city is provided with its own bus route to the city centre, city market and other major destinations
This model works well for smaller cities, but becomes increasingly inefficient for large cities
As a result of the direct services model, 4
routes are required to provide services
along a single, relatively short stretch of
road
Route 356-B
KR Market
To
Karpur
Route Length:
34.3 KM
Buses:
1
Wait Time till next
bus:
~120 Min
Increased Cost of Travel
53%
4%4%
12%
4%
10%
13%
Bus Stop Access Mode - Chandapura
[n=1650]
BMTC
KSRTC
Private Bus
Auto
2W
Car
Walk
Majority of people accessing bus services at
major junctions are already making transfers
Redesigning
Bus Transport
in
Bangalore
The Frequent Bus Network
Direct Services Integrated Services
Underlying Principle:
Specific Travel Patterns are served not by direct routes, but by
a collection of ‘direction-oriented’ services connected by
transfers
The Frequent Bus Network
Step 1: The BIG Bus Network
The BIG Bus Network is a
Connective Grid of
Very High
Frequency, Direction-
Oriented services along
Major Roads
BIG
=
Bangalore Intra-city Grid
Step 2: Feeder Services
Localities which lie off
of main roads are
served with high
frequency feeder
services
i.e. Feeder services will
connect localities to the
BIG Bus Network
An integrated fare system will ensure transfers are convenient and cheap
BMTC is procuring Electronic Ticketing Machines and a Smartcard Fare System for this purpose
Step 3: Integrated Fare System
Step 4: Unified Branding
Unified Branding of BIG Bus Network service components
will ensure easy understanding of the system
High quality yet small footprint transfer facilities at
interchange junctions will facilitate convenient and
comfortable transfers
Step 5: Transfer Facilities
Step 6: User Information Systems
Simplification of network structure will allow for the
development of user information at bus stops and terminals
Impacts when
Fully Implemented on a Major Arterial Corridor *
aspect indicator before after change
SimplicityNo. of
Routes63 30 - 52.4%
same service coverage area
maintained
Service
Quality
Average
Wait Time
(min)53 23 - 56%
across all bus stops in system,
weighted by passenger volume
Resources Fleet Size 262 262 0%
improvements achieved without
additional fleet requirement
* Results based on modelling of existing services on
Hosur Road Corridor
Implementation Progress
Old
Airport
Road
Sarjapur
Road
Hosur
RoadBanerghatta
Road
Kanakpura
Road
Old
Madras
Road
Mysore
Road
Magadi
Road
Tumkur
Road
Bellary
Road
Tannery Road
Hennur
Road
The BIG Bus Network
has already been
implemented
on
3 of 12 major arterial
corridors in the city.
BIG Bus Network launched by CM Siddaramiah
BigTrunk Bus on Road
Impact: How did you make this trip before?
Other Bus, 38%
Car, 9%2W, 18%
Auto, 14%
Van, 9%
Other, 0%
Didn’t make this
trip, 1%
No Response, 11% More than one
response, 1%
BigTrunk: Why did you switch?
Better
Frequency, 41%
Good Bus
Quality, 25%
Easier to
understand new
service, 15%
Cheaper, 15%
Other, 0%
No Response, 3% More than one
response, 1%
The Frequent Bus Network promises a step-change improvement in the accessibility, affordability and quality of urban bus services - particularly for large cities
In principle this concept can be extended to any city with a well defined road network with a hierarchy of public transport demand
There are some significant challenges, but the ‘how’ of overcoming these is known, and the long-term benefits significantly outweigh the short term costs
Conclusions
Thank You!