PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

Problems With Public Transportation

2011-11-30T04:33:00.000-08:00

Lots of people use public transportation everyday. Buses, train, LRT and other kind of public transportation used by million of peoples everyday around the world. Most of them are happy using this service, or at least satisfied with it. But in this article I will highlight the problem on public transportation worldwide. This problems coming from first hand experiences.

The first problem can be found is comes from its word, "public". There is going to be other people in the same vehicle. Do you want this? I'm sure not. But what can we do. Its a "public" transport. Don't get me wrong. It will be fun with other people around.

Second issue is travelers will stumble upon is the timing. we must adhere on the schedule of the transport. If late one minute, be prepare to wait another one hour next bus.

The last one is hygiene. So, you are finally sited and want to enjoy your surrounding? Think again. Also, the seat are always dirty to sit on.

That's all for this entry. Next time I will post about benifit of using ublic transportation.

note : posted by kitchenaid parts

Public Transportation In Berlin

2010-10-22T02:44:00.000-07:00

Our last post have discuss about public transportation in Germany. And for this entry, we also discuss about public transportation in Germany, but more specific in their capital city, Berlin. Berlin, is the capital city of Germany. Its famous with their historical sites, beautiful architecture structures and museum of arts. Many travelers love to go to Berlin because of enjoying fabulous tourist spot, has amazing public transport system. This enable travelers explore the whole city of Berlin. In Berlin also, every travelers has no problems in communicate with public transportation staff because they can speak in english. This make every travelers convenience to explore around Berlin city using public transportation.

Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) is the biggest public transportation system in Berlin. Its also known as the best mode of transportation when exploring Berlin city. It has three zone, that is underground, surface rail and tram. It only require one ticket for travelers to ride on this three zone.

This systems (BVG) will make sure that every tourist are enjoy and have a fun time during exploring the city. During at night also, many of locals and travelers from all over the world use Berlin's public transportation. This is because the convenience and its comfort its bring to every user. BVG will always improves their system, facilities and services to give full satisfaction for their user.

S-Bahn Berlin GmBH is the second largest transport service in Berlin. With their fifteen lines, its can give service to more than million passengers everyday. S-Bahn also always make sure that they give the best service for their passengers. They continuously improve their system, facilities and services. They also promote a clean and healthy environment by using sulfur free diesel.

Berlin is the perfect city that you can enjoy for your vacation. Travelers love to come this city again not because the beautiful of this city only, also they love with their public transportation service.

Notes : azim is the writer of this articles. His own kitchenaid blog, with the latest post is about kitchenaid mixer parts.

Public Transportation In Germany

2010-01-21T20:38:00.000-08:00

If you an america and you arrive in Germany, you can see the germany's public transportation is more efficient then in america. You can get this public transportation easily in anywhare and anytime. You also can buy a train ticket at your current location to your choosen destination. What is more amazing is this ticaket also valid for train, bus and taxi. This is so great.

azim from kitchenaid parts provide valuable information on Germany Travel derived from their own experiances in this Beautiful Country.

Public transport safety, availability assured during Lenten break

2009-04-09T11:09:00.000-07:00

THE SAFETY and availability of public transportation have been assured for travellers during the Holy Week break that begins Thursday and ends Sunday.

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is providing help desks and passenger assistance centers as well as tightening security at all ports nationwide for the heavy passenger traffic during the Lenten break.

PPA is also giving a 20% discount to senior citizens and students on passenger terminal fees at all of its ports nationwide starting Friday.

Senior citizens are required to present valid identification cards to avail of the discount, while students could only avail of the discount during the school year.

In a statement on Wednesday, PPA General Manager Oscar M. Sevilla said they have been directed "to adopt appropriate measures that would ensure the continued safety and convenience of ships, passengers, and cargoes in the ports."

Measures include the provisions of help desks and passenger assistance centers; and coordination with various government agencies for port safety and security, and contingency plans for possible power interruption.

The passenger assistance centers will be manned by PPA personnel and members of other agencies such as the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police Maritime Command and Maritime Industry Authority.

For its part, the Department of Transportation and Communication (DoTC) will also set up road safety assistance centers during the break.

