Closures in public transport: a small web app instead of notice boards and group emails
A web application for closures and stop relocations in public transport that you can try. How it is built and how I handle data protection, co-determination and accessibility.
When a transport operator moves a stop or a road closes, a notice often goes up on the board and an email goes out to everyone. Whoever drives line 5 tomorrow has to piece the relevant information together. I built a small web application for exactly this process, and you can try the demo yourself. The demo is available in German only, because the example comes from German public transport.
What the application does
Dispatchers create a notice with a few details: type of notice, affected stop and lines, start and end, a free text and a PDF if needed.
Drivers pick a line and a date and see everything that applies on that day, sorted by time. The view is built for smartphones. The demo runs in the browser, there is no demo app. For production use I am happy to build a dedicated app on request, to the wishes and specifications of the transport operator.
Why the route network is part of the application
When a stop served by several lines moves, none of them may be missing from the notice. That is why the application knows the route network. You choose the stop first and then see only the lines whose route includes it. All of them are preselected, and you deselect those not affected. The server checks this again.
The network can be edited directly: add stops, extend and reorder routes. In the demo you work in your own copy, which only you can see and which is deleted after 24 hours.
Legal requirements are part of development
Transport operators and other public companies rightly look closely at what software does with data. Of course I comply with the legal requirements that apply to my tools. This starts with the question of which data an application needs at all. The references below are to German and EU law:
- Data protection (GDPR, Art. 5, 25 and 32): The application stores only what it needs. Ended notices and their PDFs are deleted automatically after a fixed period. There are no trackers and no embedded third-party services.
- Employee data and co-determination (§ 87(1) no. 6 of the German Works Constitution Act, staff representation laws): What counts is whether software is objectively suited to monitor behaviour or performance. So the application does not record who read what. There is no read receipt, no location query and no log of successful logins.
- Data processing agreements (GDPR, Art. 28): If I take over operation or maintenance, a data processing agreement is part of it.
- Security: PDFs are stored outside the public web area and are available only after login. It also uses protection against forged requests, a strict Content Security Policy and limits against automated access.
Please note that this article is not legal advice. The assessment for your company is up to your data protection officer and legal counsel.
Readable and usable by recognised standards
My benchmark is WCAG 2.1 level AA. For this tool that means clear language, meaningful headings and labelled form fields, text contrast of at least 4.5:1 in light and dark mode, large touch targets, and dates and times that can be typed. The forms also work without JavaScript. Formal proof of accessibility comes from an audit by an independent body, which an operator can commission if needed.
Frequently asked questions
Is the application available for real transport operators?
The demo is a practical example with fictional data. For a real operator I adapt it to your processes, for example with personal accounts and, on request, login through your existing system (SSO).
Is there an app for drivers?
The demo runs in the smartphone browser and can be added to the home screen, there is no demo app. For production use I am happy to build an app on request, to the wishes and specifications of the transport operator.
Is there an English version of the demo?
Not at the moment. The demo is in German. A real project would use the languages your team needs.
What happens to what I enter in the demo?
You work in your own copy that other visitors cannot see. It is deleted automatically after 24 hours. Please do not enter real data anyway.
Does this fit your process?
Closures do not only affect transport operators. For German municipalities I run my own application, Baustellen.net (in German), which passes closures on to everyone involved.
Notice boards and group emails are not limited to public transport. Wherever information has to reach the right people at a specific time, a tool like this can help. I describe when it is worthwhile under custom web applications. Or write to me about what is getting in your way.