The need for improved bus operations in UK cities is widely recognised by Central and Local Governments in the United Kingdom (UK) as well as by existing and potential bus passengers. Recent UK policy documents have re-emphasised the vital role of the bus in contributing to sustainable urban transport. There have been many initiatives in this respect in recent years, taking advantage of new technologies and Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS). This paper describes these initiatives and selected applications, highlighting their economic and environmental effectiveness. The ITS applications are put in the context of other possible measures to improve bus operations and the potential for their adoption in less developed countries. It is concluded that ITS can provide an important and highly cost-effective contribution to the improvement of urban bus operations, given the existence of appropriate organisational structures and operating conditions.
Samenvatting