Driving Safe Transportation using Digital Solutions

In this challenge, ADB aims to find long-term digital solutions that can help citizens plan and coordinate their travels and use public transportation safely and effectively. 

 

In Southeast Asia, public transport ridership has fallen 90 percent and has yet to attain pre-pandemic status. At the same time, we note private vehicle movement has been significantly increasing which reflects a measure people have adopted to prevent further spread of the virus. This is the face of the “new normal” as more people rethink their journeys in view of limited available transportation. However, not everyone can afford to embrace these changes. In developing Asia, given the absence of reliable mass transportation and privately-owned vehicles, majority of the urban poor will continue to rely on mass public transportation, or at worst, walk for hours to get to their destinations. In this shifting context, digital solutions can be beneficial in centralizing and communicating relevant, up-to-date transit information to the public—whether it be service changes, real-time arrivals, additional required measures for passengers, or event details on the cleaning protocols implemented.

 

How might we use emerging technologies to help governments provide citizens digital transport information, coordination, and updates for a safe, accessible, and efficient transport system?   

• a ridesharing application where personal information for contact tracing is safely stored 

• a real-time tracker showing which public transportation lines are available at any given time 
• an app coordinating a shuttle service with extra precautions (e.g., requiring a verified negative test) only for people with comorbidities  

 

The selected solution will have potential seed funding of   USD 10,000  or more for selected pilots in ADB's developing member countries.