SEPTA found more than 20,000 violations in a study on blocking bus-only lanes and bus stops

[FakeNoose]

Philadelphia Inquirer link: https://www.inquirer.com/transportation/bus-lanes-stops-violations-camera-enforcement-septa-ai-20230608.html

[This story got bumped by the disaster on I-95, but it's still a big story. City buses in Philly are equipped with cameras since last year, and lots of photos have recorded the parking violations.]

Seven SEPTA buses outfitted with AI-driven cameras have been monitoring bus lanes and stops along two Center City routes for illegally parked vehicles since late April, documenting an average of 4,000 blockages a week during a test of the enforcement technology, transit agency officials said.

No tickets or warnings are being issued as a result of the images captured on Routes 21 and 42. SEPTA is partnering on the study with Hayden AI, a Silicon Valley start-up that has installed its artificial intelligence cameras on buses in several large transit systems, including in New York and Washington.

“SEPTA is really excited about the possibility of improvements for our passengers: safety at bus stops, safety on the bus lanes, and then [reduced] congestion on the corridors so that we can get our buses moving more reliably,” said Matthew Zapson, SEPTA’s project manager for transit priority, which refers to strategies and technologies that enable transit vehicles to avoid congestion.

- snip -

The AI software activates the cameras to record the date, time, precise location and license plate numbers of vehicles only when it detects a violation, which it recognizes because it has mapped and learned the lanes and road-markings along the routes, Zapson said.



When cars or trucks park in bus-stop zones, the buses can’t get close to the curb so passengers have a clear, safe path to board their ride, Zapson said.

Will the errant parkers in Philly be receiving tickets in the mail soon? I don't know, but be aware that it's a possible next step. The city will soon have enough data to start issuing warnings or citations.

[Probatim]

1. Monetization of scofflaws might do some good.

It's done already for running red lights or speeding through school zones. This isn't any different.

[FakeNoose]

2. Yes - if the police get involved in the ticketing process

At the moment there's no talk of local police following along behind buses to write tickets on these cars. If the city just mails out "parking tickets" in the form of invoices like the Turnpike does for tolls, the chances look pretty slim for monetization.

[Probatim]

3. Lots of places send $25 tickets for running red lights or higher fines for speeding in work zones.

No police needed for those. All camera work.