Barcelona has launched a pilot test with artificial intelligence to optimize the circulation of buses through the automated control of reserved lanes and stops. This project is the result of a program promoted by the Barcelona City Council in collaboration with Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) and Fira de Barcelona as part of the Barcelona Innova Lab Mobility program.
The system, developed by the U.S. company Hayden AI, is being tested on four buses operating on lines H12 (Besòs/Verneda – Gornal) and D20 (Pg. Marítim – Ernest Lluch). It consists of a set of cameras installed on the front of the vehicle that automatically detect vehicles parked incorrectly in bus lanes and at bus stops.
The system’s cameras record images and videos in real time as the bus travels along its route. The technology uses artificial intelligence to analyze the information and generate statistical data on detected violations.
It is important to note that the system does not record license plates or people, and in this pilot phase no penalties will be applied to offending drivers. The test will last for six months, after which its possible implementation in the entire TMB fleet and possible sanctioning action will be evaluated.
According to Laia Bonet, first deputy mayor of Barcelona City Council and president of TMB, “bus lanes are designed to provide efficient and fast public transport, but their misuse by private vehicles hinders this objective”. With this technology, the aim is to identify the most problematic points and improve the fluidity of public transport.
Vehicles improperly parked in bus lanes or at bus stops affect the speed of buses and can endanger passengers, especially those with reduced mobility, as they hinder the deployment of access ramps. With this system, the aim is to collect key information for future actions to optimize urban mobility.
This type of technology has already proven its effectiveness in cities such as New York, Los Angeles and Washington DC, where the implementation of cameras on buses has allowed a 5% increase in the speed of public transport vehicles and a 20% reduction in the number of collisions on the routes where it has been applied.
If the test in Barcelona yields positive results, the City Council will study its definitive incorporation, which could include a system of sanctions to reinforce compliance with the regulations.