Called "Oplan Semana Santa 2009," the scheme will run from April 5-12 and will "ensure the convenience and safety of passengers going to the provinces during the Lenten season."

Through hot line 7890, the DoTC will maintain a 24-hour help desk and assistance network at all land, air and sea passenger terminals nationwide.

To accommodate heavy road traffic, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has also issued 240 special permits to bus operators nationwide effective April 5-13. LTFRB granted 153 additional bus units to operate in Northern Luzon, 18 in the Bicol Region, 35 in Southern Luzon and 34 in Visayas.

For those taking the elevated railway system, the Light Rail Transit lines 1 (Caloocan City to Pasay City) and 2 (Santolan in Pasig City to Recto in Manila), and the Metro Rail Transit (Pasay to SM North in Quezon City) will not operate on April 9-12. Services will resume on April 13.

Meanwhile, Victor I. Luciano, president and chief executive officer of the Clark International Airport and member of the air panel conducting talks with other countries on air service agreements, said on Wednesday airports nationwide have been ordered by the DoTC-Transportation and Security Administration (DoTC-TSA) to ramp up security.

"Airports have been put on tighter security due to the high number of passengers during Lent. We are now extra strict for the check-in baggages," he said in an interview.

Aside from the DoTC-TSA, airport securities are also coordinating with the Philippine National Police Aviation Security group. Mr. Luciano said airports nationwide increase their manpower by about 30%-40% during Holy Week.

Journal and Periodical List

2009-04-06T09:26:00.000-07:00

these are some journals that might help you all understanding about transport and public transport:

Journal of Public Transportation
Produces its own transportation oriented studies and results.

Journal of Transportation Engineering
Provides information on many different aspects of the transportation field.

Journal of Transportation and Statistics
Is a U.S. DOT sponsored journal concerning the use and effects of transportation in society.

Journal of the Transportation Research Forum
Produced by a group of various transportation workers and address issues facing
transportation works, projects, and organizations today.

Journal of Urban Planning and Development
Discusses aspects associated with transportation planning and development in urban areas.

Studies Analyzing the Influence of Urban Form on Transit Patronage

2009-04-04T15:49:00.001-07:00

TCRP Report 16, published in 1996, presents results from Project H‐1, An Evaluation of the
Relationships between Transit and Urban Form. Report 16 consists of two volumes, each
containing two reports. The first volume includes a comprehensive literature review of studies
analyzing the relationship between transit and urban form for the period to 1995. The second
volume consists of a practitioner’s guidebook on patterns of development that encourage
transit patronage and on mode accessibility and catchment areas for rail transit.
The most important work prior to Report 16 is Pushkarev and Zupan (1977). This
publication presented “land‐use thresholds” at which different types of transit were feasible
investments. The methodology used single‐equation ordinary least square (OLS) regression
analysis. The choice of this method was dictated by the paucity of data available at the time as
well as the desire to present results as nomograms. A nomogram is a graph with which one can
find the value of a dependent variable given the values of two or more independent variables,
with only the use of a straightedge. The nomograms were designed to facilitate a planner’s
choice of a feasible transit alternative, given values of current or expected density levels and
other relevant variables.
The determinants of transit demand used by Pushkarev and Zupan were the size of the
central business district (CBD), measured in non‐residential floor space; the distance of a site
from the CBD; and residential density. The study also accounted for socio‐demographic
characteristics affecting transit patronage, such as vehicle ownership levels, household size and
income.
There are problems with this study as well as with a later one by Pushkarev and Zupan,
(1982). As part of this review, CUTR researchers tried to replicate numerical examples in the
study, but encountered several problems that made replication impossible. These problems
are similar to those of papers reviewed later. An important example of such a problem is the
lack of a formalized behavioral framework, a deficiency that in turn results in poorly specified
empirical equations.
In a subsequent update of their 1977 study, Pushkarev and Zupan (1982), examined the
feasibility of fixed guide‐way transit under the assumption that all work travel was to the CBD.
This assumption would be quite restrictive today, given the multi‐centered character of many
metropolitan regions.
Multicollinearity impairs the reliability of these estimates, as recognized by the authors
themselves. Also, lack of causality is a problem, for the estimated elasticities merely support a
direct relationship between transit patronage and population density. This causality problem,
which affects most findings in this research field, is discussed in a later section of this report.
Finally, the authors do not employ a model that accounts for inherent, unobserved regionspecific
characteristics that might affect the reliability of estimates. A fixed effect model
controlling for transit provider unobserved heterogeneity could provide a superior model.
Using Report 16 as a reference, Kuby et al. (2004) analyze the determinants of light rail
transit ridership with a multiple regression model using weekday boardings for 268 stations in
nine cities. For each city, five categories of independent variables accounting for land‐use and
other factors are used. The authors hypothesize that employment within walking distance of
each station is the most important factor for work trips. The model also controls for the
relevance of nearby airports and for city‐specific unobserved effects that might affect weekly
boarding, such as the presence of an international airport. The study finds that an increase of
100 persons employed within walking distance of a station increases boarding by 2.3
passengers per day while an increase of 100 persons residing within walking distance of a
station increases boardings by 9.2 passengers per day. The study also finds higher residential
population to be associated with higher weekly boardings and that the CBD variable is not
statistically significant, indicating that centrality is no longer relevant in determining light rail
ridership. This result could, however, be due to faulty test statistics produced by the high
correlation between the model’s measures of centrality and the CBD dummy.
Kuby et al. made some important improvements to the methodology of Report 16. First,
they captured the effect of the CBD on boardings by introducing a dummy variable for CBD
location. In contrast, Report 16 only examined ridership at non‐CBD stations. Second, Kuby et
al. included employment near non‐CBD stations. Report 16 included employment within the CBD, but it ignored employment around other stations. Third, they included accessibility to
non‐CBD stations. Report 16 computed distances from the stations to the CBD, but it ignored
stations’ accessibility to other stations. Finally, Kuby et al. used residential population within
CBD as an independent variable, while Report 16 did not.

