Screens to link bus users with city

LCD screens to be trialled on inner-city Link buses will show news, weather, maps and advertising. Picture / Kenny Rodger

Buses already have advertising on their sides and back, and now a new proposal could see high-tech advertising screens placed inside.

Stagecoach NZ has confirmed plans are under way to trial LCD information screens in buses on its inner-Auckland Link route.

Passengers will be able to watch the TV-like sets with maps, weather, news and location-related advertising as they travel on a bus.

The system, developed by Auckland-based e3solutions's director Keith Chew, uses a series of global positioning devices so an advertisement could screen as a bus neared a "registered" stop.

Stagecoach's Auckland regional marketing and customer services manager Steve Wade said combining information with the screen advertising was important because it would be of more benefit to bus users.

"The idea of having that screen on board, or series of screens, obviously is it can get that all-important information to the traveller," said Wade.

"If you're new to a city or new to a country, [you might think] where is Sky Tower? Isn't it great that if you're approaching the Sky Tower bus stop, you've got it on the screen?"

Wade said the Link bus - which travels a loop that includes shopping, business and residential zones Newmarket, Ponsonby and Queen St - was well-used by Aucklanders and tourists.

One Link bus had been carrying a covered-up screen for several weeks as part of a technological trial, said Wade.

The test was part of the early stage of research, said Wade, and would be used to evaluate the system's reliability.

"As it is going to be used for advertising, promotional material and marketing, it has to be 100 per cent foolproof," he said.

"There's lots of add-ons that can be put onto the system as well, for example CCTV."

If the rollout goes ahead, it is likely to be at least two months away.

Chew did not want to disclose details about the project until several agreements had been finalised.