Strathclyde Passenger Transport pioneered a novel approach in their BusTime system, which provides real time information at bus stops along an arterial route into Glasgow. Easy access to reliable, accurate information about public transport services is an important determinant in attracting and retaining passengers. Yet recent surveys about attitudes to public transport services in Strathclyde revealed that the provision of bus information is considered to be poor. The BusTime project, implemented in December 1996, set out to demonstrate the technical feasibility of a particular concept and to assess the public response to the system. Buses are fitted with passive tags which are read by roadside interrogators. The location and identity of each bus is transmitted to a central control unit, which calculates the arrival time of that bus at all the downstream stops and sends the appropriate message to each stop. The system will be extended to provide this information at a shopping centre on the route. The system has been assessed in terms of technical performance and passenger response. Despite some technical problems, most of which have been resolved, the overall integration of the system has been relatively successful. Discussion groups explored the issues in detail and household surveys were conducted. The response has been extremely positive and the system can be considered a success with the public. This evaluation was conducted as part of an EU funded 4th Framework ATT project called TABASCO (Telematics Applications in BAvaria SCotland and Others). This ongoing project is demonstrating and evaluating a range of multi-modal traveller and traffic information systems, both pre-trip and in transit. Partners include authorities in Munich and Bavaria, Glasgow, Edinburgh, London, Sheffield, Amsterdam, Lyon, Dublin and Bergamo, as well as private sector partners. (A)
Samenvatting