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An Approach to Reducing Bus Bunching

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  • Pilachowski, Joshua Michael

Abstract

The tendency of buses to bunch is a problem that was defined almost 50 years ago. Since then, there has been a significant amount of work done on the problem; however, the tendency of the current literature is either to only focus on the surface causes or to rely on simulation to create results instead of model formulation. With GPS installed on many buses throughout the world, the data is only being used for monitoring and informing the user. This research proposes a new approach to solving the problem that uses the GPS data to directly counteract the cause of the bunching by allowing the buses to cooperate with each other and determine their speed based on relative position. A continuum approximation model is presented as a tool to systematically analyze the behavior of the system and test the proposed control. In order to validate the model and the control, a simulation tool is used to model the system in a more realistic, discrete way. The control is shown to produce bounded deviations in spacing consistent with those predicted by the model. The resulting bus system will not bunch with only a small reduction in commercial speed.

Suggested Citation

  • Pilachowski, Joshua Michael, 2009. "An Approach to Reducing Bus Bunching," University of California Transportation Center, Working Papers qt6zc5j8xg, University of California Transportation Center.
    • Handle: RePEc:cdl:uctcwp:qt6zc5j8xg
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Daganzo, Carlos F. & Pilachowski, Josh, 2009. "Reducing bunching with bus-to-bus cooperation," Institute of Transportation Studies, Research Reports, Working Papers, Proceedings qt0551g0zw, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Berkeley.
    2. Viktoriya Degeler & Léonie Heydenrijk-Ottens & Ding Luo & Niels Oort & Hans Lint, 2021. "Unsupervised approach towards analysing the public transport bunching swings formation phenomenon," Public Transport, Springer, vol. 13(3), pages 533-555, October.
    3. Sivakumaran, Karthikgeyan & Li, Yuwei & Cassidy, Michael J. & Madanat, Samer, 2010. "Cost-Saving Properties of Schedule Coordination in a Simple Trunk-and-Feeder Transit System," University of California Transportation Center, Working Papers qt9qr8s3hx, University of California Transportation Center.
    4. Schmöcker, Jan-Dirk & Sun, Wenzhe & Fonzone, Achille & Liu, Ronghui, 2016. "Bus bunching along a corridor served by two lines," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 93(PA), pages 300-317.
    5. Andres, Matthias & Nair, Rahul, 2017. "A predictive-control framework to address bus bunching," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 123-148.
    6. Varga, Balázs & Tettamanti, Tamás & Kulcsár, Balázs, 2019. "Energy-aware predictive control for electrified bus networks," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 252(C), pages 1-1.
    7. Daganzo, Carlos F. & Pilachowski, Josh, 2011. "Reducing bunching with bus-to-bus cooperation," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 45(1), pages 267-277, January.

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