In October and November 2024, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and Teleste organised a total of three focus group sessions as a part of our plan to co-create passenger-aware public transport services with user groups and other public transport stakeholders. OptiPEx uses co-creation as a methodology to understand passenger needs (such as assistance or vehicle control) and to explore technical limitations. VTT engaged diverse user groups with nine representatives, including wheelchair and walker users, passengers with prams, and tourists, as well as three representatives of public transport providers in Finland. The in-depth discussion focused on assessing passenger needs when boarding, offboarding and onboard public transport vehicles.
The focus group sessions revealed several needs related to public transport. Particularly, mobility-impaired individuals and those with prams require assistance with boarding, locating a safe spot to sit, and navigating crowded vehicles. Tourists face challenges with language barriers and unfamiliar routes, needing clear stop identification and guidance of the area. Passenger comfort is influenced by indoor conditions, such as motion instability, noise, odours, air quality, and temperature fluctuations, while safety concerns include both actual dangers and perceived insecurity from unruly behaviour. As public transport transitions towards automation, these challenges related to safety, privacy, and assistance must be addressed. While detailed findings from the session are still being analysed, we look forward to improving service quality and user satisfaction with future public transport in Finland and Europe.
