Chigasaki City reserved type coach bus

Reservation type coach bus in Chigasaki city, Kanagawa Prefecture is operated within the Koide district starting from December 21, 2013.
It is so-called "demand type traffic" introduced in this site. Anyone can use this service by registering. And by using this we can use the bus by specifying the location and time in advance. In this survey, we used it as a means of transportation from “Serizawadaita(Saijo iriguchi)” located near our school to the “Yayoi Jichikaikan”.

To reservation

This time, we reserved on the internet.
When we reserved, we could choose a bus stop to use like a picture, also from a map. So that site was very convenient and easy to understand.

Ride report

After checking the boarding time and making a reservation, we will head for a boarding place.There was not a sign like a bus stop point, but a posting like a photo was done.
The bus came a few minutes behind the scheduled time. It seems Toyota’s Hiace, it was seven seats.
Passengers were only us and the bus went straight to the destination, passing through the city as well. Also, the bus reached the destination in about 20 minutes.

Picture of departure place (Serizawadaida (Saijo iriguchi))

Scenery around bus stop (riding place)	Riding place It is attached to the bus stop of the community bus.

Signs of a merging station	Vehicle

Picture of getting off area (Yoyoi Association Self-Governing Hall)

Landscape of the place of getting off There is a meeting place in the residential area.	Signs of a merging station It is a type that is attached to a fence.

Mode of operation

We can reserve and use the bus at any time from 7 o’clock to 20 o’clock every day. However, because it operates on one bus, if other people make a reservation, it can not be used.

Current status and consideration

Looking at the page titled “The Present Condition of the Reservation Type Coaching Bus and Questionnaire Survey Report” published by Chigasaki City, we have found the followings.

・There are about 20 users per day, even though registrants and cognitions are increasing, they are leveling
As can be seen from the fact that many other transportation means are more convenient and complaints about transfer are troublesome in the questionnaire, it is easier for speed and easiness to be more commonly demanded than easiness of cheapness or flexibility It is conceivable.

・The senior citizen is basic for shopping
It seems that it was a meaningful service for the people of the layer originally intended.

・The means of transportation is still 50% for private cars and the problem is not solved.
I think that it is because most people think that it is easier to go by car than to bother to make a reservation and go to a designated time, as it is necessary to transfer a bus.

There was no other passengers when we got in, as in the “ride report”. This is also a situation where each individual can make a reservation according to their own convenience, even if it can happen. However, if you are in such a situation at any time during the current situation, I felt that final costs could be reduced if they prepared a vehicle of the size of a normal 4-person taxi.

Impression

It is easy to make reservations, cost is also 100 yen per person, very convenient means of transportation, the number of users has not changed-based traffic is a solution for traffic refugee problems. Although it is a good policy on the above that solving "Transport Refugees", I felt it was hard to imagine that when realizing it would have a positive impact on the local economy.