Vehicle amount on a line - how to manage, how is it calculated?

[Joe]

So my question is mostly for the bus and metro lines, but the answers could possibly relate to ship, plane, etc. budget settings as well.


I have many bus lines and a few metro lines and am trying to keep my budget matching the demand, I can manually adjust the budget or do it individually on each line, which is a lot of work if you have a big number of bus lines.

Is it just better to manage it globally? When my budget is at 100% I feel there are too many vehicles in general for all lines, my city is not that big yet. How does the game calculate the amount of busses should be on a line? If I look at the weekly passengers, the game always puts too many busses on a line at 100%... at least for now. Should I just calculate the weekly passengers and divide that by how much the buses can hold and set it manually, while still keeping the budget at 100% or should I manage it globally?

Another question regarding the budget of night / day, is there a way to find out how many passengers use the line by day and during the night? or do I just have to look during the day cycle and night, it's not that clear to me.


Thanks for all and any replies.

[OneJasonBradly]

Originally posted by Joe:

Should I just calculate the weekly passengers and divide that by how much the buses can hold?

Thanks for all and any replies.

100% should be too many busses for a line, always, because it's based on how may busses are allowed \ available rather than efficiency or needs due to area. I " think the way the game calculates" the amount of busses per line is based on the amount of stops on that line. I treat every line separately and when they are new they get fewer busses than needed for the game does dump a lot of busses per line. I often start every line with one or two busses first and keep an eye on the stops and add busses according to amount waiting for a bus at the stops. This can be a slow but telling process. I think to create a formula to dispense busses is to assume that all bus stops attract the same amount of rider traffic. I find this issue often when it pertains to Cities. People wish to create a formula, idea to predict behaviour and fail because they don't see that things are not ubiquitous, that is not all bus stops attract the same amount of citizens for whatever reasons. Just like every intersection created in the game should be considered custom, even if they all look the same. For they all have different traffic requirements asked of them by the citizens using them due to destinations.

[Joe]

Originally posted by OneJasonBradly:

Originally posted by Joe:

Should I just calculate the weekly passengers and divide that by how much the buses can hold?

Thanks for all and any replies.

100% should be too many busses for a line, always, because it's based on how may busses are allowed \ available rather than efficiency or needs due to area. I " think the way the game calculates" the amount of busses per line is based on the amount of stops on that line. I treat every line separately and when they are new they get fewer busses than needed for the game does dump a lot of busses per line. I often start every line with one or two busses first and keep an eye on the stops and add busses according to amount waiting for a bus at the stops. This can be a slow but telling process. I think to create a formula to dispense busses is to assume that all bus stops attract the same amount of rider traffic. I find this issue often when it pertains to Cities. People wish to create a formula, idea to predict behaviour and fail because they don't see that things are not ubiquitous, that is not all bus stops attract the same amount of citizens for whatever reasons. Just like every intersection created in the game should be considered custom, even if they all look the same. For they all have different traffic requirements asked of them by the citizens using them due to destinations.

Hello OneJasonBradly,

Yes, indeed about the intersections. I have been micro managing myroads, where the traffic is bad and this quite fun to do, working out if the traffic lights work best or the stop signs and making priority roads. It helps increasing the traffic flow.

I am certainly not after a formula, because I understand the need to adjust the buses from time to time on each line as demand increases (or decreases) but I am trying to find a way to make my lines more efficient. I thought that by maybe going by the "weekly numbers" I can aim to have a current bus amount and review it from time to time.

So do you keep the budget at 100%, while you micro manage the bus lines or do you start with 50% and then when you run out of "vehicles" that can be added to a line, increase the global budget?

Any idea about the day / night cycle part of my question? Many thanks your reply.

[mbutton15]

I think I read somewhere that number of buses is based on length of route, more than number of stops. But it probably doesn't matter which is correct because as mentioned, the 100% allocation is usually not optimal !!

Personally, I keep the global setting at 100% and adjust individual bus count based on the busiest stop on a line. I usually let a route bed in for a while so passengers recognise it's existence. Then I'll see how the stops are used. It's quite common for me to have one stop on a line with 100+ passengers waiting (I had 300/400+ at some stops on my latest map !). Then I know it's time to add some buses. It's largely a case of trying to analyse the passenger count of the buses coming up to the busy stop. If they are already packed then I'll add more buses than if they are largely passenger free. If each bus approaching the busy stop is nearly full then it won't clear the backlog very quickly. In the end, I usually adjust and then check again a few minutes later and adjust some more.

It's a lot of work and in truth laying bus routes is my least favourite part of the game. I'd loved there to be a rule, but I don't think there can be.

I have no idea on the day/night question.

[OneJasonBradly]

Originally posted by Joe:

Hello OneJasonBradly,

Yes, indeed about the intersections. I have been micro managing myroads, where the traffic is bad and this quite fun to do, working out if the traffic lights work best or the stop signs and making priority roads. It helps increasing the traffic flow.

I am certainly not after a formula, because I understand the need to adjust the buses from time to time on each line as demand increases (or decreases) but I am trying to find a way to make my lines more efficient. I thought that by maybe going by the "weekly numbers" I can aim to have a current bus amount and review it from time to time.

So do you keep the budget at 100%, while you micro manage the bus lines or do you start with 50% and then when you run out of "vehicles" that can be added to a line, increase the global budget?

Any idea about the day / night cycle part of my question? Many thanks your reply.

