Motivation
Victoria Regional Transit System coordinates the delivery of public transportation throughout Victoria. The current transit system in Victoria has not kept pace with more modernized systems where real-time transit scheduling and traffic data are accessible to the general public. It is not rare to encounter frustrations when buses are not arriving on pre-made schedules due to real-time uncertainties. On the other hand, emerging personal communication and computing technologies, such as Smartphone, are fast growing popularity worldwide with hundreds of millions users. To resolve the imbalance between the current system and the ever-evolving technology, it is innovative to enable effective communication among the transit control center, buses, bus stops, and passengers.
The Smart Bus System (SBS) is a system which applies available communication technologies (e.g. GPS,) to connect transit authority and passengers. It provides the public with an easy and comfortable way of travelling. Especially in Victoria, a city that hosts a large non-local student population who highly rely on the public transit, the availability of real-time transit data would be largely beneficial. For example, an accurate real-time scheduling would reduce students' tardiness, allow better time management, and offer easy navigation around the city.
Besides students, Victoria has an aging population. In the years to come, Victoria will experience an influx in transitions from cars to public transit. Due to the uncertainty and unreliability of the static schedules and the lack of information on bus routes, people tend to feel intimidated to the bus alternative and more likely prolong car use which gives more freedom. By making real-time transit data available and maintaining a high level of accuracy, the discouragement could be removed. People should feel the bus system is catered to their personal schedules despite being held to the bus schedules.
Besides students and senior citizens, an inclusive transit system would provide accommodations for people with special needs. For example, a Smartphone app with vibrating functions could be developed to alert people with visual impairment. Also, the availability of wheel-chair space could be accessed on computer, at bus stop, or via phone. Advancements like these and others will make it easier to use public transit and provide individual freedom.