STUDIES ON BUS SERVICES AND PASSENGER DEMAND

SUSTAINABILITY

MUhAMMAD ADIB BIN MAHMUD

A thesis submitted in fulfillment of the

requirements for the award of the degree of
Bachelor of Civil Engineering

Faculty of Civil Engineering & Earth Resources

University Malaysia Pahang

DECEMBER 2010
 ABSTRACT

People along Kuantan - Gambang road always have a problem to get bus transportation. They
need to wait for a long time to get a bus service. Sometimes, the bas that pass by the Kuantan
- Gambang road is always late to arrive at a certain destination. This will make many of
people would use personal transport rather than using the bus transportation. Extension from
this, the rate of congestion along Kuantan - Gambang road will keep increasing causing by the
personal transport such as car, motocycle, van and Lorries. Beside, the facilities for the bus
such as bus stop, is not enough. Certain place did not have a bus stop although the passenger
always waits for bus at that place. The comfortable of bus passenger must be maintained so
that the quality of bus service could be enhanced and this will attract more passengers to use
the bus. This study is to identify the time for bus journey for bus that pass by the Kuantan -
Gambang road in certain time, the total passenger use the bus, and identify a suitable
location to place a bus stop and the frequency of bus stop use by the passenger. A special
table has been made to collect the data such as time, total passenger, type of bus, list of bus
stop along Kuantan - Gambang road and bus schedule for arrive and depart to Kuantan town.
Passenger calculation for on or off from the bus is already use in developed countries to
measure the rate of bus usage as well as enchanced the management of bus staff from time
to time. This calculation is use in building such as library, the supermarket, commuter station,
and airport. The result of studies show that the rate of bus usage in Gambang area is not
encouraging because of lack in bus facilities and the time for bus Journey is not suitable. From
this studies, the bus schedule could be identify, total passenger use the bus and bus stop can
be provide in a strategic location can be identify. Thus, i would like to proposed so that this
studies is applies for each transport services such as train, airport, and bus especially to
increase the rate of bus usage in Malaysia.
 ABSTRAK

Penduduk di sepanjang jalan kuantan - gambang sering mengalami masalah untuk

mendapatkan pengangkutan awam. mereka perlu menunggu lama untuk menaiki bas
awam. kadang kala, bas yang rnelalui jalan gambang - kuantan mi tiba lewat di
destinasi tertentu. mi membuatkan ramai memilih untuk mempunyai kenderaan sendiri
sebagai pengangkutan mereka. Lanjutan daripada itu, kadar kesesakan lalu lintas di
sepanjang jalan kuantan - gambang akan terus meningkat akibat penggunaan
kenderaan peribadi mi. Selain itu, kemudahan untuk bas seperti perhentian bas didapati
tidak mencukupi. Sesetengah tempat tidak mempunyai perhentian bas waihal tempat
tersebut mempunyai ramai penumpang bas. Keselesaan pengguna bas mi perlu dijaga
supaya kualiti perkhidmatan bas dapat dipertingkatkan seterusnya dapat menarik lebih
ramai penumpang untuk menggunakan bas. tujuan kajian mi adalah untuk meneliti
waktu perjalanan bas yang melalui Jalan Kuantan - Gambang pada sesuatu masa,
jumlah penumpang yang menggunakan bas untuk pergi ke sesuatu tempat dan tempat
yang sesuai untuk disediakan perhentian bas dan kekerapan perhentian bas itu
digunakan oleh penumpang. Jadual yang khas dibuat untuk mengutip data seperti masa,
jumlah penumpang, jenis bas, senarai perhentian bas sepanjang jalan Kuantan -
Gambang, dan jadual bas bertolak dan sampai ke Bandar Kuantan. Pengiraan
penumpang didalam bas yang menaiki bas dan turun bas sudah digunakan di Negara
maju untuk mengukur tahap penggunaan bas selain meningkatkan kecekapan
pengurusan bas dari semasa ke semasa. Pengiraan mi juga banyak digunakan di
bangunan seperti perpustakaan, pasaraya besar dan di stesen komuter. Hasil kajian
mendapati bahawa kadar penggunaan bas di kawasan Gambang adalah tidak
memberangsangkan kerana kekurangan kemudahan pengangkutan bas dan waktu
pergerakan bas yang tidak sesuai. Melalui kajian mi, waktu bas perjalanan bas dapat
dikenalpasfi, jumlah penumpang yang memerlukan bas dan penyediaan perhentian bas
di tempat yang sesuai dapat dikenalpasti. Justeru itu, adalah dicadangkan agar kajian
mi digunapakai di setiap pengangkutan awam seperti bas khususnya untuk
meningkatkan tahap penggunaan bas di seluruh Malaysia.
 TABLE OF CONTENT

