Route change

Let me explain about the general feature of community buses.

First, the routes of community buses are complex because it usually meander.
The reasons of complexity are that it is difficult to understand the routes from the map because some routes have same start and goal. Usually elderly people don’t have their own cars, so it is very inconvenient for them.
Moreover, it takes more time to arrive at destination by meandering and there is a line takes an hour to go around so that some community bus is inconvenient.

Also, especially the cases which administration lead, local governments tend to think that they do not have to provide services to adjacent areas because adjacent areas do not pay inhabitant tax. Therefore, local government often set up the buses routes to fit in their jurisdiction and neighborfood of next town’s center and nearby supermarkets or convenience stores cannot have bus stops even though there can expect enough demands.

Circulation route

Most of general community buses’ routes adopt “Circulation route” which visit each public facilities and areas. The reasons of many local governments apply this way are 2 things below.

1. People can visit many public facilities or areas by one line
2. The last stops’ rounding systems are not necessary

However, “Circulation routes” takes long time because it visits many interspersed facilities. As the fact, the passengers’ burden become heavy and buses companies might be in trouble to keep enough vehicles. Therefore, there is a possible that the number of buses will decrease.

In conclusion, it is said that local governments always do not have to use “Circulation route”. Also, there is some rules to set up buses’ routes. For example, local government should accept civil’s demand or set up the routes very clearly so that everyone can understand the routes easily. Based on these facts, we will explain about “Directly route”.

Directly route

“Directly route” is the routes that connect departure point and arrival point directly and buses make a round trip among the two points. It is very easy to understand, but if the routes are set up to visit many facilities, buses will take long time to arrive at the arrival point. For this reason, local governments have to think of the places where is people’s demand is high and make the most efficiently route.

Summary

Local governments and buses companies are expected that they understand these operation methods and adapt them to each towns’ situation or demand.