A survey of “prototypes” of bus stops has been presented by Ariel Schwartz in his Sustainability Blog at FastCompany: sometimes they simply offer added aesthetical value to the riders, though it is questionable that they contribute to the improvement of local public transport service and passengers’ well-being.

The vision of Carlo Ratti, MIT Senseable City Lab’s Head on the bus stops in the near future is rather clear: they will “change the whole experience of urban travel.”

A vision supported by the Lab’s prototype of “EyeStop“, a “bus shelter 2.0″, developed in conjunction with the Province of Florence, Italy and local public transportation authority ATAF.

The innovation potential of EyeStop is easy to see. The bus shelter designed for Florence includes touch-sensitive e-INK and screens, and offers several interactive services. Passengers can plan their public transport trip on an interactive map, surf the web, gather information on the real-time local polluting emissions and access on-line services with their own mobile devices (e.g. posting ads and community announcements to an electronic bulletin board at the bus stop).

“At the touch of a finger, passengers can get the shortest bus route to their destination or the position of all the buses in the city. The EyeStop will also glow at different levels of intensity to signal the distance of an approaching bus”, Carlo Ratti says.

EyeStop is fully solar-powered and its design recalls the features of the location where bus stops are to be placed (i.e. the full of history city centre of Florence).

A remarkable importance is assigned by Ratti to the interplay between the physical form of the city and its citizenship, eased by new technologies which add digital information to physical space.

Giovanni De Niederhausern, who led the bus shelter project team, will participate in SWOMM 2009 as a speaker. He is expected to share his view on how similar solutions be applied also to mountain urban centres – with their own history and culture. Could the specific features of mountain mobility which SWOMM has been identifying since 2005 help in finding appropriate ideas for urban centres located in mountain regions?

I do really expect a fruitful discussion to emerge at the SWOMM 2009 round table!

Other articles you might want be interested in!

EyeStop on Repubblica.it
MIT’s ‘EyeStop’ Giving Riders iPhone-Like ExperiencearticleID=217700052
In Italy, futuristic bus stops to blend practical, chic
Carlo Ratti’s website and EyeStop

We asked Dr. Soboll to anticipate his view on some of the issues which will be analysed at SWOMM 2009. In particular, we have asked him what features will cities have and how will they transform in the future to respond to the new needs of mobility.

This is what Dr. Soboll replied: “Today we are facing many grand societal challenges like sustainable energy, mobility or living. Key for any solutions will be seen in four main responses: 1) a holistic view combining all relevant sectors like energy, transport or planning; 2) a significant change in citizens behavior and life style; 3) introduction of innovative technologies for transport and energy; 4) appropriate political support by planning and resources”

We are looking forward to meeting Dr. Soboll at SWOMM 2009, next month!