Commuters Mali Polden (left), Barb Smith and Luke Polden enjoyed testing out the new driverless bus at Munno Para last week. PHOTO: Sam Bradbrook
COMMUTERS who have caught a ride on a new driverless bus in Munno Para have given it their tick of approval.
Playford Council, the State Government, autonomous bus manufacturer EasyMile and intelligent transport specialists SAGE automation launched the trial at the Munno Para train station last Tuesday.
The trial follows on from a similar driverless bus test at the Lyell McEwin Hospital between October 2018 and June 2019, which connected the hospital with the nearby Lionsgate car park.
The bus will travel on a loop between the Munno Para train station, Mark Oliphant College, the Stretton Centre, Light Avenue and Coventry Road reserve, with one full loop taking around 30 minutes.
It can carry six passengers at once and travels at 18 km/h, with services running approximately every 30 minutes on weekdays.
An operator is present on the bus during the trial phase to ensure the trip runs smoothly, but the hops is the bus will be fully autonomous after the trial if it’s successful.
Blakeview resident Barb Smith, who caught a ride on the service on Thursday, saw it as a great initiative around her home suburb.
“I think it’s very smooth and I can’t wait until they’re everywhere,” she said.
“It’d be perfect in Blakes Crossing because Blakes Crossing is huge, and the bus wouldn’t have to cross the main road.
“It (Blakes Crossing) is growing and growing, there are hundreds of houses being built there.
“They perhaps need a bigger version if there’s people with disabilities; if there was a couple of wheelchairs in here, there would be no space.”
Another commuter, Gawler West resident Daniel Niutta, said he hopes the driverless bus can support the north’s existing public transport system.
“Gawler has so many outlying areas, having this type of bus will create better access for people,” he said.
“While it won’t necessarily be able to go in the main street due to its speed, it will be able to get to a lot more places than average public transport.”
At the launch of the trial, Playford mayor Glenn Docherty said the Munno Para area was the “ideal location” for testing the service.
“As a growing city we are embracing technology to transition from traditional industries into the digital economy,” he said.
“This bus trial provides a chance for Playford residents to embrace new technology that increases mobility and access to one of our city's busiest areas.”
