News

UK ITS manufacturer AGD Systems says its 343 Highways Monitoring Radar provides real-time data on multiple lanes and improves highway safety. The product was showcased at the UK’s Traffex Seeing is Believing conference in Leicestershire. The radar collects traffic flow data on the network and replaces loop technology to monitor lanes on inter-urban routes. Ian Hind, commercial director at AGD Systems, says the solution employs enforcement-grade radar and measurement techniques to quantify speed, range and

WSP has made two senior level appointments to strengthen its connected and automated vehicle (C/AV) team. Sahar Shirazi has been named planning and policy lead for AV and emerging mobility in San Francisco while Frank Perry is now senior connected AV programme manager in Detroit. Shirazi will help clients develop plans, policies and projects that incorporate emerging mobility solutions. She was previously planning advisor to the California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research under governor Edmund

UK technology firm Magtec has installed an electric motor into a refuse collection vehicle in a bid to improve air quality in the borough of Greenwich. The upgrade is expected to extend the vehicle’s life by 14 years and save up to £300,000 compared to a Euro 5 or diesel model. Greenwich council’s prototype electric refuse collection vehicle (eRCV) is now being trialled alongside its fleet to make a case for repowering heavy commercial vehicles.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Transport has rejected a proposal from GrabVietnam to extend its ride-hailing service into the country’s southern and central highland provinces. The company is required to cancel its launch in the provinces of Ninh Thuan, Dong Thap and Gia Lai. Additionally, Grab is prohibited from working with taxi drivers without the approval of transport operators and transport departments. According to a report by The Saigon Times, the ministry says the application of technology to make c

Cubic Transportation Systems (CTS) director of strategy Andy Taylor has joined MaaS Alliance’s board. He will help promote Mobility as a Service (MaaS) initiatives around the world. The MaaS Alliance, launched by Ertico, is a public-private partnership of which Cubic is a founding member. The group aims to establish a foundation for a common approach to implementing MaaS in Europe and beyond.

Mobike has partnered with police in Shanghai to implement electronic ‘fences’ that prevent cyclists from parking around People’s Square in Lujiazui and other prohibited areas. The bike sharing company’s new app feature flags these locations up in grey to alert riders. Cyclists who try to park in these areas receive a text alert and an alarm and will lose Mobike points and their app credit rating will drop. Those who continually offend will be banned from using the service. Users can locate recommended pa

Portland-based moovel will launch a system intended to increase transit ridership and streamline ticketing by allowing riders to access benefits and reduced fares from their mobile devices. Called FareShare, the mobile app and online system aims to provide passengers with a better travel experience and reduce operational costs for transit agencies by removing the distribution and tracking of physical transit passes. The solution will be available to universities, employers and other organisations that off

TomTom is integrating its maps with ParkWhiz’s database of parking facilities across the US and Canada to help drivers navigate more quickly to parking destinations. TomTom will allow drivers to view, reserve and pay for parking from their vehicles.

The London Borough of Wandsworth has chosen Videalert to install unattended CCTV enforcement cameras at what it calls ‘problem’ locations. The move is part of a shared parking drive to improve operational efficiency and achieve cost savings. Wandsworth’s parking team trialled Videalert’s Digital Video Platform which revealed high capture rates in busy traffic conditions through ONVIF-compliant cameras. In addition, the system also captured multiple contraventions from a single wide-area network unit.

Lyft is offering free trips for cancer patients seeking treatment in Atlanta, US. The initiative is part of an extended partnership with the American Cancer Society (ACS). ASC uses Lyft’s Concierge web platform to request rides on behalf of patients who do not have a ride or who are unable to drive themselves, according to media reports. The programme will also launch in Cincinnati, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New Jersey, Philadelphia and St. Louis.

Hands-free ticketing technology is helping 50 disabled commuters enter and exit four stations in Singapore more easily. The participants can pass through Mass Rapid Transit stations without needing to tap their fare cards at dedicated gates. These hands-free gates are located at Redhill, Bahru, Kembangan and Bedok stations. The project stems from an agreement between the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and ST Engineering. Other partners include disability agency SG Enable and voluntary welfare

Uber is now operating in London, UK, on a 15-month licence grant following a decision by Westminster Magistrates Court. The move follows Transport for London’s (TfL’s) refusal to renew the company’s licence in 2017. Chief magistrate Emma Arbuthnot deemed Uber as ‘fit and proper’ and ordered the company to pay TfL’s legal costs of £425,000. The ride-hailing firm claims it has now made substantial changes by replacing senior management.

Chinese artificial intelligence company Baidu has tested two self-driving cars for the first time along a 33km section of an unused expressway in Tianjin City. A news report says that the trial helped developers collect data on the cars’ performance and their ability to sense the road environment. The test site is part of the Tangshan-Langfang expressway, which is scheduled to open in the Hebei province later this year.

Visitors attending ITS World Congress Copenhagen in September can receive 25% off registration and accommodation fees until 2 July. The Congress will feature technology demonstrations and showcases ITS achievements from the Danish capital and region. There is also a conference programme which includes presentations and discussions on the latest developments in ITS. More information is available on the website.

Ford has developed clothing which has built-in indicators and flashing brake lights for cyclists. Smart Jacket was developed with urban cycling clothing specialist Lumo and mobility software company Tome, and allows cyclists to better indicate their presence and intentions to other road users. The wearable’s navigation app wirelessly connects to smartphones and vibrates the jacket’s sleeves to help riders take the right direction to avoid busy roads.