An opinion piece by Cllr Elisa Meschini, published in the Cambridge Independent on Wednesday 28 August.

The bus has long been a cornerstone of public transport, yet how many of us truly feel our bus services fully meet our needs?

While the experience of riding a bus has undoubtedly improved over the years - modern buses are cleaner, more comfortable, and increasingly efficient - there are still significant gaps in the system. Many bus routes operate on restricted schedules, and large areas remain underserved because of the challenges of running commercially viable services. This leaves too many people without reliable public transport options.

At the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP), we are asking ourselves a critical question: How can we harness new technologies to address these challenges and create a transport system which is truly fit for the 21st century? Specifically, how can we support residents, commuters and communities in their daily travel?

One of the most promising areas we are looking at is autonomy - the ability to operate a bus without a driver. This isn’t just about cutting costs or keeping up with technological trends. It’s about fundamentally rethinking how public transport can better serve everyone.

We believe autonomous vehicles (AVs) have the potential to be more reliable and safer than traditional buses. They can also reduce operational costs by lowering fuel consumption and maintenance needs. Perhaps most importantly, AVs could make more routes commercially viable by allowing services to operate longer hours - potentially offering 24/7 on-demand transport.

This could be change for public transport forever. By reallocating drivers to customer-facing roles, autonomous buses help to make transport fairer. Imagine a bus service where staff are focused on helping passengers - whether by assisting with boarding or providing real-time information during the journey - rather than just driving.

To explore this potential, GCP is launching Connector, a pilot project that will bring four autonomous vehicles to Cambridge. The first phase, starting in autumn 2024, will see an automated bus connecting Madingley Road Park & Ride with the University of Cambridge’s West Cambridge Campus and Eddington. The second phase, beginning in early 2025, will involve three autonomous buses linking Trumpington Park & Ride and Babraham Road Park & Ride with the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. Both trials are set to conclude later in 2025.

These pilots will allow us to learn about connecting employment sites with existing travel hubs and if the trials are successful, there is the potential to run services to other places where people like to go such as the city centre, shops or leisure centres as part of an integrated future transport network.

Connector is about more than just proving the technology; it’s about understanding how people will feel about using and interacting with autonomous buses. This is a significant leap - one which could redefine how we think about public transport. While many of us (adults and children alike) enjoy rushing upstairs to grab the front seats on the top deck of a double-decker bus or sitting at the front of a driverless train on the Docklands Light Railway, the prospect of riding a driverless bus on the road may evoke a different set of emotions.

That’s why, alongside the technology trial, we’ll be engaging with passengers to gather their feedback. How will this new form of transport impact their behaviour? Will it change their travel habits? And most importantly, how will it make them feel?

We’re also examining the commercial and operational viability of deploying autonomous vehicles as a regular part of the public transport system. Cutting-edge technology is only valuable if it’s practical and affordable in the long run.

Connector offers an exciting opportunity to explore how future technologies can help us build a more equitable and reliable transport system - one that provides a real alternative to the private car. As we move forward, GCP is committed to ensuring that these advancements serve the needs of everyone in our community. Autonomous vehicles may well be the key to unlocking a more efficient, inclusive, and sustainable future for public transport in Greater Cambridge.