Empirical bus routing practice has been typically represented by an operation-oriented bus routing framework in which cost is the dominant routing factor. The market potential for passengers within the service areas has been disregarded and there is thus a spatial gap between the route locations and the locations of many potential passengers. This paper proposes a framework for planning fixed bus routes where a number of criteria, in addition to the usual operational constraints, can be considered. The reconciliation of bus users' needs with bus operators' requirements is a key point for reaching a routing solution. The framework adopts economic satisficing theory in a geographical spatial environment using GIS and links route optimisation methodology from engineering and customer profiles from marketing. This approach is examined via an example from Inner Western Sydney in terms of the identification of bus commuter markets, and the implementation of routing procedures. (A)
Abstract