Page

SUPERVISOR DECLARATION I

STUDENTS DECLARATION II

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT In

ABSTRACTS iv

ABSTRAK V

TABLE OF CONTENT VII

LIST OF FIGURES Xl

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 Background Study I

1.2 Problem Statement 3

1.3 Objective 3

1.4 Scope of Study 3

1.5 Significant of Study 4

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 5

2.1 Introduction 5

2.2 Public Transport 5

2.3 Element of bus transportation 6

2.4 Bus station 6

2.5 Vehicle 6

2,6 Reliability 7
CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY 8
3.1 Introduction 8
3.2 Outline Methodology 9

3.3 Data Methodology io

3.3.1 Site visit to Jalan Kuantan - Gambang to verify initial opinion and assumption and 10
to collect data services and passenger demand

3.3.2 Proper data methodology as to carry out the systematic data collection 10
3.3.2.1 Route and bus facilities identifying 11
3.3.2.2 Survey 1: Quantity of bus and frequency of buses, passenger on bus 11
3.3.3.3 Survey 2: Quantity of passenger in Rahmat Alam bus for one day 11
3.3.4 Data Analysis 12
3.3.5 Balance of Bus Service and Passenger Demand 12
3.3.6 Evaluation of passenger demand 13
3.3.7 Proposal for improvement of bus service and sustainability of passenger demand 13
CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND ANALYSIS 14
4.1 Introduction 14
4.2 Survey 1: Quantity of buses and frequency of buses, passenger on bus 15
4.2.1 Time versus number of buses 15
4.2.2 Time versus passenger 17
4.3 Survey 2: Quantity of passenger in Rahmat Alam bus for one day 18
4.3.1 Number of passenger on/off at morning, afternoon and evening at different bus stop 18
4.3.2 Graph of passenger by gender 23
4.3.3 Chart of percentage of passenger by time 28
4.3.4 Graph of passenger versus time 29
CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 32
5.1 Introduction 32
5.2 Conclusion 32
5.3 Recommendation 34
REFERENCES 35

APPENDIX A 37
APPENDIX B 39
APPENDIX C 52

APPENDIX D 54
 LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE TITLE PAGE

NO.

Figure 1.1 Indicate the Study location 4

Figure 2.1 Bus company 7

Figure 3.1 Outline Methodology 9

Figure 4.1a Time versus number of buses (Kuantan to Gambang) 15

Figure 4. lb Time versus number of bus (Gambang to Kuantan) 15

Figure 4.2a Time versus passenger (Kuantan to Gambang) 17

Figure 4.2b Time versus passenger (Gambang to Kuantan) 17

Figure 4.3a No of passenger on/off (morning) from Kuantan to 19

Gambang

Figure 4.3b No of passenger on/off (morning) from Gambang to 19

Kuantan

Figure 4.4a No of passenger on/off (afternoon) from Kuantan to 20

Gambang

Figure 4.4b No of passenger on/off (afternoon) from Gambang to 21

Kuantan

Figure 4.5a No of passenger on/off (evening) from Kuantan to 22

Gambang

Figure 4.5b No of passenger on/off (evening) from Gambang to 22

Kuantan

Figure 4.6a Percentage of passenger by gender at morning from 24

Kuantan to Gambang

Figure 4.6b Percentage of passenger by gender at morning from 24

Gambang to Kuantan
Figure 4.7a Percentage of passenger by gender at afternoon from 25
Kuantan to Gambang

Figure 4.7b Percentage of passenger by gender at afternoon from 26

Gambang to Kuantan

Figure 4.8a Percentage of passenger by gender at evening from 26

Kuantan to Gambang

Figure 4.8b Percentage of passenger by gender at evening from 27

Gambang to Kuantan

Figure 4.9a Percentage of passenger by time from Kuantan to 28

Gambang

Figure 4.9b Percentage of passenger by time from Gambang to 28

Kuantan

Figure 4.10a Graph of passenger versus time (Kuantan to 29

Gambang)

Figure 4.1Ob Graph of passenger versus time (Gambang to 30

Kuantan)
 CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background study

Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available

for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as Taxicab and car
pooling which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.

Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams and trains, 'rapid
transit' (metro/subways/undergrounds etc) and ferries. Intercity public transport is
dominated by airlines, coaches, and intercity rail. High-speed rail networks are
being developed in man)' parts of the world. Bus travel in the UK has been in
decline since 1950, when it was the dominant mode of transport (G. Wall, M.
McDonald; 2007).

