Metrobüs has won the IRU Smart Move Bus Excellence Award for its model bus rapid transit system. Connecting most of Istanbul’s major metro and tram lines, the 50km route is used by 800,000 people every day.
The outstanding political commitment of Istanbul’s City Authority to launch and implement this ambitious project was commended by the jury. Istanbul authorities and Metrobüs operator İETT are now helping other cities around the world on similar projects.
“We are particularly satisfied with the quality of all submitted projects, showing that the Smart Move objective of doubling the use of collective passenger transport might actually seem an easy or even modest objective, compared to the achievements of the best of our candidates. The Winner, Metrobüs, is a textbook case of a successfully implemented Bus Rapid Transit System, which must inspire both city authorities and public transport service providers to dare to achieve more, both in intra- and inter-city bus and coach transport.”
Yves Mannaerts, IRU Vice-President and President of the IRU Passenger Transport Council
Read the "IRU Bus Excellence Award 2015" winner's application file
IRU Global Bus Excellence Jury awards the special IRU Projects´ Research and Innovation Award 2015 to the Digital Matatus Project for the creation and implementation of an innovative open data collaborative system.
In many developing countries, transport authorities often do not exist and numerous operators run bus systems under high levels of informality. This means that little or no information is available on routes, stops, fares and schedules. Yet this is key to improving services, planning and providing basic passenger information. Through a collaborative process, the Digital Matatus Project supports a community of users who can build on available data to generate new transit applications, planning tools and passenger information systems.
“We are proud that the international jury followed our proposal and decided to reward this outstanding project, which could become a blueprint for many other cities across the globe, with similar urban collective passenger transport systems with high degree of informality. IRU Projects will continue to be a strong supporter of such innovative projects also in the future, by making this award a permanent one, to be awarded every year.”
Zeljko Jeftic, Head of IRU Projects
Read the "IRU Projects´ Research and Innovation Award 2015" winner's application file
The IRU Coach Tourism Innovation Award 2015 was attributed to the Italian parkyourbus.com web portal.
The International Jury in particular commended the highly innovative concept of the project especially designed for drivers, tour managers, travel agencies and tour operators that wish to plan their group tours in an easy and smooth way.
“We are particularly satisfied to see this year’s IRU Coach Tourism Innovation Award to go to a web digital product innovation. Such tools are fundamental for SMEs, the bulk of the companies in coach tourism sector, to embrace and benefit from innovation.”
Oleg Kamberski, Head - IRU Passenger Transport & Taxis,
Read the "IRU Coach Tourism Innovation Award 2015" winner's application file
The international jury awarded the global IRU Smart Move City Trophy Award 2015 to the city of Dresden, in Germany, for its city’s exemplary continuity over the years in implementing a sustainable city policy of welcoming group tourists by coach.
For the second time, Dresden in Germany has won the IRU Smart Move City Trophy for its continuously updated dynamic and flexible coach parking and guidance system. The international jury recognised the involvement of the local community and tourism coach operators in improving facilities for tourists and drivers.
“The international jury was impressed by the political commitment and continuity of Dresden’s decade-long policy to make the city of Dresden a destination of choice for group tourism by coach. Dresden is certainly THE example to follow for other cities, in particular since, for the first time, a city has been awarded for a second time (after 2005) the global City Trophy Award.”
Yves Mannaerts, IRU Vice-President and President of the IRU Passenger Transport Council
Read the "IRU Coach Tourism Innovation Award 2015" winner's application file
