60.2055° N • 24.6559° E
The future is here: Luna and Achilles chucked the van to try out a self-driving minibus!
The 94R (R stands for Robot) is a public (free) bus which only runs a distance of one kilometre at around 20km per hour. No driver means no brake, accelerator pedal or steering wheel. Instead there was a control unit that reminded our travellers of a gaming console. The bus operates using sensors and software, although for now, a supervisor is present on board ready to hit a red “stop” button in an emergency.
The bus is part of Helsinki RobobusLine and mySMARTLife, a project that among other things aims to reduce CO2 emissions and is one of the world’s most advanced initiatives of its kind. The bus can take up to 8 passengers , runs on electricity and is cost effective as well as energy efficient. The 94R is integrated to the journey planner of Helsinki’s metropolitan public transport system and follows a fixed schedule.
The broader aim is to provide environmentally friendly, smart public transport that would reduce the need for private cars – or even eliminate it completely.
See also
After 4 weeks of landscapes, people, languages, and food, our journey along the river Danube brought us to our final destination: the Delta. Look back at our last week, while we get ready for the next adventure!
A carob farm by the sea.
Portugal’s second city is a top tourist destination for many reasons - from the port cellars to the iconic metal bridge over the river Douro and many other architectural and culinary gems.
Our travellers, always on the look out for new wonders to discover, went to the shoreline just north of where the river Douro meets the sea, to the port of Leixoes.