BRT and BHLS around the world: Explosive growth,large positive impacts and many issues outstanding

A survey of Bus Rapid Transit BRT and Bus of High Level of Service BHLS around the world indicates that there are about 120 cities with bus corridors, with 99 of the cities entering into the list in the last 12 years. The existing bus corridors comprise about 280 corridors, 4300 km, 6700 stations and use 30,000 buses, serving about 28 million passengers per day. In 2010–2011, 19 cities completed new systems − 16 in the developing world – and seven cities expanded their current systems. By late 2011, about 49 new cities were building systems, 16 cities were expanding their corridors, and 31 cities were in initial planning. This impressive growth may be attributed in part to the successes of Curitiba, Bogotá, México City, Istanbul, Ahmedabad and Guangzhou. These cities show low cost, rapid implementation and high performance BRTs, with significant positive externalities. Interesting trends are emerging, such as the implementation of citywide integrated bus systems, improved processes for private participation in operations, increased funding from national governments, and growth of bus manufacturers and technology providers. Despite the growth, there are some outstanding issues: BRT and BHLS do not have a single meaning and image and are often regarded as a “second best” as compared to rail alternatives. In addition several systems in the developing world suffer problems resulting from poor planning, implementation and operation, due to financial, institutional and regulatory constraints. The BRT and BHLS Industry are in their “infancy” and there is need for consolidation and concerted effort.     

TransMilenio BRT system in Bogota,high performance and positive impact – Main results of an ex-post evaluation

The paper presents the main characteristics, costs and impacts of TransMilenio, the bus based mass transit system of Bogotá, using BRT corridors and feeder services. An ex-post cost-benefit analysis is done, including monetary valuation of direct impacts on travel time and travel cost and externalities, such as improved road safety and air quality. Impacts on crime, land values, employment and tax revenue are also presented. The results are positive and robust; nevertheless, it is important to recognize that user perception has declined and there is urgent need to introduce service improvements. The paper also includes an ex-ante evaluation of the projected expansion using current costs, which indicates the need to limit construction capital costs. The results are an indication of the potential of BRT, and the evaluation methodology is applicable to other transit projects.     

A first glimpse on policy packaging for implementation of BRT projects

Policy packaging (i.e. the combination of individual policies and measures in order to achieve a certain goal) is a common practice in urban mobility management used to create synergies between single policies or to mitigate negative effects of a given policy.     

Comparisons of urban transport sustainability: Lessons from West and North Africa

The diagnosis for urban transport sustainability depends on the context of different regions worldwide. We focus in this paper on West and North Africa which reveal similarities but also structural differences which are explored further. The importance of paratransit in its various forms is strongly observed in sub-Saharan Africa and to a lesser extent in North Africa. The attempts to regulate and organise this sector have been difficult; one interesting experience in Dakar occurred during a programme of fleet renewal. In parallel it is observed that there are positive but insufficient experiences of public transport authorities in some cities (Dakar, Abidjan) and similar projects postponed in other cities because of the institutional problems. One also observes the constant difficulties of designing sustainable schemes for bus companies. An answer to this crisis has been found in North Africa, through investment in new mass transport systems. However, mass transport projects in West Africa are very weak in comparison. The gap between public transport costs and income levels there remains a major obstacle to sustainable mobility exacerbated by the poverty of a significant part of the urban population in West Africa. Two other critical factors are also identified affecting sustainable mobility requirements, namely, the urban sprawl and increasing energy costs. Finally the conclusion recommends the use of research and expertise networks in order to help the design and the implementation of suited solutions.     

基于模拟首部的FlexRay车载适配器设计

FlexRay总线以其高带宽、时间触发机制、高可靠性和灵活性的优势,在汽车控制总线中应用越来越广泛,FlexRay总线与车上传统总线CAN及LIN总线之间的信息交互成为迫切需要解决的问题.本文针对此提出一种基于模拟首部添加的适配器,用于FlexRay总线与其他总线之间信息传递,根据FlexRay总线及其他车用总线的特点,设计了专门的模拟首部格式,将模拟首部和有效数据封装在FlexRay数据帧中,以车用混合动力系统为目标,搭建了实验平台,验证了适配器的功能与传输效果.本文所述的方法降低了中间网络适配器软件处理的复杂度,同时减少了系统时延.     

模拟泥石流中块状物分布的电容层析成像测量

电容层析成像（ECT）是一项基于电容敏感原理的过程成像技术,利用ECT方法,采用高黏度流体模拟泥石流,在球状及柱状容器注入酒精和泥沙,模拟泥石流中固体块状物质,通过自行设计制作的双电极传感器,在上下游截面同时获得块状物图像信息,利用互相关方法,计算固体块状物位置图像,对模拟泥石流中固体块状物的位置及运动进行可视化测量,为泥石流流动机制的研究探索合理而有效的途径.     

城市公交停保基地综合规划设计构想

大城市土地稀缺、交通拥堵严重、用地条件复杂、环境要求较高等特点为公交场站的规划设计提出了更多的挑战和难题,本文通过调研目前的国内大型城市公交停保基地,结合杭州阮家桥公交停保基地的设计．以创造和谐、绿色的示范性公交停保基地为目标,从环境、交通、工艺、场站形象、节能环保等方面进行了综合规划设计的探索和构想。     

基于应力优化的大客车结构多目标优化

对某全承载式大客车进行了结构有限元分析,研究了该客车结构强度、振动模态频率、质量等多个性能目标的优化设计问题.分析结果表明,该客车初始设计模型的刚度满足设计要求但应力较大.强度储备不足,因此采用优化结构最大应力的方法进行优化.经过两个阶段的优化设计,显著降低了结构最大应力.提高了一阶扭转频率,减轻了车身骨架质量,客车结构设计更为合理.     

我国新能源客车发展现状与对策研究

介绍了新能源客车的发展背景,根据动力来源的不同对新能源客车进行了分类,并介绍了国内新能源客车的主要产品,探讨了新能源客车的发展瓶颈并提出相应的对策建议。     

混合动力客车整车控制器硬件设计

基于模块化设计思想,介绍了混合动力客车整车控制器硬件设计。在Multisim 10．0和SEAT电路设计与分析功能辅助下,设计了电源模块、模拟信号输入模块、转速测量模块、开关量输入模块、通信模块。测试与调试结果均表明,所设计的整车控制器具有高精度、高速度和高可靠性,满足功能和性能要求。