Spatial analysis of bus rapid transit actual operating conditions: the case of Hangzhou City, China

Bus rapid transit (BRT), as a modern mode of transportation, plays an increasingly important role in urban public transport. A real-time vehicle positioning and passenger flow sensing system is developed to collect and process the high-frequency data of the BRT operation status and passenger flow at BRT stations. Based on the established spatial analysis model, the intersection delay, running state, passenger flow and stranded passengers of BRT are analyzed. The experiment showed the outcome had a high accuracy and strong reference. It provided the transit agency with a timely, detailed and accurate decision-making basis to grasp the true operation situation of the BRT and carry out each BRT scheduling task scientifically, so as to improve the management efficiency and service level of BRT.