Bus Scheduling Using a Skip-Stop Strategy Based on Stop Relevance

This research aims to propose an efficient and economic operation mode for bus scheduling optimization by combining with the skip-stop buses and all-stop buses. The skip-stop tactics in bus operation provide service of high efficiency, good punctuality and high speed for long distance commuters, which attracts wide scholarly attention. This paper establishes a model to quantitatively evaluate the relevance between stops, and then develops a new optimization method of skip-stop tactics using the data sets of IC card and bus GPS trajectory. A collaborating scheduling optimization model considering the support and confidence among the stops is proposed to precisely suit passengers’ demands and improve bus service. The optimization objective is to reduce the passengers’ total travel time, the number of vehicles in use, and operation energy for both the user’s and the operator’s benefits. This methodology is developed for a single-directional route using a multi-decision choice model with genetic algorithm applied to attain efficient solutions. A case study of Qingdao, which is assessed in this new model, shows a reduction of 18.31% in total passenger travel time and 17.65% in the operational inputs as compared with solutions that do not consider the skip-stop tactics.