Towards Car Free Cities The Technology Component Michael Smith Director of Engineering NextBus

Technology & Information !!!

Today…

Tomorrow…

Reasons for Improving Transit Dependency on oil Global climate change (50% of CO2 is from transportation) Pollution (60-70% in cities is from cars) Vibrancy of our cities Economic cost of congestion

Dependency on oil

Global climate change (50% of CO2 is from transportation)

Pollution (60-70% in cities is from cars)

Vibrancy of our cities

Economic cost of congestion

Transit Could be Viable Solution People of moving to the cities, worldwide 50% of car trips in US are less than 2 miles

People of moving to the cities, worldwide

50% of car trips in US are less than 2 miles

Except…

At the time we need transit the most…

“ A man who, beyond the age of 26, finds himself on a bus can count himself as a failure” Margaret Thatcher said:

There is a huge chasm: Lack of money Lack of respect (transit is transportation of last resort) Lack of technology Lack of passenger information

Lack of money

Lack of respect (transit is transportation of last resort)

Lack of technology

Lack of passenger information

How to Increase Transit Usage? $10/gallon gasoline or Improve transit Investment Management Technology

$10/gallon gasoline

or

Improve transit

Investment

Management

Technology

Ouch!

New Technologies…

GM’s Plan for Future

Problems With Transit It takes too much time! Passengers don’t have confidence in system Unaware of choices Unforgiving with respect to mistakes

It takes too much time!

Passengers don’t have confidence in system

Unaware of choices

Unforgiving with respect to mistakes

Old habits die hard

Information as Part of the Solution!

History of NextBus Over 10 years old Started by the father of “Fast Pass” Emphasis on improving transit In over 45 cities

Over 10 years old

Started by the father of “Fast Pass”

Emphasis on improving transit

In over 45 cities

Current Customers

Real-Time Passenger Information We tell users, for every stop, when the next vehicle is going to arrive “ NextBus in 5 minutes” Can also display text messages “ Detour next week due to construction” AVL & Management tools

We tell users, for every stop, when the next vehicle is going to arrive

“ NextBus in 5 minutes”

Can also display text messages

“ Detour next week due to construction”

AVL & Management tools

Signs, website, cell phones, etc

Why Real-Time Information is Valuable Make transit a better alternative: Reduces travel time Reduces perceived wait times Reduces exposure to elements Reduces uncertainty Empowers the passengers Increases ridership

Make transit a better alternative:

Reduces travel time

Reduces perceived wait times

Reduces exposure to elements

Reduces uncertainty

Empowers the passengers

Increases ridership

Don’t want to wait in rain

Wait where there’s coffee!

Cell Phones & PDAs

Does It Make a Difference? We get fan mail from users “ Best thing to happen to SF Muni” Difference between taking or not taking the bus

We get fan mail from users

“ Best thing to happen to SF Muni”

Difference between taking or not taking the bus

Conclusion Yes, we have a problem Need to improve transit Funding will be short Transit information technology is part of the solution

Yes, we have a problem

Need to improve transit

Funding will be short

Transit information technology is part of the solution