The strategy for collecting operations data consists of two phases
(l) determining the "base" conditions of each route in the system and (2) periodic monitoring to detect changes which may have occurred [Multisystems, 1985). The major types of transit data collection tech- niques excluding ridership surveys, which are discussed in a following section, include the following: Ride check: Recording the number of passengers boarding and alighting each stop and the bus arrival time at selected points. The individual recording the data is on the vehicle. Point check: Estimating the number of passengers on the vehicle and record ing vehicle arrival time. Peak-load count is taken at the peak-load point. Mul tiple point checks include several points along a route. The individual record- ing the data is located on the street. Boarding count: Recording the total number of passengers boarding, most often by fare category. Fare box reading: Recording of a fare box reading at selected route locations, most often done electronically. Revenue count: Counting revenue in a fare box by bus, most often done elec- tronically. Transfer count: Counting the number of riders transferring by collecting the number of transfer tickets on each bus or through an automated fare system.