BB Stop is a smart infrastructure stop that promotes active, comfortable and easy journey with the use of public transportation and bikes.
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PROBLEM STATEMENT
Since Covid the use of personal vehicles increased due to the fear of crowd and the lack of public transportation. This led to the increase of greenhouse emission which caused more global warming and less active individuals. Since then, the use of public transportation reduced remarkably as well as its frequency. Promoting an active journey nowadays is challenging due to the pandemic and to late buses/trams which make the end-user rely more on private cars or Uber. Arriving on time with buses is very hard recently.
PROCESS
Based on mine and people’s experience I started to record my journey to see how I could design a successful solution to the problem. By taking into account accessibility for all as well as comfortableness I investigated case studies and researched into sustainability and post-covid situations. To deepen my knowledge I started sketching ideas, experiment with materials, apply feedback recived and made various models to help me decide on a final design idea.
POSSIBLE SOLUTION
A hybrid journey that focuses on the sustainability, health and the impact of Covid-19 for transport users. The aim is to also create a system that focuses on the users arriving to their desired destination on time, which will allow people to use the transport more often and reduce effect of climate change.
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CURRENT BUS STOPS ENVIRONMENT
As part of the primary research and site analysis, I focused more on isolated bus stops with fewer access to public transportation. These stops are exposed and not protective against all weather conditions. Most residence of the area are elderly people who cannot stand for long time without sitting. After spending few hours on the stop and asking consumers a couple of questions about their experience, the majority agreed that buses don’t always come on time, consequently they arrive late to their destination or take a taxi because there isn’t another alternative.
For hearing impaired users it is a challenge to stop buses on time as usually they drive fast and they don’t notice it to wave them to stop. The overall experience of most users is not pleasant and a change need to be made.
Transportation has a huge impact on climate change, and although most people are dependent on these methods of transportation, there are still plenty of things people can change to decrease their carbon footprint.
The life-changing technological advances from the Industrial Revolution that ushered in new modes of travel are the same technologies that have contributed to the wide-scale pollution of the planet.
Transportation (29 percent of 2019 greenhouse gas emissions) – The transportation sector generates the largest share of greenhouse gas emissions.
The Transportation sector includes the movement of people and goods by cars, trucks, trains, ships, airplanes, and other vehicles. The majority of greenhouse gas emissions from transportation are carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions resulting from the combustion of petroleum-based products.
To promote a healthy active journey, cycling is very important in this project. Being able to combine between public transportation and private or public bikes is the aim for a better and easier journey.
Why is cycling important?
1. Cycling improves mental well-being
2. Strengthen the immune system
3. Promotes weight loss
4. Build muscle
5. Cyclist have better lung health
6. Cuts heart diseases and cancer risk
7. Low environmental impact
8. Time saving
9. Improves navigation skills
10. Better sleeping
11. Boosts the brain power
12. Improves spacial awareness
DESIGN TEAM
CUSTOMER JOURNEY
1- Check the time.
2- Check the App to see which transport is available.
3- Walk or run to your nearest BB Stop
4- Check the bus times on the display, and while waiting why not use the fixed bikes to exercise and charge your electronics (phones, bikes, scooters) in the meantime?
5- If the weather is cold, just sit and relax on the warm bench until your bus arrives.
6- Public transport not running on time or you are in a rush? Borrow a bike to arrive to your destination on time!
- It’s also healthy for you and the environment.
7- If you see the bus or managed to arrive to another stop, simply take your bike on the bus and proceed with your journey.
LOCATION
The Locations chosen for the infrastructure are, Middleton M24 4NA and Piccadilly Gardens. Those are two very different locations, however, BB Stop is an infrastructure that accommodate many helpful and beneficial elements for the environment and the end-user.
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1- Wind turbine are used to harness energy to power the stop
2- To protect users from windy weather and not effect visibility solar panels are used in order to still be able to see buses approaching, and also avoid the use of glass.
3- Alongside bikes to borrow, there is one bike for exercising to promote being active, in addition, when used users will be able to charge their electronics.
4- Rainwater will also be collected to benefit stray or personal animals and birds.
5- Light sensors are used to alert users of incoming buses, and most importantly hearing- impaired users. Light will flash yellow when buses are approaching.
6- digital screen will indicate what time buses are expected to arrive and if there is any update on buses status.
7- A touch map is included for users to better plan their journey, and to give an opportunity for those who don’t have access to internet outdoors or without smart-phones.
8- Heating pad or hot air system will be included inside the bench to warm the users in cold days, this will also be powered by the solar panels and wind turbines.
9- The tree branch pattern on the back and top of the structure is inspired by the surrounding nature. It is also designed to reflect a soothing pattern on the ground.
MATERIALS
Sustainable materials were considered as much as possible to provide a carbon zero infrastructure such as;
- Sustainable and water resistant wood from Acoya
- Steel, as it is widely recyclable.
- AuRues: Translucent and sustainable solar panels made from food waste, is able to harvest power from invisible UV rays that pass through clouds. Invented by Carvey Ehren Maigue, it also comes in different colours.
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Various sketch and small scale models have been created to inform the final deign and it’s functionality.
A 1:2 scale prototype of the bench has been made to be able to test the heating pad idea and how elements join together. It was a huge challenge as it was my fist time creating such realistic model. I faced a lot of challenges and had to adapt with what was provided by the university.
Click on the link below to watch a quick video of the light sensor- the car represent the bus
https://youtu.be/4Xqi47tG2lo
Click on the link below to watch a quick video of the light pattern reflected
https://youtu.be/FxJ5L5liobs
1:20 SCALE MODELS 1:2 SCALE PROTOTYPE
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