The introduction of a bus location information system, which communicates the real time location of incoming buses to passengers waiting at a bus stop, can affect the demand for buses, even though it does not affect any changes in the travelling time of buses. This type of effect on demand, which is likely to arise in the case of introduction of an information system for public transportation, cannot be evaluated by conventional models because it does not affect the values for any commonly used variables. In this study, the effect of this system on the demand is shown. First, the frustrations of passengers from when they undergo a wait at a bus stop are investigated, and how often the passenger changes his or her mind (e.g. to abandon the trip or to change the mode of transportation). The activities of passengers are simulated by using the accumulated data, while the respective movements of buses are simulated by a computer simulator that can provide various service levels of punctuality.
Abstract