Analysis of Experiments on Single-Lane Bus Flow

Abstract

The results of a series of experiments carried out to determine the characteristics of single-lane bus flow are reported. Using pairs of buses theoretical “car-following” models of single-lane traffic flow, which had been shown by previous work to be valid for automobiles, are examined for this type of heavy vehicle and found to provide a good representation of the detailed manner in which one bus follows another. Flow characteristics of buses were also determined by using platoons of up to ten buses. Both of these approaches, which can be termed microscopic and macroscopic, respectively, indicated that a single lane of buses form a stable stream of traffic and have an optimal flow of about 1,450 buses/hour at a speed of 33 miles/ hour for an expressway type facility.