Automation as an enabler: Passengers’ experience of travelling with a full-length automated bus and their expectations of a future public transport system

Paper in proceeding, 2023

Twenty-two frequent public transport users experienced travelling with a fully automated, full-length bus on a test course that included nine simulated everyday traffic situations. Most participants experienced the journey as very positive and their trust in the automated system was high. In general, they were positive about using automated buses in the future but believed that this would not improve their travelling experience or change their travel behaviour without additional modifications to the system, such as dedicated public transport lanes etc. Many believed that the introduction of automated buses could create conditions for increased access to transport in rural areas and that the automated technology might enable new services that would have a great impact on public transport development, contributing a more individual, efficient and flexible public transport system.