A recent accessibility app trial in South Australia is gaining traction, with the See Me app now being used on more routes in the state.
In early February, the SA government announced that Adelaide Metro would trial the See Me app to increase accessibility on public transport services.
Developed by Cassie Hames, who is legally blind, the See Me app is Adelaide-based at SAGE Automation.
It was initially designed to support people who are blind or vision-impaired, but it can also be used by people of all abilities due to its potential to ease anxiety for public transport customers.
The See Me app is currently being trialled for six months on the 99A and 99C free City Connector services, available in the Adelaide CBD during the week.
Now, the app has been extended to include bus routes 98A and 98C, operating seven days a week.
Supported by the Department for Infrastructure and Transport in SA and Adelaide Metro, the app is available to use on multiple routes now throughout the week.
Instead of having to physically hail the bus, the app links to the bus onboard system to notify the bus driver digitally that a passenger is waiting.
The app then delivers spoken, visual and haptic notifications to the passenger’s phone when the bus is approaching both the pick-up and destination locations.
Hames has been recognised as one of three winners of the 2022 Holman Prize for the app, which is an international award for innovative thinkers who are blind or legally blind.
The app itself was also recently recognised as Initiative of the Year at the 2023 Australian Access Awards due to its ability to ensure people don’t miss their stop, making independent travel safer and more accessible for everyone.
Earlier this year, SAGE Automation also secured a $500,000 investment from iMOVE Cooperative Research Centre’s Impact Extension Program to support the app development from proof-of-concept to a scalable solution.
The app has even caught the attention of the Bus Industry Confederation (BIC), who says in a LinkedIn release that it is “watching with great excitement” the pilot in Adelaide.