Users’ Perception on Operation and Performance of Public Transport Systems in African Developing Countries: The Case of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in Dar es Salaam City, Tanzania

Public transport system has been a means of addressing transportation challenges in urban areas, such as traffic congestion, traffic jam and long travel time in cities worldwide. Transportation in Africa is unique in that it has the least developed public transport systems in the world, while also being one of the fastest urbanizing continents. Bus Rapid Transit being one of the public transport systems was introduced in Africa in 2008 as a means to provide solution on urban transportation challenges. Despite of public transport being the main means of transport in African developing countries, there have been a number of challenges that affects efficiency of performance of the system and makes its users uncomfortable. Therefore, the study aimed at exploring the setbacks or challenges associated with operation and performance of the BRT system in the African developing countries and address them. The study employed mixed methods research design that integrates both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods and analysis. The study findings reveal that, there is an improvement on the perspectives of the commuters on public transport after introduction of BRT system. However, some challenges such as long waiting time, passengers overcrowding during peak hours, as well as safety and security can slowly change the perspective of the commuters. Therefore, to address these challenges it is recommended to reduce the long waiting time and improve accessibility by introduction of passenger information displays (bus information system) and automated fare collection system;reduce travel time by introduction of bus priority signal;and improve safety and security by introduction of signage and CCTV Camera within the bus and bus stops.

Analysis of the influence of occupation rate of public transit vehicles on mixing traffic flow in a two-lane system

Based on the existing classical cellular automaton model of traffic flow, a cellular automaton traffic model with different-maximum-speed vehicles mixed on a single lane is proposed, in which public transit and harbour-shaped bus stops are taken into consideration. Parameters such as length of cellular automaton, operation speed and random slow mechanism are re-demarcated. A harbour-shaped bus stop is set up and the vehicle changing lane regulation is changed. Through computer simulation, the influence of occupation rate of public transit vehicles on mixed traffic flow and traffic capacity is analysed. The results show that a public transport system can ease urban traffic congestion but creates new jams at the same time, and that the influence of occupation rate of public transit vehicles on traffic capacity is considerable. To develop urban traffic, attention should be paid to the occupation rate of public transit vehicles and traffic development in a haphazard way should be strictly avoided.

Simultaneous optimization of transit network and public bicycle station network

The traditional manner to design public transportation system is to sequentially design the transit network and public bicycle network. A new public transportation system design problem that simultaneously considers both bus network design and public bicycle network design is proposed. The chemical reaction optimization(CRO) is designed to solve the problem. A shortcoming of CRO is that, when the two-molecule collisions take place, the molecules are randomly picked from the container.Hence, we improve CRO by employing different mating strategies. The computational results confirm the benefits of the mating strategies. Numerical experiments are conducted on the Sioux-Falls network. A comparison with the traditional sequential modeling framework indicates that the proposed approach has a better performance and is more robust. The practical applicability of the approach is proved by employing a real size network.

Two Network Structure Indicators for Conventional Public Transit

The significance of network structure indicators for the planning and management of conventional public transit is widely acknowledged.In order to improve and enrich the conventional public transit assessment system,two network structure indicators are proposed.Firstly,according to the obvious defects lying in the traditional no-linear coefficient,the realistic no-linear coefficient γRNL,a modified no-linear coefficient indicator,is put forward,which takes into account the effects of barriers in a city.Secondly,to cover the gap of an indicator which can reflect the coverage homogeneity of a transit network,the length dimension LDis proposed on the basis of Fractal Theory.Finally,a case study is applied to verify the validity and practicability of the two indicators in problem diagnosis using regression analysis.The results validate that γRNLcan evaluate the detour of bus lines more reasonably than the previous no-linear coefficient because it reflects the layout of bus lines,and LDcan represent the rate of change of the network density,adding a new member to the scheme of network structure indicators for public transit.

Public Transit Performance Evaluation Using Data Envelopment Analysis and Possibilities of Enhancement

This study evaluates the operational performance of all routes of Sajha Bus Yatayat operating inside Kathmandu valley using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) in terms of efficiency and effectiveness score. This approach allows us to access the relative performance of transit system in absence of historical data and research to compare with. To explore the possibility of enhancing the performance, scenarios were created for relatively underperforming routes and long route problem by changing the most important input variable and output variables accordingly with regression model where it was relevant. Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression was used to determine the most influential input variables to the output variables. DEA was conducted to access the performance of all routes under these scenarios. Underperforming routes except the longest route under the first set of scenarios, emerge to be better performing efficiently without considerable negative deviation in effectiveness. The result of second set of scenarios for long route problem suggests that the longest route’s performance can be enhanced significantly upon proper route alignment. Scenarios development and evaluation can help lead transit companies to explore the strategies to facilitate operational performance enhancement.

