New bus systems to improve efficiency and reduce emissions
European cities are growing rapidly, fuelled by rural-to-urban migration, which from a transport perspective creates challenges such as increased congestion, pollution, hampered accessibility and higher accident rates. As over 70 % of carbon dioxide emissions are due to road transport, particularly private cars, policymakers and authorities are looking at adopting better bus transport systems to tackle these challenges. The EU-funded 3IBS (The intelligent, innovative, integrated bus systems) project investigated bus systems as a whole, focusing on vehicle types, accessibility, operations and infrastructure. Underlining that buses are the most ideal solution for sustainable urban development, the project brought together a powerful consortium to give a new identity to urban and suburban bus systems. In order to develop the most competitive and feasible operational and infrastructural bus solutions, the project analysed case studies and evaluated how innovative concepts can be implemented on the ground. It articulated a set of guidelines to implement relevant good practices across European cities, supporting public transport stakeholders outside the project as well. In parallel, 3IBS identified priorities for further research and created a roadmap, conducting surveys on European bus system strategies to understand the role of bus systems in local mobility policies. In June 2015, the results of the 3IBS bus stakeholders' consultation were presented at the 61st International Association of Public Transport (UITP) World Congress & Exhibition. They revealed that 75 % of surveyed stakeholders aim to change the make-up of their bus fleet in terms of vehicle size, and 20 % of these want to include new vehicle categories. The results also showed that 69 % of the respondents want to move towards more articulated buses and 40 % of them towards midibuses. While 90 % of the fleets today operate on diesel and biodiesel, the results revealed that in the future over 40 % of respondents willing to modify the composition of their bus fleet, want to shift to more-electric solutions and hybrids. The respondents also showed significant interest in compressed natural gas, biodiesel and biogas solutions. These results will go a long way in encouraging the European public transport industry to establish a new body to implement the Innovative Bus System Roadmap.
Keywords
Bus systems, congestion, emissions, transport roadmap, 3IBS, public transport