The Scottish Bus Open Data Consultation
S3D The prescribed information - technical questions on real time information
Real time information has the power to significantly improve the journey experience of passengers with additional access needs, and will give passengers a greater level of assurance about the availability of services than assumed location information.
Real time information falls into two broad categories:
Location Information
- live bus stop arrival and departure times
- live timetables
- live disruption updates
Facilities and Accessibility Information
- on-board capacity
- on-board wheelchair space utilisation
- on-board facilities (wi-fi, power/charging, toilets, audio/visual capacity, payment methods)
- emissions standard of the bus
Unlike static data, real time information will also need to be updated much faster, on a continuous automated ‘feed’ basis, and we have assumed that this timescale should be measured in seconds or minutes, rather than months, weeks or years. We are aware that many operators are already fully equipped to provide location information, and do so predominately using the ‘SIRI’ standard. We propose that the list of ‘Location Information’ above be provided as real time information in the new Regulations.
The facilities and accessibility information being sought is not something that is currently commonly captured on a real time (in use) basis. We appreciate that it may require time and investment in new systems to be able to provide this.
As a result, we are minded to phase in the requirement to provide facilities and accessibility real time information over time. This will start with a requirement, initially through guidance, to provide information about onboard facilities and accessibility information generally, moving towards to full real time (in use) information over time, in Regulations
Related information
Stage One (Static) to be provided under Guidance
- what is the maximum capacity of the vehicle
- how many accessible spaces does the vehicle have
- does the vehicle have wi-fi available
- does the vehicle have power/charging facilities
- does the vehicle have audio/visual facilities for announcing location and next stop
- what payment methods are available on the vehicle
- what is the emission standard of the vehicle
Stage Two (Real Time) initially to be provided through future legislation
- what is the maximum capacity of the vehicle, how close to capacity is the vehicle (could be expressed as a percentage, a low/medium/high rating, etc)
- how many accessible spaces does the vehicle have, and how many are currently in use
- does the vehicle have wi-fi available, and is it currently operational (working)
- does the vehicle have power/charging facilities and is it currently operational (working)
- does the vehicle have audio/visual facilities for announcing location and next stop and is it currently operational (working)
- what payment methods are available on the vehicle
- what is the emission standard of the vehicle, what is the carbon saving compared to driving between two stops