Today I learned what “DRIS” are. The acronym stands for (in dutch) “Dynamische Reis Informatie Systemen” which translates to Dynamic Travel Information System. I’ve seen a few of these things at a bus stop and this triggered a little bit of research. It turns out that these displays are part of a bigger network of information solutions to inform the traveller about departure times...
The example I bumped into was at a bustop in Leiden. It showed the current date and time; and showed the next three busses that are expected to arrive at the busstop. I think these little bits of information are lifesavers. I often use a busstop that doesn’t have this feature, and I’m left guessing if the bus was early and that I missed it; or that I should just wait a little longer because is it still expected to arrive. I’m sure I can check this in an app, but I seldom use the bus so there is no need for me to install it.
When researching these DRIS displays I was excited to read about the process that was followed by Provincie Zuid Holland to decide where and when to place these digital touchpoints. The "DRIS Visie" (2021) provided some valuable learnings:
The process contained a primary section about the need for this information from a user perspective. In what cases was this necessary and why is this a valuable addition to an app. Also the context of the busstop was considered; was it a mobility hub or just a single stop in a rural area.
Secondly the document included a section explaining the technical flow through the service an what dependencies there were based on the user information requirements.
Thirdly there was a business perspective that illusttated the value vs. the investment over time.
A last perspective included was the required maintenance of the displays, the availability of manufacturers, the cost of replacing elements.
These insights made this random bus stop sign very much appreciated; this DRIS sign was here for a reason. Multiple perspectives were considered and resulted in a more meaningful mobility experience. Nice job provincie Zuid Holland!
I still have some questions about the “jazz hands” in the interface, though…