The white Fabulos drove through the streets of Helmond in February. The self-driving van, without a driver but with a ‘steward’ on board, drove from the Automotive Campus to Brandevoort station. This pilot project will be continued next year. With a new bus, on a more difficult route and without a steward. Travelers are dropped off at the company where they work.
Much has been learned from the project with the Fabulos. The municipality of Helmond is determined to make the self-driving bus a success. Alderman Arno Bonte does believe in the benefits. “It’s cheaper, you can use a lot more of them and they can drive more often. They come by once every ten minutes and you can get in at any time.”
“Thousands of Helmonders have already been in it and were very enthusiastic about it.”
Ideal as a connection from the residential areas to the city or the station, says the alderman. He would like a low-traffic city center. Helmond has four train stations, but public transport connections further into the city are almost non-existent. “Now there are large buses, which are often empty and run once an hour.”
But the self-driving bus, speed 15 kilometers per hour and 11 seats, is still a long way off. Although the first tests with the Fabulos were promising according to Bonte. “Thousands of Helmonders have been in it and were very enthusiastic about it. The bus has also been tested with visually impaired people and people with walking difficulties.”
“The bus has started to behave more humanely.”
According to Bonte, many teething problems have already been resolved. “The bus stopped very abruptly when an obstacle had to be avoided. That was not comfortable for travelers and other traffic. The bus has now started behaving in a more humane way.”
The new self-driving bus will drive next year on a business park on the south side of the city. There will be a new bus stop there. The people who get off there are taken by the unmanned shuttle to the front door of one of the thirty companies. “We want the shuttle to be ready when the scheduled bus arrives,” says Bonte.
“The previous trial was on a test route in a laboratory setting, now the bus will be part of the traffic.” The route will not be provided with warnings for the time being. “The bus must behave as normally as possible,” says Bonte. “Unless, of course, it really scares people. Then we can always see if warning signs are needed.”
“I hope to see them downtown in five years”
If this project succeeds, the bus will run from the Automotive Campus to the stations of Brandevoort and Mierlo-‘t Hout, an even more complex route. And if that turns out to be a success, the bus will drive in the city center, without a driver or steward on board, amidst the bustle of cars, cyclists and pedestrians.
“There could then be quite a lot of vans driving through the city. But first we have to test whether everything is safe.” According to Bonte, things can move quickly if the pilot projects are successful. “I hope to see them in the city center in five years. I would prefer to use them now.”
The municipality is looking for the company that will carry out the latest pilot project. The RDW is also watching. “We chose the location together. The service will take a very critical look at safety.” The municipality has raised 1 million euros through subsidies for the next two years.
The previous self-driving bus Fabulos:
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