Electronic Signs in Bus Shelters
Metro has recently completed installing nearly 1,000 electronic yournextbus displays at key bus stops around West Yorkshire. The 'countdown' style signs show real time and scheduled departure information for buses from the stop.
There are two different styles of electronic sign - a large 3-line LED sign which is being installed in town and city centres; and a smaller LCD sign which is generally being placed in busy bus shelters along major bus routes.
Metro has also put the yournextbus displays at key locations such as outside hospitals, near universities and outside retail centres and workplaces.
Increasing the amount of Real Times
The projects' main focus is currently to improve the proportion of real time predictions. Metro is working closely with the project partners to improve the proportion of real time predictions (compared to scheduled times) over the coming months.
A lot of progress has been made and the proportion of real times is increasing.
Remember real times are shown in minutes (e.g. "3 mins") whereas scheduled times are shown as a 24hr clock (e.g. "09:49")
Electronic Signs in Bus Stations
Metro has also nearly converted all it's existing electronic departure boards in major bus stations to show real times. This will mean that where real times are displayed, buses won't disappear from the screens until the bus has actually departed.
Traffic Light Priority
One of the most exciting aspects of the yournextbus project will be 'Traffic Light Priority.' When a bus is late, we'll be able to turn the traffic lights green so the bus can make up time. This has been implemented at some locations and the early signs are very promising, as it has been demostrated that journey times for buses have been decreased where Traffic Light Priority has been installed.
Yournextbus InfoLine
Not everyone has a mobile phone, and not everyone has access to the internet, so as well as placing electronic signs in around 1000 shelters around the county, Metro will offer the same information currently given by text, over the phone. You'll phone a number, type in your bus stop number, and the information will be read out to you in an audio format. This new facility will become available later in 2009.
