The (in)efficiency of trams and buses in Brussels: a fine geographical analysis

The (in)efficiency of trams and buses in Brussels: a fine geographical analysis

At a time when mobility in Brussels is becoming increasingly critical from the standpoints of the environment and efficiency, this article gives a detailed and exhaustive analysis of the geography of traffic conditions affecting the trams and buses of Brussels’ main mass transit network. The finely...

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Publicado en:URI:https://journals.openedition.org/brussels,
Auteurs principaux: Courtois, Xavier, Dobruszkes, Frédéric
Formato: Article ou chapitre numérique
Idioma:Anglais
Publicado: Brussels Studies 2016
Sujets:
public transport
mobility
operating speed
Acceso en liña:Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM
Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM
id openedition-oai:revues.org:brussels_608
record_format openedition
collection OpenEdition Journal
language Anglais
format Article ou chapitre numérique
building 0/Bibliothèque numérique/
1/Bibliothèque numérique/OpenEdition Journals/
topic public transport
mobility
operating speed
spellingShingle public transport
mobility
operating speed
Courtois, Xavier
Dobruszkes, Frédéric
The (in)efficiency of trams and buses in Brussels: a fine geographical analysis
description At a time when mobility in Brussels is becoming increasingly critical from the standpoints of the environment and efficiency, this article gives a detailed and exhaustive analysis of the geography of traffic conditions affecting the trams and buses of Brussels’ main mass transit network. The finely disaggregated data that we were able to obtain from the Brussels Interborough Transport Company (STIB/MIVB) enabled us to calculate and map three indicators (commercial speed, irregularity, and lost time) that make it possible to identify the network’s problem spots. The figures show that, in the current state of affairs, fewer than a third of the city’s tram line segments meet the commercial speed performance levels that they are expected to achieve under STIB/ MIVB’s new management contract. The problem spots, which are found primarily but not solely in the first urban ring (from Saint-Gilles to Schaerbeek, via Ixelles), stem basically from a mixture of roads and public areas that are narrow and/or heavily used by cars, inappropriate traffic light management, and political stalemates that make it impossible to get around the first three factors. In this framework, the regional mobility and sustainable development plans can scarcely be achieved.
author Courtois, Xavier
Dobruszkes, Frédéric
author_facet Courtois, Xavier
Dobruszkes, Frédéric
author_sort Courtois, Xavier
title The (in)efficiency of trams and buses in Brussels: a fine geographical analysis
title_short The (in)efficiency of trams and buses in Brussels: a fine geographical analysis
title_full The (in)efficiency of trams and buses in Brussels: a fine geographical analysis
title_fullStr The (in)efficiency of trams and buses in Brussels: a fine geographical analysis
title_full_unstemmed The (in)efficiency of trams and buses in Brussels: a fine geographical analysis
title_sort (in)efficiency of trams and buses in brussels: a fine geographical analysis
publisher Brussels Studies
publishDate 2016
container_title URI:https://journals.openedition.org/brussels
url https://ezproxy.univ-orleans.fr/login?url=https://doi.org/10.4000/brussels.608
https://ezproxy.univ-orleans.fr/login?url=https://journals.openedition.org/brussels/608
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spelling openedition-oai:revues.org:brussels_608 https://doi.org/10.4000/brussels.608 urn:doi:10.4000/brussels.608 en https://journals.openedition.org/brussels/608 2016-10-13T02:00:00Z info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess article info:eu-repo/semantics/article urn:handle:20.500.13089/dc1z https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ The (in)efficiency of trams and buses in Brussels: a fine geographical analysis Brussels Studies Université libre de Bruxelles - ULB info:eu-repo/semantics/reference/issn/2031-0293 URI:https://journals.openedition.org/brussels Courtois, Xavier Dobruszkes, Frédéric public transport mobility operating speed At a time when mobility in Brussels is becoming increasingly critical from the standpoints of the environment and efficiency, this article gives a detailed and exhaustive analysis of the geography of traffic conditions affecting the trams and buses of Brussels’ main mass transit network. The finely disaggregated data that we were able to obtain from the Brussels Interborough Transport Company (STIB/MIVB) enabled us to calculate and map three indicators (commercial speed, irregularity, and lost time) that make it possible to identify the network’s problem spots. The figures show that, in the current state of affairs, fewer than a third of the city’s tram line segments meet the commercial speed performance levels that they are expected to achieve under STIB/ MIVB’s new management contract. The problem spots, which are found primarily but not solely in the first urban ring (from Saint-Gilles to Schaerbeek, via Ixelles), stem basically from a mixture of roads and public areas that are narrow and/or heavily used by cars, inappropriate traffic light management, and political stalemates that make it impossible to get around the first three factors. In this framework, the regional mobility and sustainable development plans can scarcely be achieved. A l’heure où la mobilité bruxelloise devient de plus en plus critique du point de vue de l’environnement et de l’efficacité, cet article a pour objectif une analyse détaillée et exhaustive de la géographie des conditions de circulation des trams et bus du principal réseau bruxellois de transport collectif. Les données désagrégées de la STIB dont nous avons pu disposer ont permis de calculer et cartographier trois indicateurs (vitesse commerciale, irrégularité, temps perdu) qui rendent possible l’identification des lieux problématiques. Les chiffres montrent qu’en l’état actuel des choses, moins d’un tiers des tronçons de lignes de tram affichent les performances de vitesse commerciale souhaitées par le nouveau contrat de gestion de la STIB. Les lieux problématiques, fortement présents dans la première couronne urbaine (de Saint-Gilles à Schaerbeek via Ixelles), mais pas uniquement, découlent essentiellement d’un mélange d’espaces publics étroits et/ou principalement affectés à la circulation automobile, d’une gestion inadaptée des feux de circulation et de blocages politiques qui ne permettent pas de dépasser les trois premiers facteurs. Dans ce cadre, les objectifs des plans régionaux en matière de mobilité et de développement durable ne peuvent guère être atteints. Nu mobiliteit in Brussel almaar meer schadelijke gevolgen voor het leefmilieu heeft en steeds minder efficiënt wordt, strekt dit artikel ertoe een geografisch gedetailleerde en exhaustieve analyse te maken van de rijomstandigheden van de trams en bussen van het grootste openbaarvervoernet in Brussel. Op basis van de uitgesplitste gegevens van de MIVB waarover we konden beschikken, hebben we drie indicatoren (reissnelheid, regelmaat, verloren tijd) berekend en in kaart gebracht, zodat de knelpunten gelokaliseerd kunnen worden. De cijfers tonen aan dat in de huidige situatie de reissnelheid die in het nieuwe beheerscontract van de MIVB wordt vooropgezet, op minder dan een derde van de tramlijnen wordt gehaald. De knelpunten bevinden zich vooral, maar niet uitsluitend in de eerste stadskroon (van Sint-Gillis via Elsene tot Schaarbeek). Ze zijn hoofdzakelijk te wijten aan een combinatie van factoren, namelijk openbare ruimten die niet breed genoeg zijn en/of vooral bestemd zijn voor het autoverkeer, een onaangepaste beïnvloeding van de verkeerslichten en politieke blokkeringen, waardoor de eerste drie problemen niet krachtdadig aangepakt kunnen worden. De doelstellingen van de gewestelijke plannen voor mobiliteit en duurzame ontwikkeling kunnen bijgevolg niet gehaald worden.

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