Automated Bus Service: Scottish Bus Users Pre-Trial Data, 2021

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This study aimed to comprehensively measure the views of bus passengers towards a pilot automated bus service operating on a route running from Fife, across the Forth Road Bridge into Edinburgh. The quantitative survey data was used to help us understand how Scottish residents feel about emerging bus automation technology. In addition to gathering respondents sociodemographic data, they were asked questions about their perceptions towards technology, vehicle automation, automated buses and the design of future bus services.

This project will use full size, 12m, single deck buses operating at Level 4 autonomy, providing a pilot bus service, in all weathers, using a 14 mile each way route between Fife and Edinburgh including crossing the Forth Road Bridge. This exciting and challenging project will provide a world leading demonstration of UK autonomous vehicle capability at a UNESCO heritage site with resultant global interest, and help UK companies introduce AV tech to their world-wide products and services. The project is led by UK technology company Fusion Processing Ltd and comprises leading UK organisations active in the transport sector: Fusion Processing Ltd: Autonomous vehicle technology Alexander Dennis: Vehicles Ltd: Stagecoach Group plc - Bus Service Operator and Societal Research Transport Scotland: National transport agency Napier University: Measurement of wider society viewpoint Bristol Robotics Laboratory: Vehicle simulation, validation, safety, and compliance