Most public transport runs to a scheduled timetable with the most frequent
services running to headway. Share taxi offers on-demand services in many parts of
the world and some services will wait until the vehicle is full before it starts.
 2

Paratransit is sometimes used in areas of low-demand and for people who need a
door-to-door service.

In Malaysia, the public transportation especially bus is a one of a good

transportation that is use as a second transport. It is commonly use by the moderate
and poor community. The local bus can be a high potential transport that can lead to
the development of the economy, society and tourist if the bus service is excellent
in terms of condition, time schedule, and bus route. In addition, the public transport
can reduce the number of vehicle in Kuantan and avoid the traffic jam.

The usage of private car in Malaysia has increased by about 40% as evidenced
from the 2002 vehicle registrations in the country (PDRM 2002). The rapid
increase in the use of personal transportation has its roots in the weak Malaysian
public transport system. As a result, traffic congestion, accidents, air pollution and
need for parking space, among others, have escalated.

As we can see in paper or news, the issue about the bus service always
appear. The issue is still cannot be solve due to the economy and environmental
surrounding. As an example, the safety of bus cannot be sure because the bus driver
drive at over limit speed that recommended by Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (JPJ).
Therefore, the research about the bus services and passenger demand is made to
solve and improve the problem.
 3

1.2 Problem statement

The issue that faced by is when the bus is in excess capacity when the certain
time, but in another time is partially full or empty for 2 ways route. Correct timing
for passenger to use the bus is not known and realise and in addition, the bus
service has not received the good response from the passenger. The bus stop
location also not too strategic, mean that there is no passenger use the bus stop and
passenger would like to depart at certain location.

1.3 Project objectives

a) This study is made to identify the bus stop that is often use, are not always
use and the location that usually passenger off but the bus stop doesn't
provided.
b) Identify the route of bus that use Gambang- Kuantan road as a bus route, the
number of passenger in a bus and time for bus arrived in Gambang.
c) To identify the time for Rahmat Alam bus begin to departing, total
passenger to on or off from the Rahmat Alam bus by gender.

1.4 Scope of study

The research will be focused on the studies of bus service and passenger demand
sustainability conditions. Identifying the problems and issue will be made for
evaluation, continuous research and improve the quality of the bus services in
Kuantan, Pahang.. The scope of work also includes about the total of bus stop along
the Kuantan - Gambang road and the type of road.
 4

Figure 1: Indicate the Study Location

1.5 Significant of studies:

From the study, we can learn and know the situation of the bus services in Kuantan,
Pahang. Furthermore, the most important thing is that we can provide and improve
the quality of bus services and supply while make a local bus is the first choices
that passenger use. This is because that, most of the citizen use a car as a primary.
transportation. Other than that, we can avoid the high congestion in the road and
reduce the accident from the car.
 5

CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Introduction

This chapter is discussing about the literature review on the important of

public transportation in urban area and sub urban area. It will include about the
facilities for bus, bus services, bus route, and passenger of bus.

2.2 Public Transport

Transport services are one sector that contributes to the variety of economic
development in our country. A similar situation also occurs in developed countries
and other developing countries. Thus, development and research on public
transport, particularly bus services should be given, priority and attention.
Nowadays, John Disney (1998) said that the public transport industry is one of the
most completive sectors in the UK with airlines, rail and bus operators all facing
stiff competition not only from their direct rivals but also from other modes and
private transport.
 6

Supply bus is a bus service used to send passengers to the intended

destination. Total supply buses are provided depending on the amount and rate of
requests from residents in the vicinity of Kuantan. bus transit is the most efficient
form of urban transportation in terms of cost per passenger trips (Keeler et al.,
1975)

2.3 Element of bus transportation

Element of bus transportation is route of buses, bus stop, bus station,

vehicles, passengers, and service. This element will affect the quantity and quality
of bus service.

