OneBusAway Sharing real-time transit info
The Challenge Custom mobile apps are expensive Some estimates > $150,000k for a single platform [7] Doesn t include maintenance cost Implementing and maintaining custom apps on all popular smartphone platforms is cost-prohibitive Open data is good, but doesn t always result in apps by 3 rd party developers How can we cost-effectively launch mobile transit apps in new cities?
What is OneBusAway? What? Suite of tools that provides real-time bus/train tracking information Open-source software project Freely available to set up at your agency Free to riders Maintained by consortium of organizations Universities Transit Agencies Vendors Why? Make riding public transit easier by providing good information in usable formats Research evaluates the impacts Real-time arrival info
OneBusAway - Website
OneBusAway-Mobile Apps Android iphone Windows Phone & Windows 8
How do you use OneBusAway?
Created GTFS-realtime feed for HART HART USF GTFS-realtime USF OneBusAway Trip/ Vehicle Updates Real-time info request Real-time info request HART Buses HART Comm. Tower HART AVL OrbCAD SQL Server Real-time info response USF GTFS-realtime server Real-time info response USF OneBusAway server GTFS-realtime software is open-source : https://github.com/cutr-at-usf/hart-gtfs-realtimegenerator/wiki
Tampa Research Results How does OneBusAway effect transit riders?
Tampa Research Results Lead by Candace Brakewood and Dr. Kari Watkins at Georgia Tech Objective: Quantify the impacts of real-time bus information on transit rider behavior and satisfaction in pilot deployment prior to public launch Methodology: Before and after web-based survey with a nonuser (control) group Recruitment: HART website, HART email list & other email lists (USF); Free 1 day bus pass as incentive BEFORE SURVEY of Control Group (approx. 230 participants) AFTER SURVEY of Control Group (107 Non-Users) BEFORE SURVEY of OneBusAway Group (approx. 230 participants) AFTER SURVEY of OneBusAway Group (110 OneBusAway Users) After Survey results do not include: 24 Participants in the Control Group that used OneBusAway 27 Participants in the OneBusAway Group that did not use OneBusAway
Analysis of Usual Wait Times Identical questions about usual wait time on regular route on the before and after surveys Experimental group post-wave survey only: Has using OneBusAway changed the amount of time you wait at the bus stop? 3% 3% 31% 38% 26% 0% 50% 100% I spend much more time waiting I spend somewhat more time waiting I spend about the same time waiting I spend somewhat less time waiting I spend much less time waiting
Analysis of Feelings While Waiting for the Bus Identical questions about feelings while waiting asked on the before and after surveys Control Group OneBusAway User Group % Frequently + Always % Frequently + Always Feelings Before After Before After Productive 11% 10% 10% 17% Anxious 18% 19% 26% 25% Relaxed 34% 34% 27% 25% Frustrated 24% 26% 25% 18% Experimental group post-wave survey only asked: Since you began using OneBusAway, do you feel more relaxed when waiting for the bus? 28% 40% 27% 4% 0% 50% 100% Agree strongly Agree somewhat Neutral Disagree somewhat Disagree strongly
Analysis of Satisfaction Identical questions about satisfaction asked on the before and after surveys Control Group OneBusAway Group % Satisfied % Satisfied Before After Before After How frequently the bus comes 37% 41% 40% 44% How long you have to wait for the bus 39% 34% 36% 46% How often the bus arrives at the stop on time 54% 45% 45% 59% How often you arrive at your destination on time 57% 53% 55% 63% How often you have to transfer buses to get to your destination 44% 42% 38% 36% Overall HART bus service 63% 59% 57% 58% Experimental group post-wave survey only asked: Since you began using OneBusAway, do you feel more satisfied riding HART buses? Agree strongly Agree somewhat 32% 38% 26% 3% Neutral Disagree somewhat 0% 50% 100% Disagree strongly
Qualitative Results Riders Realize the Benefits Excellent program saves time in waiting for the buses. I think the OneBusAway app is a life saver. Being able to know exactly when the bus is coming is helpful. Has really helped me catch busses that aren't originating at the Marion Transit Center. Often when catching busses along their route, I felt like it was the "wild, wild, west" with times, busses not showing, etc. OneBusAway helped make everything much more sensible and relaxing!! Requests to Continue OneBusAway Please keep One Bus Away going in Tampa. Thank you. This is too useful to not be deployed soon. I have coworkers asking me how I'm so accurate on scheduling, and when I explain it, they are eagerly awaiting the service rollout so they can have it.
HART Benefits Enhanced Reliability of Responses to Patrons System-wide Access Improved Call Response Time Embrace Innovation Practices and Systems
Next Steps IVR (phone call in) access for visually impaired and those without cell or web Advertising sales revenue generation Real-Time Service and Detour Alerts Integration Addition of local regions (USF Bull Runner/PSTA Real-Time Data)
Resources OneBusAway - http://onebusaway.org/ Transit Agencies - http://onebusaway.org/transit-agencies/ Developers - https://github.com/onebusaway/onebusaway/wiki Webinar on OneBusAway Multi-region - http://bit.ly/cutr_webcast_oba_multiregion APTA presentation on Tampa experiment - http://bit.ly/apta2014-tamponebusawayexperiment
Thanks! Shannon Haney haneys@gohart.org 813.384.6602 Sean J. Barbeau, Ph.D. barbeau@cutr.usf.edu 813.974.7208 Thanks to Candace Brakewood and Kari Watkins for survey slides!