Morphology of single inhalable particle inside public transit biodiesel fueled bus

In an urban-transit bus, fueled by biodiesel in Toledo, Ohio, single inhalable particle samples in October 2008 were collected and detected by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry （SEM/EDS）. Particle size analysis found bimodal distribution at 0.2 and 0.5 μm. The particle morphology was characterized by 14 different shape clusters： square, pentagon, hexagon, heptagon, octagon, nonagon, decagon, agglomerate, sphere, triangle, oblong, strip, line or stick, and unknown, by quantitative order. The square particles were common in the samples. Round and triangle particles are more, and pentagon, hexagon, heptagon, octagon, nonagon, decagon, strip, line or sticks are less. Agglomerate particles were found in abundance. The surface of most particles was coarse with a fractal edge that can provide a suitable chemical reaction bed in the polluted atmospheric environment. The three sorts of surface patterns of squares were smooth, semi-smooth, and coarse. The three sorts of square surface patterns represented the morphological characteristics of single inhalable particles in the air inside the bus in Toledo. The size and shape distribution results were compared to those obtained for a bus using ultra low sulfur diesel.

PM10 and CO Exposure of Hong Kong Population in Public Transit Facilities

Taking public transit facilities (PTFs) is the major transport style in Hong Kong. Human exposure to indoor air pollutants may cause adverse health effects to the passengers. Exposure assessment on air pollutants is important for the control of human diseases caused by indoor air pollution. In this paper, the indoor PM10, CO and CO 2 levels in various PTFs, such as public bus, subway, railway and ferry in Hong Kong, were mea- sured. Combining with the time budget survey of Hong Kong population,the human exposures were calculated through Monte-Carlo simulation.

Potential Benefits of Increased Public Transit Ridership in Medium Sized Cities: A Case Study

At the beginning of the twentieth century, the United States was leading in the public transit sector, but following World War II, private automobiles became more affordable and gained popularity. Transportation infrastructure investments that increased road capacity further facilitated the increase in automobile use at the expense of reduced public transit ridership. With the increase of dependency on automobiles and the continuing growth of private automobile ownership and use, various problems became major challenges in big cities of USA. These include traffic congestion, air pollution, road and parking infrastructure costs, energy consumption, traffic safety, fewer mobility options for the non-drivers, and a decline in the image and use of public transit. This study uses a medium sized city, Birmingham as a case study to investigate the potential of public transit to reduce automobile trips and in turn improve the overall performance of the road network by addressing the abovementioned challenges. An agent-based simulation model was developed for the Birmingham metropolitan region using the Multi-agent Transport Simulation (MATSim) platform. Three scenarios were considered with gradually increased transit ridership to identify the benefits of increased public transit. Traffic volume, network average speed, and travel times were used as performance measures for the evaluation of the designated scenarios. Results suggest that modal shifts toward public transit and reduction in travel demand for an automobile can result in improvements in speed and travel time for all users. Therefore, investments for improving transit quality and frequency of service, as well as campaigns to improve the image of public transit and make it a mode of choice for transportation users can increase transit ridership and, in turn, improve network operations, thus are deemed worthy for medium sized cities.

Public Transit Connectivity Measures and Analysis of Weak Segments

Bus and any other public transit connectivity issues facilitate an understanding of the importance of transit planning in enhancing existing or new transit services. Improving transit connectivity is one of the most vital tasks in transit-operations planning. A poor connection can cause some passengers to stop using the transit service. Service-design criteria always contain postulates to improve routing and scheduling coordination （intra- and inter-agency transfer centers/points and synchronized/timed transfers）. Ostensibly the lack of well-defined connectivity measures precludes the weighing and quantifying of the result of any coordination effort. This work provides an initial methodological framework and concepts for （1） quantifying transit connectivity measures and （2） directions and tools for detecting weak segments in inter-route and inter-modal chains （paths） for possible revisions/changes.

Passengers gathering-scattering analysis at the corners of subway stations

During both daily operation and emergency evacuation,the corners of walking facilities in subway stations play an important role in efficient circulation.However,the effectiveness of the corner is difficult to assess.In this paper,a method of passenger gathering and scattering analysis based on queueing models was proposed to investigate the corner performance in subway stations.Firstly,we constructed a set of state spaces of passenger flow according to passenger density and proposed the state transition model of passenger flow.Moreover,the model of passenger flow blocking and unblocking probability were also presented.Then,to illustrate the validity of the method and model,several passenger gathering-scattering scenarios and were simulated to verify the influence of passenger distribution and facility width on passenger walking,and the blocking probability,throughput,and expected time were also analyzed under various widths of the target corridor and arrival rates.Results showed that the proposed model can reproduce the trend of walking parameters changing and the self-organizing phenomenon of'faster is lower'.With the increase of arrival rates of passengers,walking speeds of passengers decrease and the expected walking time is prolonged,and the blocking probability sharply increased when the arrival rate exceeded 7 peds/s.In addition,with change of width of the target facility,efficiency of capacity of walking circulation facility fluctuated.With the width of the target corridor enlarged by 10%,the steady state of passenger flow was less crowded.Therefore,corridor width is critical to the circulation efficiency of passengers in subway stations.The conclusions will help to develop reasonable passenger flow control plans to ease the jam and keep passengers walking safely.

