Conflict assessment of pull-out bus stops: a novel fine-grained simulation

Pull-out bus stops are commonly recommended in areas with high demand or heavy traffic. Assessing conflicts at these stops is crucial for evaluating transit effectiveness, yet research in this domain remains limited. This study proposes an innovative fine-grained simulation model that integrates vehicle dynamics and detailed trajectory analysis. Two key operational strategies for pull-out stops – berth-allocating and berth-sharing – are simulated and assessed. The results indicate the following: (1) Violated driving-through by private vehicles forces over 70% of buses to decelerate under the berth-allocating strategy. (2) Unsafe zones are primarily located near approach/entry points and berth areas. (3) Under the berth-sharing strategy, unsafe zones are more widely dispersed and vary significantly with changes in traffic volume and speed. The proposed approach can be adapted for various bus stop types to facilitate multi-dimensional performance evaluations and provide actionable insights.