The Relationship between Supply and Demand of Bus Transport Services in a Mountainous Area after a Municipal Merger : Miyoshi in Hiroshima Prefecture

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  • 広域合併自治体の山村におけるバス交通サービス需給の特徴 : 広島県三次市上作木地区の事例
  • コウイキ ガッペイ ジチタイ ノ サンソン ニ オケル バス コウツウ サービス ジュキュウ ノ トクチョウ : ヒロシマケン ミヨシシ ジョウサク キジク ノ ジレイ

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Abstract

This paper attempts to examine the relationship between the supply and demand of bus transportation services in Miyoshi, Hiroshima prefecture. In a municipal merger in 2004, a wide mountainous area was included in Miyoshi city. After the municipal merger, the municipality set the public transportation policy for reorganizing bus services. In Miyoshi, bus services were set according to demand. Some services were combined with a new city public transportation policy as follow. Firstly, private company buses connect central Miyoshi to peripheral towns. Previously, these roots were in decline or had been abolished. Secondly, the municipality operates buses connecting the main town to outlying villages and hamlets. Finally, demand response transportation systems are operated by local community groups and so on for covering areas which lack bus services. Local transport services are divided between multiple private operators. So, by reorganizing and standardizing services, the municipality has able to reorganize and integrate the eight formerly independent transport systems with the aim of providing welfare services. Due to the large geographical area and former municipal boundaries containing various private bus company, the new municipality is unable provide a comprehensive bus services. The main reason is the municipality being unable to compete against private services. Thus the municipal bus system lacks a comprehensive well connect network. From the point of demand view point, how do these transport services contribute to the mountainous resident lives? When all is said and done these bus services don't contribute much to the daily lives of local residents. The main reason being cares provide much more freedom the buses. Even though the bus system is disjointed and less than ideal we can see a greater need for public transport to the larger cities as the population goes down and ages. One of the main reason being, a limited number of elderly people from outlying areas needing to visit hospitals in the larger towns and cities. Even though the bus system was reorganized at great cost after the merger, there is still a large gap between supply and demand. There is still much to be done. Therefore, if it desirable to maintain and improve bus services, to look at local needs in more depth when forming public transportation policy.

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