共享单车与公共交通多元关系分类及阈值研究

为准确评估共享单车和公共交通之间的复杂时空关系,根据替代或补充关系的具体成因类型,结合共享单车出行起讫点的分布情况,定义共享单车与公共交通多元关系;其次,考虑公共汽电车与轨道交通的差异性,提出一种基于弱监督全连接神经网络的共享单车与公共交通多元关系的分类模型,并根据共享单车轨迹数据,计算不同关系分类和交通方式下的公共交通可达范围、共享单车骑行时长及步行接驳距离边界阈值。结果表明:共享单车与公共交通的多元关系可分为接驳补充、空白补充、替代关系1和替代关系2。其中,共享单车与公共汽电车多元关系的三参数划分阈值分别为329.75 m、5.07 min和182.93 m,与轨道交通多元关系的划分阈值分别为816.96 m、10.27 min和653.91 m。共享单车与公共汽电车以替代关系1为主,占总行程的54.98%;共享单车与轨道交通以空白补充关系为主,占总行程的48.90%。共享单车与公共汽电车关系主要为多元替代与接驳补充,与轨道交通主要为多元补充与替代关系2。共享单车与公共汽电车的关系相比于轨道交通会更为复杂。本文可为促进共享单车与公共交通在各自优势距离上的协同发展提供支撑。

场景理论视角下“图书馆+地铁”公共文化服务创新研究

图书馆与地铁跨界融合,共同打造公共文化空间,是拓展公共文化服务覆盖的有效途径,也是公共文化服务融合发展的新思路,而“场景”本质上是更高级形式的文化空间,本文在既有研究和我国实践探索经验基础上,提出“图书馆+地铁”这一公共文化融合服务场景概念,并引入场景理论,论证分析其应用于建设“图书馆+地铁”场景的契合性。在场景理论指导下,从合法性、真实性、戏剧性3个维度出发,打造深入人心的公共文化服务场景,探索“图书馆+地铁”的更多可能性,为公共文化服务发展注入活力。

公交专用车道规划管理思辨及公共汽电车交通发展纾困

2023年上半年,公安部推出10项公安交管新措施,其中包括优化城市公交专用车道管理。北京、深圳、青岛、南通等地陆续发布公交专用车道相关管理措施,引发广泛讨论与关注。围绕公交专用车道管理措施背后的原因与调整的依据,公交专用车道本身的规划、管理与使用问题,以及公共汽电车交通运营困境,特邀城市交通行业专家学者和公共汽电车运营管理研究的一线工作人员以笔谈的形式交流观点。在此基础上,探索在城市存量发展阶段如何建立常态化路权变更规则和评估机制,以及公共汽电车交通纾困之路。

考虑乘客起讫点选择的可变线路公交服务设计优化

可变线路公交可以在一定距离内偏离固定线路接送乘客,具有提高公共交通服务可达性的优势。然而,公交车过多访问非站点处的乘客,会增加车辆的行驶距离与时间,导致车内和站点等候乘客时间延误。因此,本文提出以浮动票价来调控乘客的接送需求,优化可变线路公交的固定站点个数、发车间隔和基础票价以实现单位时间内的社会福利(运营商利润和消费者剩余之和)最大化。首先,本文利用连续近似法分别在无财政限制(允许盈利赤字)和有财政限制(在财政补贴下确保运营不亏损)的情况下构建了最优化模型;其次,通过BONMIN求解器,求出无财政限制的模型的最优固定站点个数、发车间隔和基础票价;最后,通过对潜在出行需求、服务区域的矩形长宽比、票价调整系数及车容量等进行灵敏度分析,验证了模型的有效性。结果表明,单位时间财政补贴存在两个阈值。实例分析表明,对洛杉矶MTA646路夜间公交分别实行统一票价和差异化票价时,潜在出行需求存在一个阈值。当潜在出行需求超过120人/h时,票价调整系数为1时对单位时间社会福利的优化度比票价调整系数为0.2、0.4、0.6和0.8时更高,约为1%。本研究为可变线路公交系统的服务设计与财政补贴计算提供了重要参考依据。

