Intermediate public transport networks: technological innovation or new organizational concept?

There are two main types of approach which govern the supply of public transport in major built up areas. There are the mass transportation, which leads to introduction of rail-based transport systems (underground railways or trams) and that of distribution, which aims to provide a dense network of bus routes. These two major types of transport system have very different characteristics, in terms of costs and level and quality of service. This dual nature of supply opens the way for an additional level which is concerned with ensuring that the network is connected at nodal points which operate as multimodal exchange centres. This paper discusses the characteristics of this type of intermediate network, which is based on an indissociable triple association of equipment / infrastructure / level of service, as such a network has been envisaged in the case of the Lyon conurbation.