Daimler’s sustainable transportation concepts are evoking good response all over the world. A recent forum organized by Mercedes-Benz and FUSO provided information about the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system to almost 100 customers as well as Japanese politicians, administrative officials and media representatives.
BRT is a local public transport concept in which regular-service buses travel along dedicated lanes and have separate stops and traffic light settings in order to ensure reliable inner-city mobility. Interest in intelligent mobility services is especially strong in Tokyo as the city will host the Summer Olympics in 2020.
“Daimler is not only the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles but also the leading provider of mobility services. An especially good example of this is our extensive expertise with Bus Rapid Transit, or BRT for short,” explains Hartmut Schick, Head of Daimler Buses. “We provide big cities with ways to bring more and more people in urban areas to their destinations in a reliable, environmentally friendly, and affordable way.”
Dr. Albert Kirchmann, President and CEO of Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC), adds: “With regard to BRT, we are once again benefiting in Japan from the global footprint of Daimler Trucks and Buses. We are pooling the strengths of our Mercedes-Benz and FUSO brands in order to make transportation sustainable.”
Extensive BRT experience
Daimler Buses installed a BRT system in Adelaide, Australia, as early as the 1980s. It has since then gathered extensive experience and gained a vast amount of know-how. Today more than 30 cities all over the world rely on the expertise of Daimler’s BRT specialists – cities as diverse as Rio de Janeiro, Istanbul and Strasbourg.
The team of BRT experts at Daimler Buses not only supports the development of fleet concepts worldwide but also helps cities and operators plan and introduce overall systems that are tailored to their needs. On the basis of comprehensive traffic analyses, experts at Daimler Buses draw up concepts for optimizing public transportation that ensure optimal access, capacity utilization and cost efficiency. These concepts include solutions such as individual routes, bus intervals and separate bus lanes. In addition, the company’s experienced traffic planners develop bus stop and ticketing concepts that ensure an optimal flow of vehicles and passengers.
Around 180 BRT systems are in operation worldwide. The fleets encompass a total of 40,000 buses that transport 30 million passengers every day. Besides being used for normal operations, the concept has proved its worth in connection with major events. For example, nine of the 12 Brazilian cities that hosted the World Cup used this kind of public transport.
Municipalities are impressed by the fact that BRT systems generate lower construction and maintenance costs than other means of transportation, with a comparable passenger capacity. In addition, express bus lanes can be set up more quickly than tram or subway lines. The barrier-free stops that are typical of BRT systems make it easier for people whose mobility is impaired to enter the buses. Lastly, the advance ticket sale feature reduces waiting times, thus making the system even more appealing for operators and passengers.
“BRT has been a success story on all the continents. We are sure that the concept will also effectively complement the mass transit infrastructure in Japan,” says Gustav Tuschen, Head of Development at Daimler Buses.