report : Integrating Transit and Urban Form
page : 7 - 11

Cities must reduce road traffic to save young lives

2009-03-22T09:09:00.001-07:00

21 October 2003: The consequences of transport for health affect most of the population, not just drivers and passengers in motor vehicles. In Europe, air pollution accounts for about 100,000 premature deaths in adults annually; emissions from road traffic make up a significant share of this pollution. Each year, traffic accidents still kill about 120,000 people (a third of them aged under 25 years), and cause some 2.5 million injuries.

In addition, noise affects people physiologically and psychologically: about 120 million people in the European Union (more than 30 per cent of its total population) are exposed to seriously annoying road traffic noise levels above. More than 50 million people are exposed to noise levels considered to be detrimental to health. Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for ill health, and is associated to 5 to 10 per cent of deaths in Europe, where 20 to 30 per cent of adults are estimated to be obese.

Children are particularly vulnerable to traffic-related health effects, including injuries. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), road traffic accidents are the leading cause of death among children aged 5 to 14 years in high-income European countries and rank third, after war injuries and acute lower respiratory diseases, in medium- and low-income countries. Air pollution exacerbates asthma attacks and bronchitis episodes, while exposure to lead in fuel can have neuro-developmental effects. Exposure to high levels of noise at school reduce attention and may interfere with learning skills. In addition, along with diet, the lack of physical activity is the main risk factor in the mounting epidemic of obesity and overweight in European children.

Using healthy and sustainable transport alternatives can reduce the negative effects of transport on human health. This is why the WHO supported European Mobility Week (EMW), which took place on 16 to 22 September 2003 in hundreds of cities across Europe and culminated in the event ‘Car Free Day’.

salam..

2009-03-20T08:28:00.000-07:00

to all my beloved frens..
i'm very sorry 4 not post any news..
haha..
hope u all wait 4 my new post..

10-steps to improve public transport for the whole Malaysia

2008-12-25T11:38:00.000-08:00

With the recent decrease in the fuel subsidy, many people have complained that they would be willing to use public transportation if it were improved. They are calling loudly and clearly to the government to improve public transportation. We must look at other places and see what they have done to improve their public transport system. However, it must be clearly understood that there is a right way and a wrong way to improve public transportation in Malaysia. Belows are the suggestion to improve public transportation in Malaysia.

