Goyang, a city in Gyeonggi Province, will begin a one-month trial of a self-driving bus starting Sunday. The trial is part of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's (MOLIT) hub-type smart city development project, and represents a basic validation stage for adopting autonomous public transit.
The main purpose of the trial is to verify the safety and operational suitability of autonomous driving. The city plans to secure actual road-driving data to use as foundational material for expanding autonomous public transit services in the future. The trial also aims to increase public acceptance of autonomous driving technology through citizen experience.
The vehicle deployed is one self-driving bus with a capacity of 19 passengers. It will operate free of charge on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The route departs from Daehwa Station and loops through Kintex Station and the Sports Complex. It passes through eight stops, including Ilsan Paik Hospital Entrance, Hyundai Department Store, and the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology.
The city has placed emphasis on ensuring safety. Before operation, the city inspects the vehicle's condition and the functioning of autonomous driving sensors. After operation, it improves the system through driving data analysis and relearning of hazardous sections. The city has also prepared a step-by-step response manual in case of vehicle breakdowns or traffic accidents.
The collected data will lead to autonomous public transit policymaking. The city plans to analyze driving data and usage demand to review the establishment of a transfer system and whether to introduce paid transport services.
Based on the trial's results, the city will expand routes after mid-July. It will increase daytime routes while establishing a late-night route connecting Daehwa Station, Jeongbalsan Station, Daegok Station, and Hwajeong Station.
"The self-driving bus trial is a good opportunity for citizens to directly experience future mobility and verify the safety of autonomous driving technology," a Goyang city official said. "We will closely analyze the operation results to build a more convenient and safer autonomous public transit service."
