Zmiany na rynku przewozów samochodowym transportem zbiorowym w wybranych miastach Polski

Abstract

W artykule analizuje się zmiany zachodzące w samochodowym rynku przewozów pasażerskich na przykładzie pięciu wybranych aglomeracji (białostockiej, bydgoskiej, częstochowskiej, lubelskiej, szczecińskiej) i trzech przekrojów czasowych (1985, 1995, 2005). Przedstawia się zmiany legislacyjne umożliwiające proces deregulacji transportu autobusowego. Ponadto charakteryzuje się funkcjonowanie przewoźników niezależnych i ich udział w rynku przewozów osób w wybranych aglomeracjach.

The purpose of this paper is to present the deregulation of the bus (coach) transport system in Poland. To this end, an analysis of the buses and trains starting out from in the Polish cities of Białystok, Bydgoszcz, Częstochowa, Lublin and Szczecin in the years 1985, 1995 and 2005 is given. Deregulation of this bus transport system has been in progress since 1990, and one of the attendant elements has been the privatization of PKS (the State Road Transport). Unfortunately, the process by which Poland’s public carriers are privatized is a very slow one. The result of the deregulation of bus transport that has taken place is an increase in the number of carriers – a situation connected with more numerous train and bus services. There are small firms operating within Poland’s bus and coach transport sector. In a majority of cases, it is independent carriers that are operating the local bus services. Such an intesity of connections is profitable in the vicinity of the cities analysed and along the main roads. Independent carriers also provide bus services for the rural areas in the east of Poland. Such a situation can be explained by reference to the socioeconomic situation, whereby the region in question is mainly inhabited by low-income people who mainly use public transport. Deregulation is bringing certain benefits. The operations of independent carriers in the passenger transport sector have improved local transport systems and the average range of local bus services has increased. Numbers of minibuses have also increased. On the other hand, competition may give rise to anomalous situations, for example a lack of coordination between the timetables of the various carriers and a lack of information on bus services.