The weekly number, lol. Almost every time I view that number it reads 0 zero, I seem to have a knack at catching the beginning of the week most every time. So I rarely use those figures. My budget for most transit options is set to 100% then micro managed to suit the needs of the line.
As for the day/night comparison, my PC or video card does not like the evening view so rarely use it. Though I am interested to read an answer or opinions on that question. I would think if you don’t use the day/night feature then I don’t think they apply, again this is a guess. For evening use, I would compare the amount waiting at a common stop I know to judge the difference.

[OneJasonBradly]

Originally posted by mbutton15:

I think I read somewhere that number of buses is based on length of route, more than number of stops.

I think you are correct here.

Originally posted by mbutton15:

But it probably doesn't matter which is correct because as mentioned, the 100% allocation is usually not optimal !!

I know you are, here :)

[Joe]

Originally posted by mbutton15:

I think I read somewhere that number of buses is based on length of route, more than number of stops. But it probably doesn't matter which is correct because as mentioned, the 100% allocation is usually not optimal !!

Personally, I keep the global setting at 100% and adjust individual bus count based on the busiest stop on a line. I usually let a route bed in for a while so passengers recognise it's existence. Then I'll see how the stops are used. It's quite common for me to have one stop on a line with 100+ passengers waiting (I had 300/400+ at some stops on my latest map !). Then I know it's time to add some buses. It's largely a case of trying to analyse the passenger count of the buses coming up to the busy stop. If they are already packed then I'll add more buses than if they are largely passenger free. If each bus approaching the busy stop is nearly full then it won't clear the backlog very quickly. In the end, I usually adjust and then check again a few minutes later and adjust some more.

It's a lot of work and in truth laying bus routes is my least favourite part of the game. I'd loved there to be a rule, but I don't think there can be.

I have no idea on the day/night question.

Thanks for you input! It requires a lot of attention to get this right...

[Joe]

Originally posted by OneJasonBradly:

Originally posted by Joe:

Hello OneJasonBradly,

Yes, indeed about the intersections. I have been micro managing myroads, where the traffic is bad and this quite fun to do, working out if the traffic lights work best or the stop signs and making priority roads. It helps increasing the traffic flow.

I am certainly not after a formula, because I understand the need to adjust the buses from time to time on each line as demand increases (or decreases) but I am trying to find a way to make my lines more efficient. I thought that by maybe going by the "weekly numbers" I can aim to have a current bus amount and review it from time to time.

So do you keep the budget at 100%, while you micro manage the bus lines or do you start with 50% and then when you run out of "vehicles" that can be added to a line, increase the global budget?

Any idea about the day / night cycle part of my question? Many thanks your reply.

The weekly number, lol. Almost every time I view that number it reads 0 zero, I seem to have a knack at catching the beginning of the week most every time. So I rarely use those figures. My budget for most transit options is set to 100% then micro managed to suit the needs of the line.
As for the day/night comparison, my PC or video card does not like the evening view so rarely use it. Though I am interested to read an answer or opinions on that question. I would think if you don’t use the day/night feature then I don’t think they apply, again this is a guess. For evening use, I would compare the amount waiting at a common stop I know to judge the difference.

Thanks, okay will give that a try.

[Prometheus]

Vehicle amount is calculated based on the distance of the line. Stops probably play a factor but distance is definitely a big contributor.

As for managing vechicle per line. I always set my mass transit budgets to the minimum and adjust each line manually. Usually one vehicle per stop. If I need more vehicles then I adjust the main budget upward. This saves a ton of money.

Train and monorail always seem to have more vehicles available at minimum budget than it needs. Metro usually needs to be increased a bit but not usually very much. Air and sea I never see full vehicles coming in or going out even at minimum budget so its safe to short them as well.

[Your Neighbour]

Depends on their exit point. If you have four lanes, and the exit is one lane, they gonna pile up. Even if they spread into four lanes then join at the exit, they will pile up harder. So it's about planning the routes.

[mbutton15]

Originally posted by Your Neighbour:

Depends on their exit point. If you have four lanes, and the exit is one lane, they gonna pile up. Even if they spread into four lanes then join at the exit, they will pile up harder. So it's about planning the routes.

I somehow feel this is in the wrong thread !!

[Your Neighbour]

Originally posted by mbutton15:

Originally posted by Your Neighbour:

Depends on their exit point. If you have four lanes, and the exit is one lane, they gonna pile up. Even if they spread into four lanes then join at the exit, they will pile up harder. So it's about planning the routes.

I somehow feel this is in the wrong thread !!

Sorry didnt read thought it's about normal traffic,


To adjust number of vehicles just change the budget for that line it will increase or decrease number of vehicles accordingly

[Joe]

As for managing vechicle per line. I always set my mass transit budgets to the minimum and adjust each line manually. Usually one vehicle per stop. If I need more vehicles then I adjust the main budget upward. This saves a ton of money.

So you put the global budget down as well as decreasing/increasing the vehicles manually on the line as needed, and once no vehicles can be added, you incrase the global budget correct? I will try this.

[Stryderunknown]

I'd consider that having slightly more passenger space than actual passengers means there is room to grow, however your probably best tailoring the lines individually using their individual budgets.

The only real time to start using the global budget is when even with them maxed out individually, theres not enough buses. At that point putting the global up a bit means you can cut back again on the individual lines.

As for the day/night cycle it was mentioned in another thread by someone on a different subject that setting the cycles differently will fluctuate landvalues which can cause buildings to grow/decline. (They mentioned a Rush-hour mod if my memory serves correctly that attempts to make traffic behave with such time changes)

The only really useful point for reducing or increasing bus services for night time is if you have the DLC's that give you specific policies that you can use. (Such as NIMBY-AfterDark as leisure closes for the night an Night Tours-ParkLife where visitor numbers are increased)