Investigation of Various Strategies for the Use of Demand-Controlled Bus Systems in Differing Operational Areas

Recently, several bus systems whose routes are determined by passenger demands transmitted from bus stops have proven to be failures. The paper records efforts to compare the efficiency and degree of success of the various systems.

The paper describes the organization of one such system ("Cosby"). The heart of the system is a computer which continually updates bus routes according to passenger demands; these route changes are then transmitted to the bus drivers. The advantages of this system are compared to those of conventional bus systems; in general, the demand-controlled buses can respond to varying amounts of passengers more economically, while conventional buses operate most efficiently with high passenger traffic. This conclusion leads to a description of combinations of demand-controlled and conventional buses. A subsequent simulation of bus lines has demonstrated the potential advantages of such a system.