1. The document summarizes the findings of a demonstration project for an enhanced bus station concept in Paris. 2. The demonstration station was larger and more multifunctional than typical bus shelters, including digital information screens, modular designs, green spaces, and retail areas. 3. Evaluations found passengers, local residents, and media had very positive reactions to the station, though maintenance costs and integrating new technologies were challenges.

1. European Bus Operators’ Forum – 11 June 2013
RATP Osmose Bus station in Paris
An advanced design demonstrator for the EBSF project
Yo Kaminagai
Head of Design – Projects Management Department

2. Summary
1. Stations = component
of a Bus system
2. Present situations
overview
3. The enhanced station
concept
4. The bus station
demonstrator
5. The conclusions

3. 1.
Stations
= component
of a Bus system
São Paulo - 2008

4. Stations = component of a Bus system 1
Vehicle
Street and
public space Passenger information
Platforms
Etc …

5. Stations = component of a Bus system 1
Standard State-of-art
Vehicles Standard Capacity +, comfort +, alternative energies
Transport programme Standard 18 h per day, 7 days a week, high
frequency, regularity
Stops and stations Bus stops, bus shelters Stations integrated in the city
Streets and public
spaces
Bus lanes Right-of-way lanes, public space
refurbishment
Passenger
information
Static (and dynamic),
only about transport
Static and dynamic, covering city and
services themas
Multimodality Interchange signage Multifunctional and mutimodal integrated
stations
Additionnal services Ø Services pack, in connexion and comfort
Identity Standard Specific
Bus system = vehicles + infrastructures + operations

6. Stations = component of a Bus system 1
The EBSF project
• European Bus System of the Future project = vehicles + infrastructures
+ information systems
• 47 partners from 11 European countries under the UITP leadership
(2008 – 2012)
• European Commission financed 16 M€ in a total of 26 M€ (Research
Frame Program FP 7)
• 7 first use-cases in Budapest, Madrid, Bremerhaven, Rouen, Brunoy,
Budapest, Rome, about vehicles or information systems
• RATP: focus on enhanced bus stations

7. 2.
Present
situations
overview
São PauloParis - Porte d’Italie - 1950

8. The 4 Daltons of the bus stops
Present situations overview 2

9. The 4 Daltons of the bus stops
Present situations overview 2

10. 1. Stops
Present situations overview
London (UK)
Berlin
(Germany)
Paris
(France)
Industrial products with local flavours
Genoa
(Italy)
Vienna
(Austria)
2

11. 2. Shelters
Present situations overview
Dundee (UK)
Montréal
(Canada)
Lausanne
(Switzerland)
London
(UK)
Industrial products mostly financed by advertisements
2

12. 3. Terminals
Present situations overview
Spectacular one-shot architectural realizations
Hoofddorp Spaarne Ziekenhuis
(The Netherlands)
London Vauxhall (UK)
Coire (Switzerland)
Slough
(UK)
2

13. 3. Platforms
Present situations overview
Mid-size solutions for BRT and tram lines
Vienna
(Austria)
Paris (France)
Curitiba (Brazil)
Istanbul
(Turkey)
2

14. Present situations overview
The Parisian case
The different urban furniture models dedicated to the bus network are not
based on the same responsibilities
Bus stops: financed and installed by RATP
Bus shelters: financed and installed by the urban furniture operator in
contract with the Paris city Council
Tram platforms: financed as investments in the tram projects
Bus terminals: financed as investments as independent projects
Large bus stations: lack of optimized solutions except juxtaposition of basic
shelters
1. Bus stops 2. Bus shelters 3. Tram platforms 4. Bus terminals
2

15. 3.
The enhanced
station
concept
São Paulo

16. The enhanced station concept
The RATP Osmose research for the Great Paris network
• A new metro station concept, identified through a regular architectural
competition on a fictional but realistic hub (on YouTube : osmose ratp)
• More than a station, a mix-use urban complex :
• enhanced
• shared
• upgreadable
• expressive
3