1) A Parliamentary Committee for Public Transportation must be created to oversee public transportation in Malaysia.

The existing Cabinet Committee does not have the confidence of the people of Malaysia (or, I imagine, Parliament itself). The presence of a Parliamentary Committee will improve confidence in public transportation. Planning and decision making will be improved through open planning and discussion. The Committee will help the MPs and the public to understand the proposals from the bus operators and the government, so the best plans are made.

2) A single National Authority for Public Transporation to create national standards, while Local and Regional Public Transportation Authorities will plan and implement strategies on the local level.

Public transport planning is invariably a local and/or regional service. It would not be possible for the proposed Suruhanjaya Pengangkutan Awam Negara (SPAN) to plan and oversee public transportation properly. Thus, each economic region of the country should have its own Local or Regional Public Transport Authority to own the bus routes and transport corridors and plan the future of public transportation.

3) Regulated Competition would be enhanced under the system provided.

The Public Transport Authority would own the buses and provide capital funding, while the operators would be required to compete for routes. This combination of regulation and competition would improve service levels and provide better, customer-focused services. Operators that could not meet the expectations of the Local Authority or the passengers would lose the routes to their competitors.

4) Proper funding for maintenance and expansion.

Since it started operating in 1995, the KTM Komuter service has been horribly neglected. The fleet size has decreased by 50% while passenger demand has actually tripled. Poor planning and oversight has left KTMB unprepared for the expanded passenger demands. An open Parliamentary Committee would be able to review the plans of the operators and proposals and make the necessary investments to improve public transportation.

5) Only a few operators, please

Competition is hurting public transportation in Malaysia. The only way that we can see real improvements is to reduce competition within the industry and focus on consolidation. The largest bus company, Konsortium Transnasional Berhad, is a good example of this consolidation. It offers express and intercity and urban bus services through its different branches and brands. Konsortium Bas Ekspres on the other hand, shows you what happens when there is consolidation without proper regulation. Konsortium Bas Ekspres has become notorious for bus crashes, underpaid and reckless drivers, and poor maintenance. The government should encourage existing operators to form properly regulated conglomerates like KTB. Under the proposed system of regulated competition, the Local Authority can even (with proper justification) invite foreign transport companies like First and Veolia and ComfortDelGro to compete for bus routes tendered in their areas.

6) Proper information

Malaysians are, ironically, being restricted by companies that are supposed to provide them mobility. Bus operators and even government operators like RapidKL, KL Monorail, and KTMB are doing everything in their power to keep passengers using their services-even at the expense of passenger convenience. Bus operators only provide basic route information and only on the bus itself. RapidKL has discouraged the sale of integrated public transport maps like BastrenKL at LRT stations and bus hubs. In addition, for RapidKL to provide route information at a bus stop or give updates on the radio, they are forced to pay advertising rates. With little or no comprehensive information available to public transport users, their ability to use the services and maximize their ringgit is severly limited. When the local Public Transport Authorities are created they should be expected to provide information through signs on bus stops, the internet, news-spots on broadcasting and narrowcasting, free paper guides, downloadable route maps, and sms services. This will help information reach the customers.

7) More buses and train carriages

Most people would think that this should be further up in the list but I disagree. We cannot build public transportation without realistic demands and proper data. Without these vital pieces of information, our planning is reduced to "If we build it, they will come". There are enough buses in the Klang Valley (shared among the major and minor bus operators) to meet all of the needs to the DBKL. These buses need to be better organized so they do not only focus on the profitable routes and do not spend most of their time waiting for passengers. Only a local public transport authority which owns the routes and controls the buses would be able to implement a successful system. If we rely on the operators themselves to organize and improve services, nothing will happen.

8) Build better public transport from the bottom up

Bus lanes are not a popular solution among drivers. But we have to realize that bus lanes and bus rapid transit system are a solution that will work for the Klang Valley and throughout Malaysia. Rather than spending all our funds in the Klang Valley alone, we should be thinking about improving public transportation throughout the country. To give you an understanding of this, consider the 120km of rail lines proposed in the KLCity2020 Draft Plan. Most of these lines will cost RM200-300 million per km. It will cost a total of RM 40 billion to build all of these lines, but the capacity will be the same as the existing KL Monorail and Kelana Jaya LRT. However, if the 120km of lines were built as a mix of Bus Rapid Transit and Rapid Tram lines, they could be built for RM40-75 million per km or approximately 7-10 billion, which would spare another RM30 billion for the rest of the country!

