Bus systems for the future
Subtitle: achieving sustainable transport worldwide.
Contributors: International Energy Agency.
Publisher: International Energy Agency
Published: 2002
Place of publication: Paris, France
Language: eng
Number of pages: 188
Subjects: Bus lines -- Economic aspects.; Bus lines -- Environmental aspects.; Local transit -- Economic aspects.; Local transit -- Environmental aspects.
Description: Cities around the world face enormous problems of transport sustainability. Rapidly increasing populations and vehicle usage have created gridlock and sprawl, even in very poor cities, as well as unacceptably high levels of air pollution, noise, and accident rates. But improvements can be made. This book explores how the provision of better bus services can bring concrete solutions. "Bus rapid transit" systems emerging in Latin America provide fast, reliable and efficient urban travel for large numbers of people. Express busways, employing high-capacity buses and new technologies such as GPS-based bus tracking systems, can conveniently and reliably move up to 10 times as many people along a route as can cars – and be profitable. This book shows how bus rapid transit differs from traditional bus systems and how it can be developed around the world. There is a detailed look at clean fuels and advanced technologies such as "clean diesel", CNG, hybrid-electric and fuel cells. Case studies are made of six cities and of the steps each might take to encourage more sustainable transport systems.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 183-188).
Table of contents: title: Executive summary; title: 1. Introduction; title: 2. Bus systems; title: 3. Bus technologies and fuels; title: 4. Bus system development: six case studies; title: Bibliography.