About the Challenge
Transport for NSW initiated the Bus Boarding Assistant Innovation Challenge to identify digital solutions aimed at improving the ease of bus boarding for passengers who require assistance. This includes individuals with vision impairments, wheelchair users, the elderly, and others with reduced mobility. The goal was to test a digital solution that allows these passengers to signal their intent to board a bus effectively.
Problem Statement(s)
- Can you empower people who need help to hail and board a bus?
Trial
Two solutions were chosen to progress through incubation and into real world trials aimed at obtaining customer and driver feedback, as well as evaluating the overall concept. Trials commenced in 2024 with interested members of the public invited to participate across four different locations - the Northern Beaches, Tweed Heads, Port Macquarie, and Queanbeyan. The chosen solutions were:
Hailo, a mobile application that allows users to alert drivers, communicate their accessibility requirements, and receive live status updates.
See Me, developed by SAGE Automation, an application that helps passengers hail a bus using their mobile device and provides spoken, visual, and haptic notifications when a bus is approaching.
Outcome
The Bus Boarding Assistant trial validated the solution and demonstrated an API could be used to facilitate remote hailing. During the trial feedback was collected from customers, drivers, and operators providing inputs on the desirability and feasibility of the solutions. Their insights have been captured and will assist further study of assistive technologies.