9) A complete mass-transit network

Mass-transit networks are vital for urban and suburban areas. Each economic region of Malaysia should have a complete public transport network and the backbone of this network comes from rail services. Instead of focusing on building "more lines" and "more extensions" the goal should be completing the network as quickly and effectively as possible. Once effective, rapid networks are in place, we can plan and upgrade capacity on the various lines. One day we will need more LRT and KTM Komuter in the Klang Valley, Rapid Trams in Georgetown, and Johor, and KTM Komuter Udara, Selatan and Timur, and high speed rail networks in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah and Sarawak. But until then, we have to focus on building realistic demand for public transportation services.

10) Affordable and reasonable fares

I disagree with any proposal that says that bus fares and public transport fares must be subsidized. Most people would assume that the "lower-income group" comprise the majority of public transport users, and therefore subsidies would be necessary. However, this only perpetuates the image that public transport is for the lower-income group and the poor.

The fact is that low fares have brought us into this situation of low-quality service. Effectively, we get what we pay for. So if we wish to see public transportation improve, we will have to invest more money into our services and that includes higher fares.

At the same time, higher fares do not have to be a burden. Under the system of regulated competition, the local authority would be able to run the fare system and they would be the best choice to implement the subsidy for operators. The local authority can also provide support to the needy in the form of free bus passes or discounted bus passes. They can also encourage fare-saving promotions, fare discounts for using Touch N Go, and even income tax credits for those who purchase monthly and weekly passes.

Credit to kitchenaid parts for giving this nice ideas.

2008-12-23T12:14:00.000-08:00

Local Buses – Japan

In Tokyo, Osaka and some other large cities, buses serve as a secondary means of public transportation, complementing the train and subway networks. In cities with less dense train networks like Kyoto, buses are the main means of public transportation.
Buses also serve smaller towns, the countryside and national parks. Major cities are, furthermore, linked by highway and long distance buses.

TRANSPORTATION IN JAPAN

2008-12-23T12:04:00.000-08:00

Domestic Air Travel – Japan

Airlines

Domestic air travel is dominated by the JAL Group and the ANA Group, which each consist of several airlines and serve over fifty airports across the country. In addition, there are several smaller airline companies competing with JAL and ANA on the country's most popular routes.
JAL Group (Japan Airlines)

The JAL Group consists of JAL Domestic and JAL International, as well as of several smaller airlines including Japan Transocean Air, Hokkaido Air System, Ryukyu Air Commuter and others. The JAL Group serves over 60 airports in Japan and operates approximately 650 domestic flights each day.
ANA Group (All Nippon Airways)
The ANA Group consists of All Nippon Airways, as well as several smaller airlines such as Air Nippon. The ANA Group serves over 50 airports in Japan and operates approximately 850 domestic flights each day.

Airports

Tokyo's Haneda Airport is by far Japan's busiest airport, handling most of the capital's domestic flights. Tokyo's Narita Airport handles mostly international flights and only a very small number of domestic flights.
Osaka's Kansai Airport serves both, international and domestic flights. It took over a large share of traffic (mainly international) formerly handled by Osaka's second airport, Itami Airport. Nevertheless, Itami Airport remains Japan's second busiest hub for domestic air traffic.
Other major airports in Japan include Nagoya's Central Japan Airport, Fukuoka Airport, Sapporo's Shin-Chirose Airport, Kobe Airport and Okinawa's Naha Airport. See a few more important airports on the map below:

TRANSPORTATION IN JAPAN

2008-12-22T19:51:00.000-08:00

Public Transportation – Japan

Japan has an efficient public transportation network, especially within metropolitan areas and between the large cities. Japanese public transportation is characterized by its punctuality, its superb service, and the large crowds of people using it.

