In recent years, with the acceleration of urbanization and the diversification of personal travel modes, the passenger flow of public transportation, especially urban public transportation, has shown a significant downward trend. This phenomenon has sparked a wide discussion in all sectors of society about whether the "bus priority" policy should continue to be adhered to. I will talk about the reasons for the decline in passenger traffic, the significance of the bus priority policy, and how to adjust and optimize bus services in the new social context.
According to data released by the Ministry of Transport, in the first quarter of 2023, the national bus and tram completed 89 passenger traffic200 million person-times, a year-on-year decrease of 117%, down 48. from the same period in 201903%。According to expert analysis, the main reasons for the decline in passenger flow include the increase in the number of private cars, the rapid development of rail transit, and the rise of new travel modes such as online car-hailing and bicycle sharing. In addition, the impact of the epidemic has also led to a precipitous decline in public transport passenger traffic.
Despite the challenge of declining ridership, many experts and transport authorities believe that the bus priority policy must be adhered to. The core of the bus priority policy is to improve the service level and passenger experience of public transport, increase the attractiveness of public transport, so as to optimize the travel structure, reduce traffic congestion and environmental pollution.
The insistence on a bus-first policy is not unreasonable. First of all, as a public service, public transportation has the characteristics of foundation, public welfare, fairness and stability. Second, bus prioritization helps to maximize resource utilization and social benefits, especially in the context of increasing urban traffic congestion. However, in order to truly realize the priority of public transportation, it is necessary to give more support and guarantee in terms of finance, land, and right of way.
In the future, the optimization and innovation of urban public transport services will be the key to enhancing the attractiveness of public transport. For example, by increasing the density and frequency of the line network, the waiting environment is improved, the waiting time is shortened, and passenger satisfaction is continuously improved. At the same time, it is also necessary to take into account the fairness of the distribution of the right of way for different groups and different needs of travel modes.
To sum up, despite the decline in urban bus ridership, the bus priority policy still has its irreplaceable social value and significance. In the new socio-economic context, the first and public transport companies should work together to enhance the competitiveness and attractiveness of public transport through policy support and service innovation, so as to make it the first choice for public travel.