The problem is that during peak hours, there's a lot of people,
that it is very hard to count, especially at bus stops with many
people alighting and/or boarding, especially if the bus is a double
decker - like how are you going to move around up and down to check
whether the total number is correct.
I feel that the loading pattern is the same across the day.
While it is easier to count during non-peak hours, I can get an
idea on the origins and destinations that are popular along the bus
route. To get an idea of the peak hour loading, I "multiply" the
non-peak hours loading - it's as simple as that; if during non-peak
hours the bus already has up to forty people, then it's quite
likely that during peak hour the bus would have around eighty
people (full load on single decker, 60% load on double decker).
Totally wrong. Off peak you will always have low loading. You
cannot then say x service needs upgrade or downgrade.
Loading observation is matter of practice. If you are on DD, try
to take bus from first stop.
(1) When you are in queue, try to be in the front of queue and
count upto 20 pax behind you and note the 20th person
(2) Get into the bus and quickly go to the top and take the
window seat in row 1 or row 5. These are the two best spots for
loading
(3) Continue counting where you left from the 20th person
(4) Now every stop monitor how many get out and get in
(5) Stops of high volume, you will have to quickly count 20 pax
trying to enter in and then focus on those alighting. My experience
says you are +- 5 pax inaccurate, not more
(6) If you aren't good at it, just count pax on upper deck and
go to lower deck and count. You get your total. Then take the high
seat on lower deck and you can count pax entering and leaving the
bus