Despite the good results of experimentations nothing happened since 2004…

In 2004, a first attempt of automatic minibus implementation was tested in Antibes (South of France). This was part of a research project called Cybermove (see website in the References below), which has analysed in details 11 sites in Europe. The purpose of Antibes demonstration was to show the people the general operation and functionality of the ParkShuttle system (using Frog vehicles: see the pictures on Cybercars website here). ParkShuttle was controlled automatically, and the required destination was selected by pushing on a control panel, in the vehicle.

Experimentation details

During a 10-days testing period, the shuttle took around 3,000 persons on a 320-metre long section, in front of the Vauban port. The hybrid shuttle, with a 20-passenger capacity, was guided by magnets implanted in the road. The obstacle detection was assured by a laser beam with a 30 metres outreach. The shuttle had 5 stops on its route and rode at 15 kph (around 10 mph), 9 hours a day.

Experimentation results

On the technical side, this experimentation was a success: very good reliability, easy set-up (the magnets were installed in only one night!), the control system never failed, the comfort was better than a mechanically guided system, and the obstacle detection has been a great success… despite the fact that pedestrians tried to burst in front of the shuttle at the last second.

The public considered the service was reliable, easy to use, and that is had good performances, was comfortable, noiseless, and “eco-aware”.

Despite the experimentation’s success, nothing happened…

After the success of this experimentation, Antibes town wanted to start a service with this shuttle on a 1.5 kilometre section, between a parking lot and the city centre. They projected that the service could be operating in 2007… but no more information was found about this possible implementation: It seems other factors aborted the project.

From what we know, this type of automatic buses should be implemented where a small group of passengers can be concentrated at the same origin, going to a particular destination such as between a parking lot and an airport terminal, or from a suburban area to a metro station. This type of system has the advantage to be economic, “eco-aware” and very reliable. Antibes’ project failure is certainly due to two main reason: at first because the French legislation does not allow automatic system to run on roads, and second reason, because the city of Antibes and other public authorities were maybe not ready to support this type of project.

Perspectives of automatic (mini)buses in France

The future of Cybercars could be “new successful experimentations”… At this time, no public transport system in the world uses their technology and the only examples actually working are those implemented to transport players on golf rounds. Another European project called CityMobil may however come out, with new experimentations like Antibes’ one, in the future months. It is to note that cities like London (England, for Heathrow Airport), Rome (Italy), Valencia (Spain) and Clermont-Ferrand (France) are testing different Cybercars’ solutions…

References

  • Website: Automated Transport in City Centers: from the experiment to generalisation (Transport automatique en centre ville : d’une expérimentation à la généralisation): here
  • Website: Cybermove: here
  • Website: The Automated Road (La route automatisée): here
  • Pictures: Antibes’ experimentation: here
  • Website: Serpentine: here
  • Website: 2 Get There: here
  • Debate: Antibes’ experimentation: here

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