Is That My Bus? The Responsive Bus Shelter

Principal researcher

Project details

Start date: 01/07/2004
End date: 23/02/2005

Description: Demographics of the UK are showing that the population is getting increasingly older, making the problems of reduced eyesight and physical impairment even more common for people in the near future. The project aim was to develop solutions that would benefit both these people and those with more extreme or differing needs. These solutions would then be beneficial for all users and result in a universal improvement within public transport. The public transport user with special needs has a personal smartcard, containing not only ticketing information but also a minimum of data regarding their condition. Visually impaired people will have an additional radio device added to the smartcard. The proposed bus stop is equipped with a radio receiver and smartcard reader, enabling the bus stop to ‘manifest’ itself by triggering an audio announcement. This enables the visually impaired user to find the appropriate bus shelter and access the transport network. Audio announcements include information on bus route and direction from that particular stop. The smartcard reader enables on demand RTI (Real Time Information) and other transport information to be announced in audio format. The smartcard reader also enables a person with special needs to communicate these directly to the driver/ transport operator, allowing for a more direct and real-time reaction to how best to assist the waiting passenger.

To make the bus shelter environment a more accessible place for visually and physically impaired people giving greater access to services and the wider transport network; To use the full potential of smartcard technology by introducing readers within the shelter environment enables on demand audio announcement of bus stop location, route numbers, direction of service and RTI (real time information). Additionally it enables more severely disabled people to communicate with the oncoming bus driver about the special assistance required at the bus stop; Connecting existing systems and technologies is an essential part of making the bus shelter environment more accessible.

Other organisations involved in this project

Last updated: 18/04/2008