17. The enhanced station concept
Application to the bus station case: the stakes
• Urban service
operators
• New players
• Outdoor
publicity
operators
• Other public
space players
• Transport authorities
• Local authorities
• Bus passengers
• Neighbourhoods
• Passers-by
Bus station
demonstrator
seduce
convince
involve
invite
3

18. The enhanced station concept 3
The objectives of enhanced bus stations
For the passengers
➔ more comfort, more well-being
➔ more connexion and retail services
For the neighbours
➔ local services, urban functions (rest, landmarks, …)
For transport operators and authorities
➔ attractivity, modernity, image
➔ service philosophy, brand loyalty
For the city
➔ beauty, cultural ambition, pride
For the other service operators
➔ extension and diversification of their market
➔ urban visibility

19. Preliminary designs
The concept : an enhanced bus station 3
A different pavement to
distinguish the space
dedicated to transport service
A totem to mark the
station as an urban
mobility point
A modular
and
customisable
shelter system
(adaptable in
length, width,
personnality)
A well-
managed
greening for
the spaces
Communication systems (interactive
terminals or screens) discretely
integrated to the furniture
A large transport space integrating
urban functions (mini-kiosks, retail
and fooding corners, …)
A signage to the lines in
interchange

20. Preliminary design studies
The concept : an enhanced bus station 3
© RATP – Plan Créatif – Wilmotte

22. 4.
The bus
station
demonstrato
r
São Paulo

23. The station location
The bus station demonstrator 4

24. In the center of a hub
The bus station demonstrator 4

25. Day and night
The bus station demonstrator 4

26. Obvious sizing problems (15 000 passengers per day)
The bus station demonstrator 4

27. Before: a standard bus shelter (6,5 m2)
The bus station demonstrator 4

28. Now: a complete enhanced resized station
The bus station demonstrator 4

29. The bus station demonstrator 4

30. 5.
The
conclusions
São Paulo

31. The conclusions 5
The results
Passengers:
extremely high satisfaction level
positive impact on the bus image
Media: astonishing high level of impact (worldwide)
Classical information systems (paper, signage): compulsory !
No vandalism: relaxed and respectful people
Accessibility features: some difficulties to solve
Maintenance: immediate high level of exigence
• Bus passengers
• Neighbourhoods
• Passers-by

32. The results
Urban design:
Multifunctionality proven in a limited space
Paris city:
Coherence with the local research agenda, oriented towards
digital urban furniture
Feeding the future bus stops shelters tender (in 2013 - 2014),
with many insights (modularity, sizing, information, services, …)
used in the specs
Interest for 100 enhanced bus stations in Paris (among 2000) to
be installed in 2015 - 2016
• Transport authorities
• Local authorities
The conclusions 5

33. The results
Energy: a basic matter
Revelation of cost structure: the digital part (screens, systems, network,
energy …) almost as expensive as the physical part (shelter, furniture,
…)
Understanding of possible business cases: if the proportion of enhanced
stations is low (< 5% ?) and if the contract is long (> 10 years ?), these
enhanced stations should be normally included with innovative revenue
possibilities
• Outdoor
publicity
operators
• Other public
space players
The conclusions 5

34. The results
About the tested services:
The library: a major impact on the quality image with a low cost
how to make it sustainable ?
Street-food: a bit neglected in France, an economic sector to
intertwin with bus stations
Globally: the station should be modified to allow better placing
and orientation towards the customers
About the future:
Interest of a living-lab, as incubator of innovative services
Combination between the commercial retail sector, the public
services sector and the new collborative economy sector
• Urban
services
operators
• New players
The conclusions 5

35. Global results for the EBSF project
As a research: proof of concept obtained
As an event: a smart breakthrough in the
agenda
As a service: not liked, but loved (problems
to dismount and to integrate in the current
operations)
As a strategic tool: an useful platform
attracting partners
As a vision: the public space as a market
for an « Apple » of the urban furniture
domain ?
The conclusions 5