A survey will be carried out across bus garages around the UK aimed at helping to boost inclusivity of future bus cab design.
The Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), supported by Transport for London (TfL) and Women in Bus and Coach, will visit sites in London, Edinburgh, Bristol, Manchester, Belfast and elsewhere to interview drivers about current onboard working conditions.
The study builds on the inaugural Inclusive Cab Summit organised by Women in Transport and First Bus in Leicester on 5 March.
The work is prompted by a concern that traditional driver cab design is based around the average height and build of a man.
With the industry struggling to fill driver roles, the research is designed to reduce possible inhibitions to the career appealing to a wider range of individuals.
“We believe that we need to change the traditional design of buses to welcome more people into bus driving,” says Kerri Cheek, Founding Director of Women in Bus and Coach and Senior Bus Safety Development Manager at TfL.
“If we can remove barriers to entry in the industry and – just as importantly – communicate that we are working to remove the barriers, we will widen the talent pool in our industry.”
As well as responses from drivers, the survey will note their height, weight, age and ethnicity.
Among factors that will be considered are comfort and fatigue, seating design, ability to move the seat, seating fabric, pedal layout and reach, and the siting and design of seatbelts.
“The responses will help us to understand the strengths and weaknesses of current cab design,” says Tom Cunnington, Head of Buses Business Development at TfL.
“If we understand where there are improvements to be made then through our Bus Safety Standard and vehicle specification, we can guide the development of more inclusive and ergonomic solutions as we work towards achieving Vision Zero for our bus network.”
