What works to increase mode shift towards bus usage? How does this differ by region or across different demographic groups?

Background

The improve transport for the user strategic priority is critical in ensuring the department delivers and maintains a transport system that meets the needs of the public and addresses what they care about most. It puts the needs and expectations of current and potential users (both passengers and freight customers) at the heart of the operation of the transport system and considers about end-to-end journeys, not just individual transport modes. It is focused on ensuring that our infrastructure and the services which use it meet the varied needs of businesses and the public, are attractive, affordable, sustainable, and resilient is a crucial goal for the department.

Next steps

Get in touch with bridgetoresearch@dft.gov.uk

Source

This question was published as part of the set of ARIs in this document:

DFT-Areas of research interest 2023 GOV UK

Related UKRI funded projects


  • DRT for DRT: Developing Relevant Tools for Demand Responsive Transport

    The rise in private car use in the UK has major implications relating to how transport more generally is provided. One problem is that conventional public transport (i.e. bus, light rail and heavy rail) is steadily becom...

    Funded by: EPSRC

    Lead research organisation: Loughborough University

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project focuses on developing tools to determine the potential contribution of Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) to meet transport objectives, which aligns with the question about increasing mode shift towards bus usage.

  • The Role of Demand Responsive Transport in Connecting People to Opportunities in Less Densely Populated Areas

    The Government's National Bus Strategy 'Bus Back Better' seeks to arrest the decline in bus provision and use. It sees an important role for Demand Responsive Transport (or DRT) in lower-density areas not served well by ...

    Funded by: UKRI

    Lead research organisation: University of the West of England

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project evaluates the impact of Demand Responsive Transport on increasing bus usage and addresses different demographic groups in rural areas.

  • Demand-based Urban Bus Integrated with Rail And Health (DUBIRAH)

    A citizen rarely finds bus, rail and/or health service provisions seamlessly aligned: scheduled bus services do not provide sufficiently direct door-to-door journeys, e.g. between railway stations and final destinations,...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: ESOTERIX SYSTEMS LIMITED

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project aims to assess the viability of developing an on-demand, local bus service integrated with rail services and health care provision, which partially addresses the question about increasing mode shift towards bus usage.

  • University of Surrey and Surrey County Council

    To increase patronage of bus services in the country of Surrey, by establishing new ways of identifying customer needs, behaviours and user-experience; making bus services more appealing to potential customers....

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: THE UNIVERSITY OF SURREY

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project aims to increase patronage of bus services by identifying customer needs and making bus services more appealing, which partially addresses the question about increasing mode shift towards bus usage.

  • A Big Data Digital Twin of Mass Transit in Liverpool City Region for Smart, Equitable Mobility

    Liverpool City Region Combined Authority's (LCRCA) bus network is at a crucial stage in its evolution. As the Combined Authority prepares for a full network review and a pioneering franchising model, the "Big Data D...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: PODARIS LTD

  • Public Transport Integrated On-Line Booking & Scheduling

    Transport on Demand re-invents the way of delivering public service transport for rural and suburban areas. Based on small buses following a route that is generated solely from the passenger’s calls this IT system will c...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: CABTRANSIT

  • Project Jaringan Hubungan Antara Pengagkutan

    The aim of this project is to understand and plan the deployment of innovative shared mobility technology to improve first-and-last-mile intermodal connectivity of public transit in Malaysia. The partners, CatchThatBus a...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: MOSES MOBILITY LTD

  • Community Travel Platform

    Shared transit, such as public transport, is key to getting people around and maintaining our economy. It is vital in reducing our impact on the environment. UK cities have well-developed public transport infrastructure,...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: PLEXAL (CITY) LIMITED

  • Automated Bus Routing (ABR)

    The need for a transport system which uses on-demand routing arises principally from the shortcomings of the current options available for local journeys. The average Briton makes 821 trips of below 10 miles annually (Na...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: ESOTERIX SYSTEMS LIMITED

  • Live prediction of seat-availability for bus passengers from real time bus occupancy and location data

    Social distancing measures have reduced the effective capacity of buses to 40% of regular capacity. Although many routes are not currently busy enough to be commercially viable overall, they can be too busy at certain ti...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: PROSPECTIVE LABS LTD