Automated Transit Ridership Data Collection. Software Development and User'sManual

摘要

Transit providers must regularly collect ridership data not only for planningpurposes but also to maintain federal funding. Traditionally, ridership data has been collected using paper and pencil and then coded into a database manually. The extensive amounts of data that this task can generate and the possibility of coding errors represents an obvious environment for the application of automated information processing. Several automated data collection systems were reviewed and one was purchased. It was field tested and implemented at Citibus, the transit system in Lubbock, Texas. After careful evaluation, it was concluded that a more integrated, user-friendly data collection was necessary. The report documents the capabilities and operating instructions for the automated data collection system that has been developed. The package consists of three integrated programs, MAKESTOP, RIDER and TRSS, which require one portable or laptop computer and one desktop personal computer (PC). The minimal cost of the hardware and the frequency at which data must be collected make it unfeasible for the formation of an 'equipment pool' for transit agencies to borrow from.