Introduction
Part of the early phases of the OptiPEx project is about establishing passenger needs for passenger-aware on-board services. In the spirit of the project’s inclusive approach using co-creation, two methodologies were implemented to establish the perspectives, preferences, and expectations of different stakeholders regarding public transportation: focus groups and surveys. The results of these methods will now be used to inform the development of basic service concepts. These are the initial innovations that the project will be proposing in it’s attempt to improve the experience of public transport for all. In this article, the results of the focus groups will be discussed.
Methodology
The focus group method involved structured workshops with diverse participant groups. The aim of these workshops was to unpack specific public transport issues through a sequence of problem identification, solution exploration, and contextual scenario discussions. The workshop topics included accessibility, safety, and technological adaptation for different user groups in different countries, including Spain, Austria, Finland, and Germany. These transport user groups that participated in the focus groups included:
- Fragile users (visually impaired, physically impaired, older people)
- Students
- Passengers with large objects
- Tourists
In each workshop, the groups addressed questions related to the four possible use cases, including:
- Automatic on-board assistance of passengers with special needs (or, Use Case 1)
- Improving on-board safety with anomaly detection (or, Use Case 2)
- Pedestrian to vehicle communication (or, Use Case 3)
- Passenger distribution optimisation (or, Use Case 4)
The insights that were collected during these workshops will now be discussed in detail.
Problem Identification
In terms of problem identification, several common issues emerged across all the workshops. With regards to safety and comfort concerns, issues of the disruptive behaviour of passengers causing discomfort or distress, fear of accidents or unsafe conditions due to pedestrian-tram interactions or vehicle malfunctions , and also overcrowding, pushing, or collisions inside trams, were emphasised. With regards to accessibility challenges, issues of difficulties boarding and offboarding vehicles were identified (particularly for mobility-impaired individuals or passengers with large objects) and insufficient information for visually impaired passengers (such as lack of clear tactile paving or acoustic signals), emerged.
In addition to this, comments concerning environmental and physical discomfort were identified, including poor air quality, noise, strong odours, and temperature differences inside vehicles. Lastly, some concerns about autonomous vehicles were identified, including how the absence of a driver and ability they have to handle emergencies reduces passengers’ sense of safety.
Solution Exploration
With regards to solutions, commonly proposed ideas included improving communication and information systems by using acoustic and visual signals to convey critical information, as well as using colour-coded or tactile markings on vehicles and at stops for better orientation. Improving announcements (audible and visual) regarding stops, route deviations, and vehicle occupancy was also proposed as an important step.
The primary solution concerning technology for safety and efficiency was CCTV monitoring for anomaly detection and emergency response. Other technological solutions that were proposed included occupancy indicators via apps, screens, colour-coded displays to optimise passenger distribution, and the provision of emergency systems with direct connection to a control centre.
In terms solutions to accessibility challenges, the elimination of steps and gaps through improved structural design and ramps, and the implementation of dedicated areas for wheelchair users and better seat quality, were proposed. Finally, concerning human presence or oversight, there were suggestions for an on-board supervisor in autonomous trams, who would be able to assist passengers and manage emergencies.
Attitudes Towards Innovation
The attitudes that were expressed towards innovations were focused on the autonomous nature of vehicles. The main concerns included a widespread apprehension about the lack of human presence to manage emergencies or assist passengers, particularly among fragile groups, and doubts about the reliability of technology to handle complex situations or malfunctions. The proposed mitigations to these challenges were remote monitoring systems and communication with a control centre, as well as maintaining human oversight via a supervisor or on-call support.
With regards to CCTV and surveillance, positive perceptions emerged around it as an acceptable tool for safety and anomaly detection, particularly amongst older and fragile passengers. Privacy concerns regarding CCTV also emerged, particularly amongst students with expressions of hesitance about data misuse or privacy infringement.
Conclusion
Within this data, key coincidences and observations can be identified between all countries. These include:
- Consensus on accessibility: All countries highlight the need for improved systems and infrastructure for mobility-impaired and visually impaired passengers.
- Occupancy information: Occupancy indicators are widely favoured to enhance passenger distribution and comfort.
- Human oversight in automation: Across all countries, participants agree on the importance of retaining some form of human presence or oversight in autonomous vehicles.
- Preference for multi-modal communication: Combining acoustic, visual, and tactile methods to ensure inclusivity in public transport.
These invaluable insights, along with those provided by the survey, will now guide the improvements that OptiPEx is seeking to make in public transport systems, emphasising inclusivity, safety, and user-centric design.
Stay tuned for a deep dive into the survey methodology and results!
