TfL_scp_002495 Bus Innovation · UK public procurement notice

The Mayor's Transport Strategy (2018) and Vision Zero action plan (2018 and progress report in 2021) set out Transport for London's (TfL) bold commitment to eliminate all deaths and serious injuries from the transport network by 2041. As part of this, we committed to ambitious targets to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on, or by, a bus by 70 per cent by 2022 against the 2005- 2009 baseline and for no-one to be killed on, or by, a London bus by 2030. The Bus safety strategy (2023) sets out our priorities to ensure that we deliver on these targets.

Bus occupants (customers and drivers) account for the highest proportion of serious injuries in terms of casualties on, or by, a bus, making up approx. 50 per cent. Customer safety is the focus of our current Bus Safety Innovation Challenge and involves working with operators and innovators in the field to shortlist, trial and fully evaluate pioneering technologies, with the aim of influencing passengers to carry out safe behaviours while travelling on London buses.

One of the innovations TfL would like to trial to influence passenger behaviour and reduce slips, trips and falls is an upper deck seat counter display. This will aim to encourage physically able customers to sit upstairs by visually displaying the number of available seats on the upper deck at the front of the bus where passengers board. This should be a simple 'seat counter' display, with the number of seats available clearly shown. We would additionally consider options that allow for this information to be communicated audibly, though the visual display is an essential requirement. TfL are aware there will be variety of technical options available to achieve an accurate count of the available seats on the upper deck and will consider all options proposed by suppliers.

The trial will likely take place on 10-20 London buses (detailed methodology not set at this stage) and will be robustly evaluated by an external supplier already appointed by TfL. Please consider the trial size detailed here when completing the MSQ. If the trial is deemed successful in influencing passenger behaviour and reducing incidents, the innovation may be something that will become a requirement in the Bus Safety Standard (BSS) for new London buses entering the fleet (however please note that TfL does not directly procure or endorse specific products, preferring to set a performance outcome requirement specification for bus manufacturers to meet).

The Early Market Engagement will seek views on a number of aspects, including supplier and service provider appetite, capacity and capability, as well as gauging the general level of interest in this opportunity.

If you have any questions regarding this PIN and MSQ please contact:

[email protected].