Initiatives for Bus Operations

"In the aging Ryokuen area, there was a strong demand for round buses. We carried out inhabitants questionnaire and formed bus operation promotion meeting and succeeded in carrying out test operation. ]

Ryokuen Union Neighborhood Association
Ryokuen Bus Operation Promotion Council
Mikio Hasegawa

☆"What was the reason?"
Ryokuentoshi has a mortar-shaped town, with banks, post offices, medical institutions, shopping streets, etc. are concentrated at the bottom.
The ratio of the elderly population has increased, and there was a strong demand for running a circular bus as a means of transportation.

☆"What did you do (what kind of action?")
First of all, we launched a bus service promotion council using the "Yokohama City Regional Traffic Support Project" (http://translate-en.city.yokohama.lg.jp/doro/plan/chiiki/).
In accordance with the procedure, we conducted a detailed questionnaire survey on residents about the status of going out.
After that, I examined the bus route and applied for a round bus operation to City of Yokohama, Road and Highway Bureau. During that time, we have also been actively involved in public relations activities.

☆"How long did it take (period)"
It's about 5 years.

• First year (September 2011-) Bus Operation Promotion Council Formation-Preparation for Test Operation
• 2nd year (October 2012 to March 2013) Questionnaire Survey: Sharing Survey Results
• 5th year (December 2015 to March 2016) Test operation

☆"What happened (the result, what has improved)?"
Test operation of Sotetsu Bus (To Futamatagawa) and Kananaka Bus (To Yayoidai) were able to carry out test operations.
As a result of the test operation, the number of users was less than the assumed number of users, so this service was not reached.

☆"What's going on after that (the future challenges)"
Negotiations are ongoing to expand the Futamatagawa route by Sotetsu Bus.
(Increase in existing buses, establishing new bus stops near commercial facilities, etc.)

◆Q&A review at the Information Exchange Meeting (2017/01/26)◆
Q：　If it is Ryokuentoshi, it is not a route bus, but an E-bus like the Shimoizumi area. ※Didn't you have any idea?
A：　Ebass ※As we assumed, we first verified that we would start from route bus. In the future, we would like to consider introducing E-bus types (regular service of chartered buses) other than route buses.
The daytime hours, which is relatively vacant for bus companies, is also the time when the elderly want to go out most, and considering the circumstances of the bus company, in a sense it is effective in a sense, or a test operation will be conducted during this time zone. There is a background.
※E-bus: Route bus that circulates between Izumi-Chuo Station and Shimoizumi Residential Area

≪History≫
With the extension of Shonandai Station on the Yokohama Municipal Subway, route buses will be abolished and reduced, and traffic access to residents will deteriorate.
The request to the route bus company was not realized due to the narrow approach route and inadequacy, but after that, we continued to consider bus operation in the area, and through the chartered bus operation, the current route bus operation Has reached.

• April 2002 The first community bus in Japan by chartered bus was realized by the Shimoizumi District Traffic Countermeasures Council (consignment to Tendai Kanko Co., Ltd.). Established E-Bus Fund to promote long-term sound management. Recruit members in 2003 and started with a membership card of 2,000 yen and 6,000 yen (about 200 yen per sheet). The daily ride target of 100 people was 50-70, and a month of deficit occurred, and it was a difficult operation started.
• 2004-19 In order to increase the number of members, we called on a questionnaire (question survey) and also called for a ride on other Neighborhood Associations. As a result, the number of members increased, contract fees increased, membership cards were reduced, and the number of schedules increased, and the number of schedules increased. In addition to being featured in tvk's program "Operating a bus by the hands of residents," four to five lectures were received from inside and outside the prefecture every year.
• Due to the impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2012 and a decrease in the number of passengers due to retirement, etc., we are considering using the "Yokohama City Regional Transportation Support Project".
• September 2013 (Test operation). It is now possible for non-members to ride and ride with cash.
• March 2014 Tendai Kanko Co., Ltd. received a business license from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism as a shared bus operator.
• The full-scale operation started in April 2014.

Now that it has become a route bus, anyone can ride with cash, so the number of passengers is increasing and it is an E (Ii) bus that is familiar with the area.

≪This is the point!≫

• A cohesion of volunteers
• Support of City of Yokohama, Road and Highway Bureau Ward
• Cooperation of Local Residents

◇From the presenters (differences, such as this was good, etc.)◇
I think it was very meaningful that the questionnaire survey showed what kind of actions the residents, especially the elderly, were taking the day.
Because it was a residential area, it was difficult to set up a bus stop due to concerns about noise and safety, and there were some places where buses could not be operated due to the structure of the road.
In fact, the use of the Keiro Pass, making it difficult to secure the profitability of the operating company is also considered to be one of the reasons why this service was not achieved.

◆From Utsumi Coordinator◆
Not only in Izumi Ward, but also Yokohama has a high population density, so it is becoming a problem in every region.
Similar to the E-bus of Neighborhood Association, Ryokuen's efforts are one of the most important challenges.
Route buses are inevitably questionable, but it is worth pursuing possibilities other than route buses.
These include regular chartered buses (original E-bus) and small vehicle operation by taxi companies.

◇For details of the case contents, please see the PDF at the time of the case presentation at the information exchange meeting for Ryokuen district bus operation (PDF: 1,882KB)

Ward Administration Promotion Division Planning and Adjustment Section (3rd floor, 307)
Phone: ０４５－８００－２３３３
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