Dreams or Reality -- It All Depends on Your Data!
Gary Umpleby · Traffic engineering & control · 2011
This article describes how journey planning has been around for a while and continues to evolve.. The use of Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology at bus stops is a relatively recent but developing technology. Perhaps the integration of public transport data with road network data (road works, congestion, incidents), and the delivery of multi-modal connection protection may be next. The article reports that there has been a sharp rise in alterations to bus services across the United Kingdom (UK), something which is likely to get worse. In 2009 the number of variations or cancellations to service was more than significant, equating to more than half of the UK’s total number of bus service registrations. The article notes that amendments to service outside the main timetable changes dates and places an extra workload on local authority officers to make the necessary updates to bus stop posters or databases driving real-time information screens. Even before the recent staff cuts suffered by local authorities, many authorities were already struggling to deliver the necessary updates to bus stop waysides and real time information systems brought about by both planned and un-planned interim service changes.