It’s a hot summer’s afternoon in Byron Bay and, after finishing your fermented kale bubble tea, you’re ready for the beach.
But walking just seems so 2023, so you decide to use your smart phone to hail the town’s driverless busbot.
As the doors open, you’re greeted by a wave of cool air and a calm computerised voice which welcomes you to the EasyMile 3000. Welcome to the very near future in Byron Bay. Well possibly…
Transport for NSW has offered Byron the chance to be part of its new busbot trial, and Byron Council is giving it serious consideration. Under the trial, Byron Bay would (at least temporarily) become home to an EasyMile EZ10 Generation 2 automated vehicle.
The driverless, electric, and fully-automated bus would cruise around town and be hailed by users via a smartphone app. A series of sensors and cameras would ensure a safe and smooth ride that includes disability access and parking capability.
It also incorporates multiple layers of redundancy to maximise the safety of passengers, pedestrians, and other road users.
With Byron Council already looking to provide a bus services circulating in the town centre, the busbot would be a quiet, ideal way to get people get around without creating any additional emissions.
Coffs Harbour has already completed a trial of the busbot, with the vast majority of users declaring it the best thing since the Big Banana (ok, they actually said they were ‘satisfied with the experience’).
Were the Byron Bay trial to follow that used in Coffs Harbour, the busbot would be gradually introduced, starting with a demonstration drive with an on-board supervisor and then gradually being included into the town’s transport system without supervision.
According to Byron Council documents, the busbot trial is currently being considered by Council staff. They are exploring a range of factors including the fact that it can only be used in low-speed environments (such as Jonson Street at any time of the day or night).
Stay tuned to The Echo and echo.net.au for more busbot updates in the coming weeks!
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