Start with the operating profile, then the seats
A school route has different requirements from an excursion or an employee shuttle. Start with a typical week. For each journey, record the start, destination, stops, passenger numbers and the time by which arrival is actually needed. Separate regularly occupied seats from occasional peaks.
List luggage, pushchairs, wheelchairs and accompanying people as requirements in their own right. A seating capacity that works on paper does not yet show whether boarding will work. Door positions, manoeuvring space and compatibility with the stops also belong in the profile. These questions are worth asking before choosing a particular vehicle.
An example, not a finished timetable
A THOUGHT EXPERIMENT
A group of 46 people travels to the same destination in the morning. Under the assumed conditions, the journey takes 35 minutes. A total of 15 minutes is allowed for boarding and alighting. Adding ten minutes of planning reserve produces a 60-minute time slot.
| Journey | 35 minutes |
|---|---|
| Boarding and alighting | 15 minutes |
| Assumed buffer | 10 minutes |
| Total time slot | 60 minutes |
These figures are freely chosen assumptions. In practice, traffic, walking to the stop and individual assistance may require more time. Test the whole process, rather than just the driving time.
The bus moves on. So does the plan.
- Before the first journey
Clarify the handover, vehicle condition, documents and how to reach the people responsible.
- Between two assignments
Explicitly allow for empty running, turnaround time, cleaning, energy supply and possible delays.
- At the end of the day
Record departures from the plan. Recurring bottlenecks belong in the next planning cycle, rather than permanently consuming the time buffer.
A clear vehicle schedule gives each block a single purpose. Otherwise, several apparently free gaps may turn out to be the very same reserve.
Five questions for a robust plan
- Has peak occupancy actually been recorded, or only estimated?
- Do the vehicle and stops work together in wet weather too?
- Do the time slots include empty journeys and handovers?
- Is there a clear procedure if a vehicle becomes unavailable?
- Who may change a plan, and how will those involved find out?
Keep assumptions separate from confirmed information. This makes it easier to establish later whether a departure from the plan arose from demand, the route or an overly tight time allowance.
Planning needs an on-site check
This page explains ways of thinking. It does not replace a route inspection or checks of vehicle authorisation, conditions of carriage and applicable requirements. Those involved must clarify responsibilities and the actual operating conditions themselves. Calm, transparent planning provides a better basis for that discussion.
Contact
Which planning question matters most in your everyday bus operations? Email us with a general question or an editorial comment on the methods described.
