Urban form, level of service and bus patronage in eastern Sydney.

This study considers the effect of population density, bus service frequency and the socio-economic variables of age, low income and low vehicle ownership on bus service use in the eastern half of Sydney. The study employs two measures of bus service use: census data on journey to work travel and counts of boarding passengers supplied by Sydney Buses. The final model for the boarding data comprised frequency and income variables. In the initial models with all variables density was not statistically significant. There were statistically significant correlations between density and age and density and income. Previous studies suggest that socio-economic characteristics are less important in mode use than in generating the need to travel in the first place. The results suggest that socio-economic variables have a greater effect on mode use than previously expected. This study raises doubts about the effectiveness of simple planning priorities such as increasing population density in generating greater bus service patronage and shows that service quality may be critical. (Author/publisher) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E209537. This paper may also be accessed by Internet users at: http://www.btre.gov.au/docs/atrf_02/program.html