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Public transport, and buses in particular, are facing challenges at every turn: slow recovery from the covid collapse in passenger numbers, inflation increasing cost base, driver recruitment and retention, and of course traffic congestion.
How can we make the bus more attractive to encourage more people to use it?
One way of making buses more attractive, and encourage former and new passengers onto buses, is ensuring that they provide a competitive and reliable journey time in comparison to other modes – both now and in the longer term.
It is vital therefore, as traffic levels and congestion continues to increase, that journey times do not become slower or less reliable as a consequence. Unlike some of the challenges we face, this is not under the control of bus operators – but traffic managers can make a difference, including through bus priority measures. Bus Back Better (the national bus strategy) has a lot to say about bus priority, and it forms a key element in many Enhanced Partnerships and Bus Service Improvement Plans.
Nearly 20 years ago the first standard approach to providing digital bus priority was published, and over a decade ago an interface between buses and urban traffic control systems was developed. This UTC interface is now well adopted with plenty of experience in its implementation.
However, in the last few years technology has progressed very rapidly, and there are now bus priority schemes that have been and are being introduced using different approaches.
This event is being jointly organised by RTIG and UTMC.
At this event we will:
- Review the historic bus priority landscape
- Hear from places trying new approaches
- Understand how traffic management is changing
During the afternoon we will break into small groups to help identify:
- What needs to be done to support the adoption of good practice?
- What needs to happen to help suppliers of bus and traffic management systems work together to achieve effective bus priority?
- How can bus operators and traffic managers work together?
- How do standards need to develop?
- What information is needed by implementers?
- How can business cases be developed and presented?
The event will take place at Millennium Point, Curzon Street, Birmingham, B4 7XG
https://www.millenniumpoint.org.uk/getting-here/
Book your place:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/687978721877
About RTIG
RTIG is a community group which seeks to establish, support and share good practice in the use of information and communications technology in public transport.
With members from public authorities, transport operators, consultancies and the systems industry, we have an impartial perspective and support the common good. We have an excellent relationship with national Government and work closely with other community groups.
About UTMC
UTMC is a UK-based initiative which provides traffic managers with open technical specifications, supporting an innovative competitive marketplace and helping systems interwork effectively.
All of our work is undertaken cooperatively with both the public highways community and the systems industry. We aim to provide practical help, avoiding excessive complexity in favour of simple, agreed approaches.