1. STREAM B
Stuart Lowrie
Senior Professional Officer, The City of
Edinburgh Council
Bustracker – www.mybustracker.co.uk:
Web Based RTPI Development and User
Statistics Analysis
2. Will there ever be a case for
removing on-street displays?
Stuart Lowrie
Acting Public Transport Manager
The City of Edinburgh Council
3. 3
• Launched in 2004
• Funding from Scottish Executive Public Transport Fund
• Partnership between Council, Lothian Buses and Ineo
• Initially 85 on-street signs located on Quality Bus Corridors
• Designed for use by multiple operators
• Radio based system
4. 4
On-street signs
• Additional funding in following
years
• Currently around 400 signs on-
street
• Key stops, interchanges,
supermarkets, hospitals, airport
• 2300 bus stops total
• Entire Lothian Buses fleet
included
5. 5
On-street signs
• Demand for new signs still high
• Devised scoring rationale for new sign installations
• Rollout of talking signs, 20 locations
• Limited budget available
• Maintenance costs associated with signs is high
8. 8
Web / Mobile
• MyBusTracker.co.uk
• Launched in 2008
• Provides information for all
stops served by Lothian
Buses
• At stop QR codes
• Good value when compared
to on-street signs
• WAP and mobile site
• Marketing on signs and
posters / leaflets
• Recent server upgrade
• API and statistics now
available
9. 9
iPhone / Android
• Developed by members
of public
• Use phones GPS to locate
nearest stop
• Very popular
• Web hits exceeding
500,000 per day
• Web hits and
smartphone downloads
increasing
11. 11
What next?
• Statistical analysis of website carried out by WYG
• Allow understanding of distribution of requests and user
behaviour
▪ Which bus stops receive the most requests for web-based
information?
▪ What device is used to access the information?
▪ Should bus stops with on-street signs and high web-based
requests have the signs removed?
▪ What bus stops receive the least requests for web-based
information?
▪ How can web-based requests be made more popular at these bus
stops?
15. 15
Using the information
• At stop advertising
• Approach businesses, hotels B&B’s, schools
• Identify stops that may have less need for signs and
develop a strategy for removal
• Web stats and sign scoring matrix can be used as
justification for why one particular sign is removed and
not another
16. 16
Conclusions
• Website and smartphone use is becoming increasingly
popular – set to continue, smartphone sales outsell all
others
• On-street signs are still very popular – especially with
elderly
• Currently no political desire to reduce sign numbers
• Popular tourist destination – signs are undoubtedly
useful
• Cheaper alternatives being explored – possible web
based solution with city centre wi-fi
• Actually signs are good value for money.