• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.89-102
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• 2001

Using a multiproduct translog cost function model, this paper examines the existence or absence of scale and scope economies in Seoul's urban bus industry. The Paper then conceptualizes that the bus firm produces three outputs (city, seat and local bus-kilometers) using low input factors(labor, capital, fuel and maintenance). Using 1996 annual observations for 81 Seoul's bus firms, the equation system consisting of a cost function and three input share equations is estimated with the nonlinear iterative Zellner method. The findings show that the cost function corresponding to a non-homothetic production technology with separability between local bus outputs and inputs adequately represents the structure of cost for Seoul's bus firms, and that the demand lot all input factors is quite inelastic with respect to their own price. On the other hand, nearly all firms experience mild overall economies or scale, but rather marked product-specific economies of scale with respect to all the three outputs. In addition, there appear to be substantial economies or scope associated with the joint production of city and seat bus services, while considerable diseconomies of scope associated with that of city and local bus services. These results indicate that the merger of smaller firms into larger firms with a fleet of approximately 200 buses would result in more cost-efficient bus services.

• Transportation Technology and Policy
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.99-110
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• 2006

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.59-68
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• 2002

Using 1996 annual observations for 69 bus firms in Seoul, this paper measures firm-level efficiency with data envelopment analysis(DEA) and identifies firm characteristics indicative of differential efficiency in these firms with Tobit regression analysis. The paper then conceptualizes that these firms produce two kinds of output(city/seat bus kilometers or city/seat bus Passengers) using four inputs (labor vehicle, fuel and maintenance). The findings show that, on an average, these firms have only a little input saving potential of 0.9 percent, while not a little output increasing potential of 12.9 percent. On the other hand, it is discovered that these firms operate more efficiently with a lower ratio of maintenance employees to total employees. Furthermore, it appears that both the ratio of seat buses to total buses and average speeds positively affect efficiency in this industry.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.43-55
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• 2007

Gyeonggi-do has conducted bus management and service evaluation of bus operating company since 2005 under the law for promoting public transportation. The evaluation results are used for improving bus service, making policy, and estimating incentives to bus companies. A lot of cost and man-month are needed to evaluate bus management and service for bus operating company, and many companies are against the evaluation. Therefore, the effect analysis on evaluation system should be followed to maintain it. This research results in the evaluation system has positive effects through quantitative and qualitative analysis. The data of bus company's operation condition in 2005 and 2006 are used for a comparative analysis. From the survey result for the company, bus drivers, and administrators, it results that positive effects are predominant. The results of this research could be used for a shield against some criticism about appropriateness of the evaluation criteria and effectiveness of the evaluation system. For improving bus service, evaluation items and criteria could be added or adjusted based on this research.

• The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.233-251
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• 2023

Metropolitan buses are managed as either a direct seat type or a metropolitan express type according to the 「Passenger Transport Service Act」. However, a management system that reflects the characteristics of metropolitan buses is not currently established. Therefore, in this study, the driving characteristics of metropolitan buses, dangerous driving behavior characteristics of metropolitan bus drivers, metropolitan bus accident characteristics, and the safety management system of domestic and foreign buses and other means were investigated. Through this, a plan for strengthening the safety management of metropolitan buses suitable for Korea was presented by dividing it into short-term and mid to long term. The short-term plan is a plan that can be carried out through consultation between metropolitan bus agencies and transportation companies, and the mid to long term plan is a plan that can be implemented only when related laws are revised. Through this study, it is expected to serve as an opportunity for in-depth discussions by the government, business operators, and related experts to strengthen the safety management of metropolitan buses.

• The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.1-11
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• 2019

The accident of mass transit such as a bus could draw the large casualties and this induces social and economic losses. Recently, severe bus accidents caused by tiredness and inattention of bus drivers occurred and those lead to growing interest in bus accidents and the drivers' work environment. Therefore, this study analyzes the accident based on the work environment of bus drivers and route-bus categories. For the research, this study collected digital tachograph data and the bus company information for 271 domestic bus companies in 2017 and used ANOVA test and chi-square test as statistical methodologies. As a result, we figured out there are statistically significant differences in the accident according to the working environments. Especially, the present study confirmed the intracity bus with working every other day has the most frequent accidents. We expect that the results of this study be used as foundations for the improvement of working conditions to reduce route-bus accidents in the future.