MY-T APP BY SEOUL: SAFE USE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AMIDST THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

THE Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) is launching the “My-T” smartphone application. The app offers users information such as overlapping routes with COVID-19-confirmed individuals and guides to less congested routes. It aims to ensure citizens’ safe use of public transportation during the pandemic.

My-T app uses GPS to collect data location information. The data will be combined with public transportation operations, passengers’ transportation card tags, and public Wi-Fi (referred to as MyData). The combined data will also be compared and analysed with personal passages and travel routes with the movements of confirmed individuals. The result will enable the app to notify users on contact with confirmed individuals.

My-T offers various services for safe and convenient commutes, such as notifications for infectious disease occurrences, navigations based on passenger congestion, personal detours through passage analysis, and low-floor bus reservations for vulnerable passengers.

Offering real-time information, features on My-T are expected to be able to provide various relevant information to people in just one application.

How My-T App Works

First, the app user will receive notifications once the app discovers that its user has crossed paths with a confirmed individual.

This feature offers a solution for the discomfort felt by passengers who boarded buses, subways, taxis, etc. operated by confirmed individuals. My-T offers a notification service regarding overlapping routes with confirmed individuals to allow people to safely use public transportation.

Second, the app offers a navigation service that offers information on the degree of passenger congestion so that users can avoid crowded routes and choose alternatives or safer modes of transportation.

Third, the app records the history of personal movement on buses, subways, taxis, and Ttareungi(public bike service) and the history of public transportation use. It is also planned that combined services with private businesses will be available in the future to offer users coupons, discounts, points, and other benefits.

Fourth, services for vulnerable passengers will be reinforced. A reservation service will be available for wheelchair users of low-floor buses to board at the bus stop of their choice.

Way Forward

In the next three years, the SMG plans to enhance the service based on MyData and use technologies owned by private businesses. The plan is to be conducted in several phases. SMG plans to offer mileage accumulations and discounts for public transportation, improve credit ratings through the reflection of public transportation use, and return data sales earnings.