2.4 Bus station

A bus station is a structure where city or intercity buses stop to pick up and
drop off passengers. It is larger than a bus stop, which is usually simply a place on
the sidewalk, where buses can stop. It may be intended as a terminal station for a
number of routes, or as a transfer station where the routes continue (Wiki, 2010). A
list of bus station along Jalan Kuantan - Gambang can be viewed on appendix D

2.5 Vehicle

Vehicle especially is a machine that uses to transport human from place to

other place in a short time. Vehicle is consisting of bus, car, motorcycle, Lorries,
airplane and others. A bus (archaically also omnibus, multibus, or autobus) is a road
vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses have a capacity as high as 300
passengers. Buses are widely used to operate scheduled bus transport services.
 Figure 2.1: Bus Company

2.6 Reliability

Reliability of public transport systems has been considered critically

important by most public transport users because passengers are adversely affected
by the consequences associated with unreliability such as additional waiting time,
late or early arrival at destinations and missed connections, which increases their
anxiety and discomfort (Bates et al., 2001; Reitvield et al.,2001). Reliability has
also been identified as important in determining the mode choice (Tumquist and
Bowman, 1980). Therefore, it may be stated that unreliability in public transport
drives away existing and prospective passengers.
 8

CHAPTER 3

STUDY METHODOLOGY

3.1 Introduction

Methodology Is a method, or guide line to the research or investigation. It

acts as a procedure to achieve the objective of the research. Methodology is
important to this research to avoid any delay or wastage and focus on the objective
that has been set. With the methodology the flow of this research can be planned.
The methodology for this studies is to find out about the buses, bus facilities and
passenger of buses along Kuantan - Gambang road and how it is recorded in a data
during the observation and identifying process. Besides that, it will also explain
how the data can be implementing into the sustainability on a bus management.
 9

3.2 Outline Methodology

Figure 3.1 below indicate the outline methodology for the project

'717777477i -n an- 1B To* I

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itaibus &Triitc
df oAiis.

Ialbi

iireid1
egetd
Figure 3.1 outline methodology
 10

3.3 Data Methodology

3.3.1 Site visit to Jalan Kuantan - Gambang to verily initial opinion and
assumption and to collect data services and passenger demand.

Early observations made to assess the situation and identify problems that
may arise during the waiting bus, and when the bus arrived in Kuantan. Initial data
collected to make further observations. Initial data was collected as the time waiting
for the bus, the bus arrived at the Gambang, the type of bus Gambang-Kuantan
route, the number of passengers who boarded the bus and the bus trip for a day.

In addition, preliminary data were also collected bus stop. All aspects of the
bus stop as the bus stop location, the bus arrived at the bus stop to pick up
passengers, the number of bus stop and location that doesn't have a bus stop is
taken into account.

3.3.2 Proper data methodology as to carry out the systematic data collection

Systematic data collection will be initiated by creating and distributing a

questionnaire to bus passengers in bus stops have been selected, namely, Taman
Tas, at the Gambang - Segamat - Temerloh - Kuantan junction, UMP, and Pahang
matriculation college.

After that, the questionnaire will be analyzed and calculated the percentage
by region, according to people, according to the type of bus is selected and others.
Next, the number of bus passengers will be calculated when the bus began its
 11

journey along the way Kuantan - Gambang and data collected will be analysis by
type and place of the bus route.

3.3.2.1 Route and bus facilities identifying

The route is located along Kuantan - Gambang road generally, but we

choose the certain area as example, the bus stop at SEMSAS and Bus stop in Jalan
Gambang is use for the bus that travel from Kuantan to Gambang, and also the bus
stop at Taman Tas and bus stop in Gambang is use for the bus that travel from
Gambang to Kuantan. The type of road and total volume also is take note.

3.3.2.2 Survey 1: Quantity bus & frequency of buses, passenger on bus.

The useful of a bus stop in some area will be observed and evaluate either
this bus stop have much user or not. Some area that has a lot of passenger, but the
bus stop facilities doesn't provide. This factor also causes the percentage user of
bus is reduce

.3.3.3 Survey 2: Quantity of passenger in Rahmat Alam bus for one day

The first observation is seen in Taman Tas bus stop found that almost all the
bus passengers had to wait for 1 hour until 2 hour to get a bus either from the
Gambang, or from Kuantan. Average bus passenger is come from people in middle
class and poor. Some were forced to come to the bus stop as far from their home
areas. Thus, a questionnaire will be issued to obtain more information from the bus.
passengers. The questionnaire will be distributed to all the bus stop user and record
the data in video record or voice record as a sample.
 12

3.3.4 Data Analysis

The data is analyzed according to the total of responder and the observation
from the bus and at the bus stop. The weakness of bus service will be identified
through these respondents that have answered the survey question that is given to
them. Observation method will show the quantity of bus user in the bus company
that has choose and the total of bus user will be calculate when the bus is travel
along Kuantan - Gambang road. This observation is use when on boarding bus. The
system and suitable software is use to calculate and analysis the data as example,
the Google Earth is needed to indentified the location of study, the Microsoft Excel
is use to calculate and make a chart and GPS system is use to located the bus and
recorded the bus travel time.

