Quality bus corridors and green routes: can they achieve a public perception of \u27permanence\u27 of bus services?

Research suggests that bus is usually perceived as a poor quality aitemative to rail based public transport modes such as light rail. While some sources of poor quality can be readily quantified, such as reliability and journey speed, there are additional factors which influence the public perception of bus travel. There is a need to recognise these factors and to develop measures which address these perceived weaknesses. This is particularly important given the role of public transport in the provision of a sustainable transport system and the financial constraints limiting the extent of capital intensive projects to achieve this goal which tends to rule out more expensive rail options in many instances. This paper examines the factors which influence public perception of bus services and, in particular whether the permanence or otherwise of a bus system can have a measurable effect on the attractiveness of the bus option. We also consider whether designs such as Green Routes and Quality Bus Corridors in the United Kingdom and te Republic of Ireland, respectively have been influenced by the need to improve this aspect of bus travel and, if so, whether they have ben, or are likely to be, effective