Search

The holding strategy performs well in resisting bus bunching in the dedicated bus route. Yet, its efficiency in a non-dedicated bus route has not been well studied, and its external effects on other road participants are unclear. We study this topic in a circular two-lane traffic system consisting of buses and cars. A cellular automaton model is used to depict the vehicles' dynamic behaviors. By numerical simulations, we obtained the phase diagram of the bus system, and identified the four states concerning the stability and level of service. Then we analyzed the flow and velocity characteristics and distinguished three states of the traffic system. Our simulations prove the separation effect of car flows on the bus headway regulation. Combined with this effect, the holding strategy makes the bus running more homogeneous and the bus utilization more evenly in the mixed traffic flow condition. Interestingly, from a macro perspective, the holding strategy incurs no detrimental effects on the whole traffic system, though it might intensify local interference between buses and cars near bus stops. Under certain conditions, the average speed of buses and cars increases, eventually increasing the system's capacity. • Interference between buses and cars in mixed traffic flow conditions is analyzed. • Bus operating states with and without the holding are investigated. • The bus line characters and traffic conditions determine the holding effeteness. • External effects of the bus holdings on the car flows are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the interactions between buses and cars traveling along a two-lane bus corridor. The dynamic behavior of these two kinds of vehicles is mimicked using a cellular automata model. A phase diagram of the operation of buses is obtained, and four phases are identified: (I) homogeneous and sufficient capability, (II) homogeneous and insufficient capability, (III) bunching and sufficient capability, and (IV) bunching and insufficient capability. In addition, the flow characteristics of cars are explored and the phase transition from a free-flow region to a saturated-flow region is observed. The latter relies not only on the probability of cars entering the corridor, but also on bus operation conditions due to the bottleneck effect. Interestingly, we find that the stability of bus fleets does not always deteriorate as a result of a higher probability of cars entering the corridor. In the case of high travel demand and frequent bus service, there is actually less variation in bus headway. • The mixed traffic flow dynamics of buses and cars are investigated. • A cellular automata model with open boundary is proposed. • Phase diagram of bus operation is obtained and four phases are identified. • Phase transition from free-flow to saturation-flow is observed for cars. • The stability of bus operation is not always deteriorated by the cars' influence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]