3.3.5 Balance of Bus Service and Passenger Demand

The study also investigated the total of bus service and passenger demand.
Balance between the convenience of buses and bus passengers will be taken into
account by the data taken from observations. Inadequate bus service would be
identified if the buses are overloaded. In addition, if the bus is in an area that has no
passengers, the factors involved are not suitable route, no bus facilities, lack of
population of the area and local residents are not aware of bus services provided in
their area.
 13

3.3.6 Evaluation of passenger demand

Passenger demand will be evaluate through the respondent that has been
made. The survey question is consisting of the condition of bus, what they want and
the improvement that bus passenger think need to take note. Evaluation of user
requests the bus in an area will be identified if percentage of the number of bus
users and users of other vehicles can be identified. Moreover, the quality of bus
services is also a measure of the customer needs the bus. This is because of poor
bus service will lead to a lack of interest in the community to use the bus service.

3.3.7 Proposal for improvement of bus service and sustainability of passenger

demand

For improvement of the bus, the further studies need to make so that the
continuous bus quality improvement can be done. The bus service can be improved
if the problems that state above is resolve though this study. Passenger demand and
the route bus can be change due to time because the situation if affected by the
growth of the town and changes according to the government plan and marketing
Plan.
 14

CHAPTER 4

RESULTS AND ANALYSIS

4.1 Introduction

In this chapter, the result from the observation will be discuss and analysis. To
determine the result, the observation Survey 1 and survey 2 has been done. The
number of passenger, time for the bus arrived/depart, type of buses and passenger
on/off at each bus stop was being determined, the bus stop at Kuantan, Gambang
and muadzam junction is choose as a location to collect a data. For survey 2, the
Rahmat Alam bus is choose to collect a data when passenger on/off from the bus
according to the time. Each of the survey is conducted in one day at weekdays. The
data is taken from 5 August 2010 until 21 October 2010.

The data that has been collected is time for passenger on/ off at each bus stop,
number of passenger, type of buses, gender of passenger, type of stop either road
side or bus stop and number of buses. Then, all the data is then analysis by plotted
the graph and charts. A distance from Gambang to Kuantan is about 33km and
Kuantan population including Gambang is 507,778 (Wiki, 2009).
 15

4.2 Survey 1: Quantity of buses and frequency of buses, passenger on bus

4.2.1 Time versus number of buses.

Time versus number of buses

U Bee Huat a Rahmat Alam C Mara Liner C Jengka Uner

8.00— 11.00am 11.00 - 2.00pm 2.00— 6.00pm 6.00 - 10.00pm

Figure 4.1 a: Time versus no of buses (Kuantan to Gambang)

Time versus number of bus

a Bee Huat C RahmatAlam a Mara Liner oiengka Liner

8.00— 11.00am 11.00 - 2.00pm 2.00 - 6.00pm 6.00 - 10.00pm

Figure4. ib: Time versus no of bus (Gambang to Kuantan)

Figure 4.1a and 4.1b show that the time versus number of buses. The buses
is categories into 4 different companies, Bee Huat, Rahmat Alam, Mara Liner, and
Jengka Liner. Figure 4.1a show that the number of buses uses by time gap 8.00am
until 11 .00am, 11 .00am until 2.00pm, 2.00pm until 6.00pm, and 6.00pm until
 16

lO.00pm. Mara Liner bus provide 7 buses for each day, therefore at any time gap, it
is the highest rank. For Rahmat Alain and Bee Huat, the companies only provide 1
bus per day and it is the lowest rank in the chart. At 11 .00am until 2.00pm, there is
only two bus pass over Jalan Kuantan - Gambang because there is no demand to
use the bus at 11 .00am - 2.00pm.

Figure 4.1b show that the maximum number of bus use is 5 namely Mara
Liner at 2 until 6pm.The total bus trips from figure 4.1a is same as total bus trips
that is 22 bus trips but the time for total bus trip per time is different As example,
the bus trips for 8.00am until 1 1.00am for figure 4.1a is 6 trips while the bus trips
for figure 4.1b is 7 trips. The bus trips for 11.00am until 2.00pm are only a few
which 2 trips for figure 4.1a are and 4 trips for figure 4.1b. In addition, the bus trip
at 2.00prn until 6.00pm is the highest in a day which is 9 trips for 4.1a and 8 trips
for 4.1b. This is because; most passengers are come from the student who has
finished their daily school. Lastly, at 6.00pm until 1 O.00pm, the bus trip for figure
4.1a is 5 trips and figure 4.1b is 3 trips.