You can now ride Philippines' first self-driving bus for free. Here's where
Want to experience what it's like to ride a bus that drives on its own?
You can now do so as the Philippines' first autonomous bus has now been launched around New Clark City, Clark Freeport Zone, and Clark International Airport.
The transport vehicles came from the partnership of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) with Japan-based mobility firm Zenmov, Inc. and the MC Metro Transport Operation, Inc.
In their announcement, the BCDA explained that the bus service utilizes a transportation cloud system called Smart Mobility Operation Cloud (SMOC), which helps maximize operational availability while keeping the number of vehicles at a minimum.
"By integrating their smart autonomous vehicle technology, we ensure a more sustainable and scalable transport solution here in Clark," said Gisela Kalalo, the executive vice president and chief operating officer of BCDA.
"This will positively transform the everyday lives of those living and working within Clark—making it easier to get around, reducing traffic congestion, and promoting a green and low-carbon environment," she added.
Even better, you won't have to break open your wallet to enjoy the service as the buses are free at the moment, so be sure to take advantage of them while they're still free.
The BCDA said this project is a part of their goal to make New Clark City the first sustainable city in the Philippines.
The Primary Rapid Transit will be a "last mile" service that will run on select routes in New Clark City, Clark Freeport Zone, and Clark Civil Aviation Complex.
The self-driving buses are expected to help residents within Clark get to places more conveniently, reduce traffic congestion, and lessen the amount of carbon in the environment.
To complement the use of SMOC application, Zenmov and MC Metro will also deploy bikes as well as install smart poles, drones, and charging stations, among others, for real-time data collection and dissemination on traffic management.