BUXI: DEMAND-RESPONSIVE BUS EXPERIENCE IN THE NETHERLANDS

BUXI COMBINES FEATURES OF BUS AND TAXI. IT CAN BE CLASSIFIED AS A FIRST-PHASE, DEMAND-RESPONSIVE BUS SYSTEM. NEW SYSTEM THINKING IN HOLLAND HAS BEEN LEADING TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF A DECISION MODEL INVOLVING MANY-TO-FEW SERVICE FOR SUBURBS WITH 3,000 TO 7,000 POPULATION, AT DISTANCES OF 1 TO 2 MILES FROM TOWN CENTERS AND RAILWAY STATIONS, BY BUSES CARRYING 11 TO 23 PASSENGERS (11 SEATED). THERE WOULD BE SCHEDULED ROUTES AND TIMETABLES, AND NO SCHEDULED STOPS WOULD BE MADE EXCEPT AT TERMINALS. DOOR-STOP PICKUP AND DISCHARGE WOULD BE POSSIBLE EXTRAS. BUXI HAS BEEN OPERATING IN EMMEN ON AN EXPERIMENTAL BASIS SINCE MAY 1970. EXPERIENCE AND FINANCIAL RESULTS OF THIS PROJECT ARE DISCUSSED AND ILUSTRATED. THE PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED IN THE PROMOTION OF INNOVATION IN URBAN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ARE DISCUSSED. /AUTHOR/