Guidelines for the Stable Development of Public Bus Transport in the City of Sofia

Abstract

The stable development of public bus transport includes the improvement of the social, economic and ecological aspects of its activity or increasing its social effectiveness through improving the quality of offered transport services, reducing energy consumption, using energy sources more effectively and reducing the harmful effects on the environment. Public bus transport is the most commonly used type of ground transport in the city of Sofia; in recent years, unfortunately, the quality of its services has dropped and its harmful influence on the environment has grown. This is primarily caused by obsolete vehicles and the lack of adequate measures for improving its social and economic effectiveness. The present article substantiates the necessity for its future stable development and outlines the measures for improving the quality of the transport services it offers as well as reducing harmful emissions. In order to support the study's topicality, it should also be pointed out that similar goals and objectives set in the Declaration for reducing harmful emissions, creating conditions for the use of renewable energy and attracting green investments, which Sofia joined during the World Conference for Climate Change held in Paris in December 2015.