Maintain Regular and Clear Communication with Fully Automated Shuttle Industry Partners to Address Operational Challenges and Ensure Research Progress.
Survey Study with Participants from Three Cities in Florida Revealed Lessons Learned Regarding the Fully Automated Shuttle Experience.
Lake Nona
Port St. Lucie
The Villages
Assessing Safety and Mobility Benefits of Autonomous Ride Sharing Services
Summary Information
Fully automated ride sharing services have the potential to produce safety benefits especially for older adults, but various personal and social factors may challenge their acceptance and adoption practices while limiting the widespread deployment of these technologies. Therefore, it is important to better understand the human-centric needs to accept and adopt fully automated ride sharing services. This study examined the user perspective about fully automated ride sharing services among older adults (50 plus years of age) at three different sites in Florida, namely Lake Nona, Port St. Lucie, and The Villages. The study conducted a survey to quantitatively gauge the participants’ lived experiences before and after exposure to the fully automated shuttle. Overall, the survey had 240 participants from the three sites studied. In addition, six pre-focus with 32 participants and four post-focus groups, across the three sites with 31 participants were conducted to obtain qualitative input from the focus group participants pertaining to their fully automated shuttle experiences.
- Maintain regular and clear communication with fully automated shuttle industry partners to address operational challenges and ensure research progress. This would enable the researchers to stay informed and quickly adapt to any challenges.
- Focus on fully automated shuttle rider education and training. It is important to ensure that users are fully informed about the capabilities and limitations of fully automated shuttles to facilitate easier adoption. Educational activities could include local media, educational events, distributing educational flyers, to name a few.
- Recognize the potential challenges in fully automated shuttle technology. This study emphasized, for example, speed restrictions imposed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) requiring automated shuttles to travel under 15 MPH, could be disconcerting to user and also cause accidents by other drivers trying to overtake the shuttle. Therefore, it is important to approach the deployment of fully automated shuttles with caution and to carefully evaluate the risks and benefits.
- Provide an ADA compliant automated shuttle service. Designs that comply with Americans with Disabilities Act regulations, such as the height of emergency buttons, handlebars, and ramp installations, would ensure everyone can use the service regardless of their abilities.
- Ensure collaboration and partnerships with stakeholders. This would play a pivotal role in facilitating the successful deployment of fully automated shuttle services and promoting user participation.
- Implement innovative strategies for recruitment and marketing to properly educate new users about the potential benefits of fully automated shuttles and facilitating participation. This study pointed out, for example, a community could organize a fully automated vehicle-themed event to engage local citizens in shuttle deployment experiences.
- Have reliable and high-quality modern internet infrastructure surrounding the fully automated shuttle service areas. This is crucial for seamless operation of the system with no internet service limitations.
