TT 234: How often? A look at the midday frequencies of Melbourne's buses

Most cities have bus routes that vary from infrequent to frequent. While the majority of routes may be infrequent and a minority frequent, you will typically find it is the frequent network that caters for a disproportionate number of trips. Either due to them serving a popular or densely populated corridor or because their better service induces higher usage. The quieter less frequent routes tend to have a 'safety net' coverage function while the busier frequent routes present a stronger case for further service and infrastructure upgrades that further boost usage. Examples include higher frequencies, wider operating hours along with reinforcing land use policy such as location of major destinations, denser housing, road space allocation and parking requirements. Frequent routes are are also more marketable - something important for cities that wish to grow bus usage. Marketability is one reason transit agencies may differentiate frequent routes from the others. Examples of…