AC03 INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Aim

Develop a real integration both physically and in the management of the different types of public transportation: train, bus, taxi. This, along with other measures favouring intermodality between this public transport and cycling or walking, will increase the competitiveness of these modes over the private vehicle.

Why?

The personal choice of which mode of transport to use on each trip is generally based on objective aspects such as travel time or parking availability at destination. But it is also based on subjective judgements, such as the perception of waiting time at a bus stop, discomfort, attractiveness or social perception in one way or another.

Attempts to convince users to use public transport, or other sustainable modes, collide head-on with:
• The huge amount of money invested in improving the private vehicle infrastructure, always at the expense of other modes.
• The lack of reliability and comfort of public transport lines, which have been abandoned in favour of private vehicles.
• Lack of public transport line integration with other modes (sustainable or not).

The integration of the different types of public transport would have the following benefits:
• It would increase the reliability of the transport chain.
• It would allow to know in advance the total travel time.
• It offers an ideal mode of transportation for each type of trip.
• Reduces congestion by reducing private vehicle trips.
• Increases the radius of trips by bicycle or on foot (combined with other modes).
• The social dimension of public transport is reinforced.

If we think that in the same space and time 2 people can be transported by car, 12 people by bicycle and 9 people by bus, we can see the advantages of achieving a more efficient integrated transport.

How?

Depending on the modes of transport available in each city, different measures can be taken. In a typical Spanish city where trains, buses and taxis are available, the following could be adopted:

• Single ticket: A single ticket is valid for all public transport, so that the transfer between them is free.
• Real time information: Install panels at bus stops with information on bus status, delays, etc. The same information, as well as warnings, should be available in a mobile application.
• Route planner: Develop a mobile application that allows you to plan a trip between two points in different modes.
• Traffic light priority: Using GPS detectors or on demand, traffic lights must change to give priority to buses.
• Facilities that provide effective intermodality: Secure storage facilities for bicycles at train and bus stations. Bicycles storage in selected bus stops, so that the bicycles can be used as a feeding system for buses, etc.
• Install bicycle racks in taxis and buses, as a minimum, on lines that serve travel attraction centers that require a steep route.

When calculating the reduction in emissions due to the change of mode of transport, the best emission factors available at the time should be used, depending on the modes to be evaluated. For a first approximation, you can use the following (see next page):

You can find more data in: The climate change mitigation effects of daily active travel in cities – ScienceDirect

Integration of bicycles on the train in Denmark (ECF)

Bicycle racks in taxis (Copenhagen). Source: Copenhaguenize