Bus identification system for the visually impaired: evaluation and learning from pilot trials on public buses in delhi

Many studies have established the need and utility of accessible urban transport system for visually impaired persons. However, most public transportation systems, especially in the developing countries, are not accessible and this is often listed as one of the major bottlenecks for social and economic inclusion of visually impaired. OnBoard, the bus identification and homing system has been developed to address these needs. A radio-frequency based, completely user-triggered system helps the user first to identify the route number and then enables the user to board the bus using the auditory cues from the entrance of the bus. This study discusses a quantitative evaluation of real-life field testing that helps assess the effectiveness in enabling independent boarding of public buses. Further, it also describes specific requirements that got identified during the trial phase. We have also discussed the design improvements which enable the installation of the bus module in varying buses of different service providers. Objective of our study has been to generate empirical evidence that would facilitate the move towards incorporation of such a system in public buses globally. The positive feedback received confirms that the system enables independent access to the visually impaired without compromising on their safety.