Around 40 interested people took part in the 4-hour event. Participants were divided into four groups, each of which worked on different topics. Group 1 dealt with the question of what a bus service would have to look like if people were to choose it over their own car. Group 2 thought about the safety concerns of autonomous vehicles. Group 3 discussed what a service should look like that people with disabilities could easily use. Group 4 worked on the issue of mobility chains and the networking of different modes of transport.
Overall, the results of the groups provided valuable insights into citizens’ expectations of attractive, safe and inclusive transport. Group 1, for example, identified travel costs, information flow, time and the number and location of stops as important factors for the attractiveness of a transport service. A transport service must find the right solutions in these areas in order to be attractive. With regard to the safety of autonomous buses, the safe journey even without a driver was decisive for Group 2. The group also emphasised safety from attacks by passengers when there is no longer a driver on board as an important feature. When it came to the question of inclusion, it became clear that it is particularly difficult for people with disabilities to travel without a bus driver in the vehicle.
Group 3 called for the introduction of functional technical features that could replace the role of the driver. In Group 4, it became clear that local transport in Herford currently has two major shortcomings: Citizens often struggle with long waiting times when changing trains. In addition, the central coach station is not at the station, making it difficult to switch between trains and buses.
For the ULTIMO team, the workshop confirmed earlier findings. The results in Herford are in line with those of other co-creation workshops that have already been held.
“The big task now is to incorporate these results into our transport planning at and the ideas on accessibility and automated services in the two other test areas of Geneva and Oslo ,” says Lars Abeler from DB, which is leading the ULTIMO project. “I am delighted that there is so much interest in our project in the city even before the start of operations.”
Linda Mathé from ULTIMO project partner Siemens is also enthusiastic: “As the person responsible for accessibility in the project, we were very pleased about the lively participation of people with disabilities in the workshop. We received important impulses for the design of automated public transport and the driving experience. We are already looking forward to seeing what the feedback on the implemented ideas will be next year.”
The UTLIMO project is now picking up speed in Herford following the workshop. The ULTIMO experts as well as Busverkehr Ostwestfalen GmbH (BVO) and Stadtverkehr Herford (SVH) are using the results to design and implement a test operation. At a second citizen participation workshop in 2025, the services developed and installed in a first test vehicle will be tested by citizens in terms of inclusion and safety and their feedback will be used for further development.