Sharing bus stops: An efficient use of public spaces

• Published in: Journal of cleaner production 2021-04, Vol.294, p.126282, Article 126282
• Main Authors: Ezquerro, Sara, Alonso, Borja, Moura, José Luis
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Loading zone; Public space; Shared bus stop; Simulation
• ISSN: 0959-6526; 1879-1786
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.126282

This research analyses and evaluates how bus stops are really being used in order to design a more efficient policy for sharing them between freight vehicles and buses, creating a new kind of bus stop called a ‘shared bus stop’. These bus stops will need to fulfil certain requirements in order to be used by urban buses and freight vehicles. Buses are still given priority, but freight transport vehicles will be allowed to use these areas whenever they are available by providing real time information about bus arrivals. To evaluate the use of the shared bus stops, discrete event simulations have been run in an area of the city of Santander (Spain).These simulations showed that the efficiency (occupancy time) of a bus stop space increases during the period of analysis, in some cases by up to 72%. The optimal number of delivery bays with operational shared bus stops has also been calculated and shows that the optimal number of delivery bays decreases by almost 30% due to the use of shared bus stops, meaning that this delivery bay space could be used for other purposes. •This research proposes shared use of bus stops by buses and freight vehicles to improve freight vehicle operations.•Shared bus stops provide an efficient use of public spaces, increasing their current use up to 72%.•Shared bus stops provide an alternative solution to urban freight transport issues.•Freight vehicles that use shared bus stops leave existing delivery bays available for other uses.