A basic study on evaluation of social effects based on introduction of mini-bus circular system

In recently, increase of automobiles has caused serious urban traffic problems. Both restraint of the car use and the improvement of public transport system including some kinds of buses must be indispensable. In addition, a new type of public transportation system based on viewpoint to secure mobility and accessibility for vulnerable people is required. In this paper, both actual condition of bus use and the user's intention on future were analyzed by data obtained by a experiment of the mini-bus circular system in Sakai City of Osaka, Japan. As a result, it was clear that the modal shift to public transport from automobile may be encouraged and the mobility of vulnerable people like aged should be improved by introducing such bus system. Also some issues required to improve to promote these effects were revealed.