Trains - Japan

Japan's four major islands, Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku are covered by an extensive and reliable network of railways. Trains are a very convenient way for visitors to travel around Japan, especially in conjunction with the Japan Rail Pass.
About 70 percent of Japan's railway network is owned and operated by the Japan Railways (JR), while the remaining 30 percent belongs to dozens of other private railway companies, especially in and around metropolitan areas.

Information on Sea Transportation - Malaysia

2008-12-21T21:57:00.000-08:00

Many popular island destinations like Langkawi, Pangkor, Redang and Tioman are linked to the mainland by regular ferry services. Other smaller islands are accessible by fishing boats, which may be chartered.

Ferry services are also available from Tanjung Belungkor, Kukup, Desaru, Johor Bahru Duty Free Zone and Sebana Cove (all in Johor) to the neighbouring islands in the south and from Butterworth to Penang.
There are a number of cruise liners which call onMalaysian ports. One of which, Star Cruises is Malaysian-owned and operated.

Information on Air Transport - Malaysia

2008-12-21T21:53:00.000-08:00

The Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is known throughout the region and is recognized as one of the more modern airports in the world. Along with other international airports in Penang, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu and domestic airports in most state capitals, access to air travel is readily available to many.
In addition, KLIA also has a Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) designed specifically for low cost carriers. Located 20km from the main terminal, the LCCT can be accessed by car, train and bus.

Malaysia Airlines, the national carrier, currently flies to many destinations worldwide. It provides access to other states within both Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia.
Asia's most popular budget airline, Air Asia started and is based in Malaysia. Air Asia flies to many locations both domestically and regionally.

Information on Public Land Transport - Malaysia

2008-12-21T21:49:00.001-08:00

Buses and taxis are most popular form of transport in Malaysia. Air-conditioned express buses and non-air-conditioned regional buses are available from Kuala Lumpur to many other towns in Peninsular Malaysia, and also between other towns and cities in Malaysia. Buses connecting towns and cities throughout the country charge fares according to the distance covered.
City taxis are required by law to use the meter. There are also minivan type taxis for carrying larger parties and these fares are usually higher.
There is a system of Light Rail Transit (LRT) and a monorail service in Kuala Lumpur.

Limousine and taxi services are available from the airport to hotels in the city as well as other locations. There is also the option of taking the Express Rail Link (ERL) from Kuala Lumpur International Airport to Kuala Lumpur Sentral Station, which is located close to the city.
Interstate taxis are an inexpensive and fast way to travel from one state to another. The interstate taxi stand in Kuala Lumpur is located on the level 2 of the Pudu Raya Bus Terminal.
Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTM) has a rail network that stretches from north to south and east to west in Peninsular Malaysia. There is a system of light rail transit (LRT) and monorail service in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. KTM offers several special deals for tourists.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

2008-12-20T20:02:00.000-08:00

Public transport (or public transportation, public transit or mass transit) comprises passenger transportation services which are available for use by the general public, as opposed to modes for private use such as automobiles or vehicles for hire. Some services are free though most charge some sort of fare.
Public transportation can consist of buses, subways, trolleys and light rail, commuter trains, van pool services, paratransit services for senior citizens and people with disabilities, ferries, water taxis, or monorails.

Public transport is provided by a company or authority that operate a fleet of vehicles. They may or may not be regulated or subsidized by authorities. The infrastructure used may be exclusive, or shared with private vehicles. Higher public transport ridership is generally seen in urban areas, and less in North America and Australia. The environmental impact of public transport is lower than private due to less use of land area and energy, at the same time reducing sprawl. Public transportation systems are also significantly safer than private road systems.

QUALITY OF LIFE

2008-12-15T05:49:00.000-08:00

Quality of life is the degree of well-being felt by an individual or group of people. Unlike standard of living, quality of life is not a tangible thing, and so cannot be measured directly. It consists of two components: physical and psychological. The physical aspect includes things such as health, diet, and protection against pain and disease. The psychological aspect includes stress, worry, pleasure and other positive or negative emotional states.

Component in Quality of Life

housing quality
housing environment
public transportation
public savety
economic aspect
infrastructure and public facilities
community / social aspect
health
education
governance /participating planning