The “Hiroshima Model” jointly operated by 8 bus companies and the government. What is the destination for solving problems? February 5th 18:54

Route buses are facing many issues nationwide, including a decline in ridership and a shortage of drivers. Recognizing that these issues cannot be solved by bus companies alone, Hiroshima City is working with eight rival companies and the government to try to resolve them. This initiative is also referred to as the ``Hiroshima model'' because it is carried out jointly by the public and private sectors, which is rare even in Japan. What are you aiming for? We closely followed the demonstration experiment site.

(Hiroshima Broadcasting Station reporter Kango Yagyu)

Tough business environment for bus companies

Why did rival bus companies decide to go beyond their boundaries and work together under the initiative of the Hiroshima model, led by the government?

In the background, there was a strong sense of crisis among bus companies.

Hiroshima City, a core city in the Chugoku region, has a population of approximately 1.2 million people, but the major bus companies that serve the city are unable to stop the decline in ridership. The number of customers has fallen to less than half of its peak around 1989, and it has still not returned to the level before the spread of the new coronavirus.

Another serious issue is the shortage of drivers.

According to a summary by Hiroshima City, the number of bus drivers has decreased by 10% over the past five years. From April, regulations on overtime work for drivers will be tightened, which will require responses to the so-called "2024 problem."

"We have significantly reduced the number of flights, and if things continue as they are, we are in a situation where the continued existence of the route is in doubt. We would like to work with each company to improve efficiency."

“Division of roles” to eliminate duplicate routes

In order to realize the "Hiroshima Model," the first demonstration experiment was conducted for one month starting in December 2023. One of the aims is to increase convenience for passengers while bus companies work together to operate efficiently.

On the morning of the first day, I visited the demonstration experiment site. The first stop I headed for was the ``Nushina 4-chome'' bus stop in Hiroshima's Higashi Ward, which is located in a residential area about 7 kilometers northeast of the city center.

The route that passes through this bus stop is used by office workers and students commuting to central Hiroshima. Two companies, Hiroshima Bus and Hiroshima Electric Railway, operated the same section overlappingly, and competition for the bus occurred even though the number of passengers was on the decline.

Therefore, in the demonstration experiment, we decided to divide the sections by bus company and "share the roles."

``Hiroshima Bus'' is dedicated to the area of ​​Asakita Ward in the suburbs and the ``Nunshina 4-chome'' section, and ``Hiroshima Electric Railway'' operates the overlapping section of ``Nunshina 4-chome'' and the section heading towards the city center. To do.

As a result, the number of sections operated by Hiroshima Bus can be increased by about 5 round trips compared to before.

Need to switch, but there are also “effects”

The bus stop I visited was a connecting point for buses from both companies, and on that day I saw passengers getting off the bus and transferring to buses from other companies. We spoke to people who have actually used it.

User

: ``I'm glad that the number of routes will be increased, but I thought it would be a hassle because I would have to transfer.'' ``I think it

would be more convenient if I could transfer to different bus companies depending on the route.''

“There are a lot of things that cannot be handled by one company alone, and coexistence efforts by bus operators are essential.By considering transfers and transfers across companies and increasing convenience, the entire bus company can work together. I hope this will be a revitalizing initiative.”

As a result of a one-month demonstration experiment, how effective was it?

In the sections where the number of flights was increased, the number of passengers per day increased by nearly three times, from 8.7 to 26. According to the results of a survey of users, more than 60% of people answered that it was ``more convenient,'' and Hiroshima City felt that ``we were able to realize efficient operation that met their needs.'' .

Challenges in “unearthing new demand”

On the other hand, demonstration experiments aimed at cultivating new demand revealed some difficulties.

Next, I visited an area in Saeki Ward, Hiroshima City, where there are two housing complexes.

Instead of a bus, we use a 9-seater car. Costs were kept down by using smaller vehicles.

This passenger car makes three to five round trips a day over short sections of approximately 2 km each in areas that include two housing complexes and a supermarket.

Although there are route buses that pass through other areas in the same area, we aimed to stimulate demand from shoppers by limiting the area and increasing the frequency of buses.

A person who lives in a nearby housing complex

: ``I think it will be convenient for people who go shopping.I would like it to continue.''

However, as a result of the demonstration experiment, the number of users per day is around 10. There were only about one or two people on each flight, so the number did not increase as expected.

Up until now, Hiroshima City has been promoting a certain level of cooperation between companies, such as operating circular buses by multiple companies and issuing passes that can be used at a fixed price regardless of the bus company within a specific area. Ta.

From competition to cooperation: Enforcement of the Antimonopoly Act's ``Special Provisions Act'' also helps

However, as the business environment becomes increasingly difficult, it is becoming increasingly difficult for bus companies to simultaneously increase profits and maintain the necessary bus routes. Therefore, two years ago, we launched the concept of the ``Hiroshima Model,'' believing that cooperation that goes one step further is essential. Under the initiative of Hiroshima City, eight bus companies, which had previously been competitive, aimed to work together to address common issues.

The Antimonopoly Act prohibits bus companies from negotiating with each other regarding the number of services they run, but four years ago a law was introduced that allowed ``special exceptions'' for local bus companies that were in financial difficulties, if they received approval. has been established. The enforcement of this special law also gave a boost to these efforts.

In February, Hiroshima City will formulate basic policies for joint operation based on the results of this demonstration experiment, and in April, the city and eight bus companies will launch a new organization.

Specific future initiatives include: ▽Reorganizing the overcrowded routes in the city center. ▽We are also considering allocating the cleared amount to maintaining routes in the suburbs. Furthermore, we are also considering the possibility of sharing vehicles and facilities, and the possibility of accommodating drivers across company boundaries in the future. We plan to implement these initiatives sequentially over five to six years starting in 2024.

Hiroshima City said, ``The first big challenge is how to maximize the use of existing resources (management resources) by collaborating among business operators, and this demonstration experiment is one way to stabilize management. If we can do this, businesses will be able to proactively make new investments and improve the working environment.We would like to continue conducting demonstration experiments and finding ways to improve the efficiency and optimization of operations." .

The Hiroshima Model aims not only to simply divide and reorganize routes, but also to have ripple effects in a variety of areas, such as eliminating road congestion in the city center and improving the ease of movement for tourists.

I would like to pay attention to whether the cooperation of each company can produce effects and reborn the nature of the bus business itself, and whether it is possible to create sustainable public transportation.

Hiroshima Broadcasting Station Reporter

Kango Yagyu

Joined the Nagasaki Bureau in 2012

, worked in the political department, and since last year has been

in charge of Hiroshima Bureau's Hiroshima city government and atomic bomb coverage.

Currently using buses and trams for daily transportation.