Orlando has wrapped its test of an autonomous bus downtown, which featured positive reviews from riders even as the vehicle clipped Lynx buses twice. The city launched the service in splashy fashion last year, hoping that the so-called SWAN would be a reliable and popular transit option for people looking to move throughout Creative Village — and a potential transit addition to other neighborhoods around town. The pill-shaped vehicle drew more than 4,800 riders with most between 18 and 34 years old, said Tanya Wilder, Orlando’s transportation director, which circulated in Creative Village for six months.
“The initial results show that the majority of people liked it and felt safe, and they’d ride it again,” she said. Now city officials are assessing the results and haven’t made any decisions about the future of the vehicles future in the downtown area, she said. Joe Moye, the CEO of Beep, the Lake Nona-based company behind the buses, said he’s had conversations with the city and other groups around the region about other uses for the autonomous bus.
More advanced models travelingat faster speeds should be ready to deploy in about two years, he said. Those conversations range from other routes in Orlando, at the Orange County Convention Center or near the Kia Center, and popular Main Street districts like The Milk District and SODO. “The answer is an emphatic yes,” he said.
Beep has run a shuttle route in the Lake Nona area since 2019, and last year also laun.
