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autonomous bus, Source: Autonomous bus by NAVYA. Photo by Michaël GOUNON / navya.tech

Lyon launches an autonomous shuttle as part of its public transport network

Lyon launches an autonomous shuttle as part of its public transport network

It will service the Parc Olympique Lyonnais stadium

NAVYA, a leading company in autonomous driving systems announced last week the good news for the inhabitants of Lyon, in particular for those using public transport. The company will be launching two autonomous shuttles and thereby - support the technological development of the Lyon metropolitan area’s public transportation network.

The line was inaugurated on 15th November and the full integration of the autonomous vehicles is to be completed within the next two years. By the end of this period, the shuttles will be circulating regularly between 8.30 and 19.30 every day except for Sundays, match days and other events. Its itinerary is 1.4 kilometres long and runs from Décines Grand Large tram station (line T3) to the Parc Olympique Lyonnais stadium. It will form a new N1 line as part of the 85 line route.

The shuttles are expected to alleviate the traffic-related problems in a dense urban area, where thousands of automobiles circulate daily. The implementation of the service will be particularly challenging as the route passes through 4 intersections with traffic lights, 1 roundabout and 8 pedestrian crossings at an average speed of 13-15 km/h, which is targeted to reach the 20-25 km/h.

European funding for autonomous urban transport

The new service is being developed together with the Transport syndicate of the Rhône department and the Lyon Agglomeration and the public transport operator Keolis. It is part of a larger framework of European measures, funded under the Horizon 2020 programme - AVENUE (“Autonomous Vehicles to Evolve to New Urban Experience”), which pilots similar vehicles in other European cities, including Geneva, Luxembourg and Copenhagen.

Etienne Hermite, Chief Executive Officer of NAVYA, has said on this occasion: “I would like to thank all the partners of this trial that illustrates NAVYA’s technological leadership and know-how in autonomous mobility, as recently acknowledged at the Dubai World Challenge for Self-Driving Transport. This collaboration also demonstrates the relevance of incorporating autonomous shuttles within a transport system to meet today’s urban mobility challenges”.

This is the first time in France when autonomous vehicles travel in urban areas on roads, alongside cars.

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