城市轨道交通建设生产安全事故统计分析

收集整理了2000—2022年365起城市轨道交通建设生产安全事故数据,从事故发展规律、特征和地域分布等方面进行统计分析,发现坍塌是轨道交通建设施工中的最主要事故类型。2000—2010年轨道交通建设生产安全事故量呈现快速增长态势,近几年事故总量下降,但事故平均伤亡人数较高,2018年达到6.2人/起。在轨道交通建设施工技术、方法有所提升的情况下,仍应加强安全生产管理,健全安全管理的责任与制度体系,加强风险管控和监测预警。

基于博弈-可拓云的地铁-常规公交换乘服务评价

为了解决地铁与常规公交换乘服务评价方法的单一性和滞后性等问题,提出一种博弈-可拓云组合模型。结合“全、简、精、实”四类原则构建评价指标体系,分别利用层次分析法、CRITIC法、博弈论确定各项指标的主、客综合权重,并将数值代入可拓云模型实现二者的结合。以石家庄地铁为例,对辖区三条线路与常规公交间的换乘服务进行综合评价,结果显示:1、2、3号线的分数均处于[70,90)范围内,属于良好等级。评价结果与该市地铁-常规公交的运营现状相符,验证了组合模型的可行性与普适性,该结果对科学制定精准化的公共交通换乘服务政策提供参考。

地铁站台公共区弥散送风系统结构参数研究

地铁站台公共区弥散送风系统(DASS)可以提供舒适的热环境,其结构设计参数会影响DASS送风效果。采用数值模拟方法,研究不同弥散送风板开口率、送风口数量、静压室高度以及下部空间高度等结构参数对站台公共区DASS送风效果的影响。结果表明:站台公共区气流分布均匀性和人员热舒适性随弥散送风板开口率和送风口数量的增加而增加;静压室高度在1.1m左右时的送风效果最好;下部空间高度越高,气流分布越均匀,但冷风感越强,综合初投资和系统送风效果,下部空间最优高度为3m。

屏蔽门漏风对地铁站台公共区弥散送风效果的影响研究

弥散送风系统(DASS)能为地铁站台公共区提供舒适的热环境,但地铁实际运行中站台存在屏蔽门漏风,对DASS送风气流的影响需要进一步研究。采用数值模拟方法,对屏蔽门漏风作用下站台公共区DASS的送风效果进行研究,并对DASS送风板开启位置进行了优化。结果表明:不考虑屏蔽门漏风作用时,一侧射流式DASS方案的站台公共区温度分布不均匀,靠近送风口一侧温度高,局部区域高于32℃;列车进站时,送风侧吊顶满布弥散送风板的方案使送风出现短路,部分气流直接从楼扶梯口排出,站台公共区靠近送风口一侧温度高于30℃,温度分布不均匀;楼扶梯附近的吊顶板封闭时,避免了气流短路现象,站台公共区温度在23~30℃范围内,送风效果得到改善;列车离站时,将楼扶梯附近的吊顶板封闭,人员活动区温度在28℃以内,满足热舒适要求。

引进改编版教材的内容调试与图像转换——以《演讲的艺术》为例

引进改编国际版教材是一项极为繁杂的系统工程,不仅涉及出版信息、装帧形式的变更,更关乎内容、图像的调试与转换。作为引进改编版教材的范例,《演讲的艺术》通过内容与图像的替换、添加、删除、调试,完美契合了中国演讲教学的需求,成为当下国内演讲课程最受欢迎的教材。《演讲的艺术》的成功改编可以证明:唯有更广泛地引进改编国际教材,实现国际优秀教材向“中国特色西方课本”,再到“中国化西方课本”的转换,才能充分发挥国际教材的作用,助推我国的教育改革发展。

基于AnyLogic的地铁站台客流引导方式优化

为避免地铁车厢客流过度集中,引导站台乘客分散乘车,文章以地铁各车厢客流均衡为目标,以均衡度标准差为指标,综合考虑车厢现有人数、候车人数及预计下车人数,优化地铁站台客流引导方式。通过AnyLogic仿真软件,模拟广州地铁珠江新城5号线站台条件,对比了客流量范围在12万人/日~60万人/日条件下,不同引导方式对车厢乘客分布不均衡度的影响。结果表明,地铁站客流量达到24万人/日时,考虑预计下车人数的站台客流引导方式下的车厢客流均衡度标准差明显提升;与不考虑该站下车人数的引导方式相比,客流均衡度标准差提升幅度最大达到25.6%,相比人工引导方式的提升幅度达53.6%,有效提升了地铁精细化服务能力。