University of London Centre for Transport Studies Working Paper

BUSES IN MICROSCOPIC TRAFFIC SIMULATION MODELS

by Paulo C. M. Silva

Abstract

Buses are the most important public transport mode in several parts of the world. Even where this is not the case, improving bus services is often thought of as a rational alternative to the intensive use of existing urban networks by private cars.

This paper describes the nature and skills of some microscopic traffic tools, and analyses their ability to adequately represent the bus behaviour in urban environments. A number of bus operation models, mostly dealing with specific aspects of bus systems, is also considered.

This analysis shows that the simulation of buses within traffic models is far from reflecting the importance of this mode in actual networks. Even the models that deal to some extent with specific aspects of bus operations fail to represent the complex interactions between buses and other traffic flows. Thus, two points are suggested: the improvement of understanding of bus associated phenomena and the development of their consistent representation in a suitable traffic simulation model.

Among the tools analysed, SIGSIM was considered to be the most detailed in representing the microscopic relation between vehicles and, consequently, the most recommended as a platform for the implementation suggested.

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