Spatiotemporal Analysis and Evaluation of Passenger Flows in Diagnosing the Operational Efficiency of Public Transport – A Case Study of a Local Bus System
Purpose: Public transport systems in suburban areas face a fundamental challenge of maintaining a balance between maximising service accessibility and ensuring an efficient allocation of public funds. Operational efficiency in peripheral zones is often constrained by low population density and the dominance of commuter traffic, which leads to uneven vehicle utilisation and temporal imbalances in passenger flows. The aim of this study is to perform a spatiotemporal analysis and evaluation of passenger flows as a diagnostic tool for verifying the adequacy of transport supply relative to demand within a selected local bus network. Design/Methodology/Approach: The research adopted an empirical and diagnostic approach. Passenger movement data were collected through direct field observation of boarding and alighting passengers on the main bus lines serving a suburban municipality over a full weekly cycle, encompassing both weekdays and weekends. The collected data were subjected to a detailed spatiotemporal analysis in order to identify daily load profiles, peak demand hours, and spatial concentration zones of passenger activity. Findings: The results revealed a pronounced directional asymmetry in passenger flows, characterised by dominant morning peak demand (06:00–08:00) and a clear imbalance between inbound and outbound traffic. Approximately 70% of total passenger movement was concentrated within three major suburban settlements. During the morning peak, vehicle occupancy levels reached 65–70% of total capacity, whereas off-peak and weekend periods were marked by significant declines in utilisation, indicating inefficient deployment of service resources. The analysis also showed that internal (intra-municipal) trips increased by an average of 10 percentage points during weekends, suggesting a functional shift in mobility patterns over the weekly cycle. Practical Implications: The findings provide empirical evidence of operational patterns typical of peripheral transport systems and highlight the diagnostic potential of spatiotemporal analysis for identifying structural inefficiencies. The study indicates that the key direction for improvement involves differentiated service provision, including variable service frequency and flexible fleet allocation with smaller-capacity vehicles during low-demand periods. Enhanced fare and timetable integration with urban transport systems is also recommended. Originality/Value: This research contributes original empirical insights into the operational efficiency of local public transport systems and offers a practical analytical framework to support evidence-based decision-making and sustainable mobility planning.