Improved public transportation interface for vulnerable users

The elderly, children, and disabled persons daily face many inconveniences when they use public transportation, a common form of which is the bus system. When travelling by bus, it is sometimes difficult for these people to recognize the bus stop where they should disembark and signal their intention to do so to the bus driver by pressing the bus hachabel. In this paper, an improved interface is proposed for the bus hachabel system to help these handicapped and vulnerable persons. By using the modules of Bluetooth communication, data computing, and the existing GPS system in the Bus Information System, the bus hachabel system can be controlled remotely through a mobile device. In addition, real-time information about the bus’ location and the bus stop at which the handicapped person boarded can be transmitted to him or her, as well as to his or her caregivers. This paper contributes to realizing a welfare society by helping vulnerable persons, in particular users of the bus system, which is one form of public transportation.