A ‘SMART MOBILITY’ ANCHOR FOR GAUTENG
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mart mobility is an innovative way of getting around. It’s about using technology to respond to the many and varied needs of the modern commuter. These include the demand for convenience, access to always-on information, a high techadoption rate, time and cost savings, as well as increasing environmental consciousness with various benefits. Smart mobility promotes sustainable mobility and is coupled with numerous urban, social, economic and environmental benefits. Here is a list of smart mobility focus areas and how Gautrain contributes to each one:
Smarter Gautrain uses smart technology. Among its various technological service offerings, Gautrain offers its passengers the opportunity to use their credit or debit cards to tag in and out of stations, buses and parking facilities. This means they no longer need a Gautrain
card. This “tap and go” technology is the first phase of a broader “smart ticketing” plan that will extend to other public transport modes, with incentives such as inter-operator discounts or rebates.
Cleaner Gautrain contributes significantly to the green economy. It is currently pursuing a sustainable urban mobility plan, includes procuring new buses with integrated chasses that will make it possible to convert them to run on electric, hydrogen or hybrid power. Investigations are also underway into using and even producing hydrogen to power Gautrain buses – a far cleaner fuel option than diesel. Passengers may soon be able to charge their electric or hybrid cars at Gautrain stations, which will also be retrofitted with solar panels to offset their power requirements. This green mobility plan will also help commuters offset their individual carbon footprint.
