KMB makes it easier to take a seat

Kowloon Motor Bus passengers will be able to check in real time the leftover capacity of a bus from their mobile app, while a monitor will be installed on lower decks to show the number of vacant seats remaining on upper decks.

The KMB said yesterday it will use cameras installed near doors and on upper decks to analyze the number of passengers getting on and off the bus.

It will then show the leftover capacity on its mobile app so passengers will have an idea of how crowded a bus is and make better travel plans.

The system will also calculate the number of vacant seats remaining on upper decks and show it on a screen installed near the staircase on the bus.

With the system, passengers can see the number and they no longer have to go upstairs to look for seats.

KMB said the system showing leftover capacity and vacant seats is over 90 percent accurate in tests. It will be used for a trial run for six months before a review of its performance.

It welcomes input from passengers during the trial period via its mobile app and website.

"With the rapid development of technology, public transport must also keep pace," said financial controller Joseph Leung Cho-tak.

"As the biggest franchised bus operator in Hong Kong, KMB is determined to promote smart mobility with technologies so that passengers can enjoy better and more convenient travel experiences," he said.

Leung said the company has already been providing expected arrival times of buses on its app.

"With the real-time bus capacity and the number of vacant seats on the upper deck, passengers will feel more convenient and comfortable. [The new measures] will also help enhance bus management and operation as we can have a better understanding of passenger volume," he said.

SmarTone provided technical support for KMB, with its head of business markets, Daniel Leung, saying the company aims to build a smart city using its high-speed 5G network.

"We combined innovative technologies, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, with the 5G network, providing technical support covering hardware and software configuration, installation and testing, so that the real-time data on thousands of buses running across the SAR will be more accurate," he said.