Bus Open Data Service
 | This article, Bus Open Data Service, has recently been created via the Articles for creation process. Please check to see if the reviewer has accidentally left this template after accepting the draft and take appropriate action as necessary.
Reviewer tools: Inform author |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 28th January 2020 |
| Jurisdiction | England |
| Ministers responsible |
|
| Parent department | Department of Transport |
| Website | https://www.bus-data.dft.gov.uk |
The Bus Open Data Service (BODS) is a government-funded service in England, established in 2020[1] as part of the Bus Services Act 2017. It was created in a partnership between ITO World, the Department for Transport and KPMG.[2]
The service is described by ITO World as a "an international first" as it provides Open Data of bus timetables, fares and Automatic Vehicle Location of buses across England.[3]
Data Implementation
As part of the requirements set by the Department for Transport in The Public Service Vehicles (Open Data) (England) Regulations 2020,[4] the Bus Open Data Service set deadlines for operators to provide data.[3]
The implemenation requirements only applied in England[5]
- 31 December 2020 - Obligation to provide bus timetable data to the Bus Open Data Service.
- 7 January 2021 - Obligation to provide vehicle location and basic fares and tickets data to the Bus Open Data Service.
- 7 January 2023 - Obligation to provide complex fares and ticket data to the Bus Open Data Service.
Uses
Following the introduction of the Bus Open Data, there have been a number of uses for the system.
- The website Bustimes.org ustilises data from BODS to supply information such as timetable, fares and vehicle location information[6] via an API link, with the vehicle location information displaying on a map.
- The Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain, in their 2020/21 annual report, stated that use of the Bus Open Data Service would "make available more data than ever before on an operator’s performance."[7]
- An article in TransportXtra explained how data from BODS can be used to plan an electrified bus fleet[8]
Critism
Despite providing fare, time and vehicle location, the Department for Transport has ruled out including key accessibility information on bus stops, stations and vehicles despite the Bus Services Act making specific provision for open data, 'for the purpose of facilitating travel by disabled persons'.[9]
A number of operators have struggled to provide the data required by the deadlines provided by the Bus Open Data Service, requiring providers to implement alternative solutions.[10][11]
The Confederation of Passenger Transport, and operators of home-to-school transport, criticised the requirement for operators to provide data about registered home-to-school bus services, and the exemption of Section 22 community bus services.[12][13]
References
- ^ "UK Bus Open Data Service goes live". Intelligent Transport. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
- ^ "An Introduction to the Bus Open Data Service (BODS) - Ito World". Retrieved 12 May 2022.
- ^ a b "Bus open data policy". GOV.UK. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
- ^ "The Public Service Vehicles (Open Data) (England) Regulations 2020". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
- ^ "Bus open data: Operators had better 'moovit' to make deadline - The Transport Network". www.transport-network.co.uk. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
- ^ "Data sources – bustimes.org". bustimes.org. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
- ^ "Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain Annual report 2020-21". GOV.UK. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
- ^ "How DfT Bus Open Data (BODS) can be used to plan an electrif". www.transportxtra.com. 16 December 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
- ^ "Bus Open Data: A data revolution but an accessibility fail - The Transport Network". www.transport-network.co.uk. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ "Enhancing the passenger experience is TransMach's top priority". routeone. 1 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
- ^ "R & S Waterson's goes contactless with TransMach". routeone. 2 March 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
- ^ Williams, Mark (7 December 2020). "Bus Open Data to slam into home-to-school market?". Bus & Coach Buyer.
- ^ Williams, Mark (10 December 2020). "Bus Open Data for schools gets slated". Bus & Coach Buyer. Retrieved 14 May 2022.