Automatic recognition of “low-quality” vehicles and bus stops in bus services

Abstract

A recent interest in transit service analysis resulted in advances in the monitoring of public transport quality from the passenger’s viewpoint. Several frameworks were proposed to show where and when different quality levels occur, but there has been no focus on determining which vehicles and bus stops lead to low-quality performance in bus services. This paper proposes a framework that: (i) performs a simple data collection on selected parameters on passenger activities at bus stops (e.g., consulting posted information) and in-vehicle (e.g., validating the ticket). This data collection is performed by Secret Shoppers on Origin-Destination pairs representing paths travelled by passengers, (ii) proposes two new algorithms detecting criticalities for each route and parameter, and (iii) shows the vehicles and bus stops for which some targets are not met. These steps result in the first framework that can help build operational plans guiding the correction of criticalities arising in the delivered bus services. This framework is deeply investigated and discussed in a real-life Italian case.

Appendices

Patent Pending.

Appendix A: Algorithm HAN

Patent Pending.

Notational glossary of the main variables for HAN.

Conf_Pax = Volumes of passengers receiving a well-performed service during the measurement.

IDA, IDB = Identity codes of each record in tables A and B, respectively.

S_MAX, S_MIN = Maximum and minimum score of each parameter.

Perc_Pax =Percentage of passengers receiving a well-performed service.

Total_Pax = Total volumes of passengers recorded during the measurement.

x =Binary variable which takes 1, if the score of parameter reaches the minimum value, 0 otherwise.

WS = Weighted Score for each parameter.

WSP = Weighted Sub-parameter.

WSSP = Weighted Sub–Sub-parameter.

Appendix B: algorithm OUT

Patent Pending.

Notational glossary of the main variables for OUT.

Prob = Problem pointed out in table Pivot 3.

Prob_code_A and Prob_code = Code of the problem in tables A and Pivot 3, respectively.

Prob_A = Label of problem in table A.

Appendix C: weights for parameters

Level 3—parameter (EN 13816)	Level 3—weight	Level 4—parameter (specified from the PTC)	Level 4—weight	Level 5—parameter (specified from the PTC)	Level 5—weight
2.3.3 Validation	1.00	Prompt magnetic-ticket restitution	0.44
		Ticket validation readability	0.26
		Date and time accurately printed in the validated ticket	0.30
3.1.3. About sources of information (at electronic bus stop)	1.00	Presence of PTC address (easily readable)	0.03
		Presence of PTC e-mail address (easily readable)	0.02
		Presence of PTC web-site address (easily readable)	0.03
		Presence of information needed to forward a complaint	0.04
		Presence of information needed to gather the mobility card	0.03
		PTC Logo	0.03
		Bus stop code	0.08
		Bus stop description	0.07
		Presence of bus stop information toward impaired people	0.08
		Readability of display	0.16
		Data accurately showed	0.13
		Time of day accurately showed	0.15
		Presence of an updated bus network map (easily readable)	0.09
		Presence of call center phone number (easily readable)	0.06
3.1.3. About sources of information (at classical bus stop)	1.00	Presence of PTC address (easily readable)	0.05
		Presence of PTC e-mail address (easily readable)	0.04
		Presence of PTC web-site address (easily readable)	0.05
		Presence of information needed to forward a complaint	0.08
		Presence of information needed to gather the mobility card	0.05
		PTC Logo	0.05
		Bus stop code	0.14
		Bus stop description	0.13
		Presence of bus stop information for impaired people	0.14
		Presence of an updated bus network map (easily readable)	0.16
		Presence of call center phone number (easily readable)	0.11
3.1.7 About safety (in vehicle)	1.00	Presence of behavioural information in case of emergency	0.41
		Emergency exits accurately signalised	0.59
3.2.4 About route (pre trip)	1.00	Internet information	0.63	Presence of updated information on the route	0.44
				Presence of updated information on the related bus stops	0.56
		App information	0.37	Presence of updated information on the route	0.44
				Presence of updated information on the related bus stops	0.56
3.2.4 About route (at bus stop)	1.00	En route information	0.75	Presence of updated information on the route	0.44
				Indication of the related bus stops	0.56
		In-vehicle information (from bus external panel indicator)	0.25	Updated indication of the considered route	0.55
				Updated indication of the destination	0.45
3.2.5 About time (pre trip)	1.00	Internet information	0.63	Presence of updated information on timetable	0.67
				Presence of updated information on headway	0.33
		App information	0.37	Presence of updated information on timetable	1.00
3.2.5 About time (at electronic bus stop)	1.00	Updated indication of scheduled timetable/headway	0.28
		Updated indication of actual bus arrival time	0.72
3.2.5 About time (at classical bus stop)	1.00	Updated indication of scheduled timetable/headway	1.00
3.2.6 About fare (in vehicle)	1.00	Presence of information updated on ticket fare	0.64
		Presence of information updated on penalty in case of ticket violation	0.36
6.4.3 Cleanliness (in-vehicle)	1.00	External cleanliness	0.06	Bus bodywork visibly dirty (stickers, mud, graffiti)	0.08
				Windows visibly dirty	0.41
				Windscreen dirty	0.51
		In vehicle smell	0.52	Presence and intensity of musty smell	0.13
				Presence and intensity of gas/oil smell	0.19
				Presence and intensity of organic smells (vomit, urine)	0.68
		Internal cleanliness	0.42	Bus floor greasy, slippery, sticky	0.05
				Organic waste	0.21
				Handhold and handrail dirty	0.17
				Driver’s seat untidy (e.g. newspapers, dust)	0.03
				Damaged seats (burnt or missing parts, graffiti)	0.07
				Dirty seats	0.20
				Inner bus walls visibly dirty (graffiti)	0.09
				Windows visibly dirty	0.07
				Correct functioning of the air-conditioning	0.11
7.2.1 Presence/visibility of supports (in vehicle)	1.00	Good conditions of handrails	0.65
		Good conditions of handhold	0.35
7.2.2 Avoidance/visibility of hazard (in vehicle)	1.00	In vehicle functioning lighting system	0.43
		Presence of fire extinguishers	0.34
		Presence of emergency hammers	0.23
8.1.2 Noise (in vehicle)	1.00	No annoying vibrations of bus devices (e.g. panels)	0.70
		No annoying noises due to the engine	0.30