| Bus priority schemes are considered as relatively inexpensive options for enhancing the image of transit service by upgrading bus performance. One type of scheme is With-Flow bus lanes on urban streets, which this study focuses on.;This study examines the effect on bus travel time on individual segments of the reserved bus lane (i.e. between bus stops). Subsequently, the change, if any, in segment time is related to characteristics and traffic regulations at respective segments.;Data used in the study were collected manually by means of on-board video taping of 132 bus trips for the transit service on Bay Street, in Metropolitan Toronto, along which the northbound and southbound curb lanes have been dedicated to the exclusive use of buses, taxicabs, bicycles, as well as right turning vehicles. The data were collected before and after implementation of the project for northbound and southbound trips during the morning, mid-day and evening periods.;The major findings show that bus performance improves at segments where buses previously experienced considerable congestion, and also at traffic signals. Moreover, ridership generally increases, resulting in longer dwell times at stops which increase total travel time. This suggests that the perception of transit service improvement may have more impact on ridership change than any substantive change in performance. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
