Research on the Spatiotemporal Pattern of Bus Interchange based on Travel Big Data

With rapid urbanization, the public transportation system plays a crucial role in alleviating urban traffic congestion and enhancing travel efficiency. Bus interchange, as a link between different bus routes, directly impacts passengers' travel experience and the service coverage of the public transportation system. In this study, we utilized bus card swipe data to explore the current situation and characteristics of bus interchange travel from aspects such as travel time, distance, passenger distribution, interchange points, and interchange routes. The findings are as follows: (1) The distribution of passenger flow in bus interchange travel is generally consistent with overall bus travel. The highest demand for bus interchange travel is observed between Chaoyang District and Dongcheng District; (2) The average duration of the first bus ride in bus interchange travel is approximately 24 minutes, and the second bus ride is around 21 minutes, with an interchange time of about 8 minutes; (3) Hotspot bus interchange stations are mainly located around the Third Ring Road, such as Beijing West Station and Sihui Hub Station. The bus interchange routes with significant passenger volumes include Route 322–1, and Route 321–57, primarily concentrated in Chaoyang District and the central area of the capital. The findings of this study provide valuable insights for guiding the planning and management of the public transportation system.