Over 7,000 Parking Violations Detected at Bus Stops in Braga, Portugal: A Revolutionary Pilot Program

Major Findings from the Pilot Program

Nearly 8,000 parking violations at bus stops were identified during a three-month pilot program using Hayden AI's automated bus stop enforcement technology in Braga, Portugal. This initiative was funded through the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)'s AI Challenge competition, which both Hayden AI and Braga won in January 2024.

Innovative Technology in Action

Hayden AI specializes in mobile perception and detection systems. Their bus-mounted technology employs computer vision and edge processing to detect both parking and moving violations in bus stops and bus lanes. For this pilot, Hayden AI's system was installed on two Transportes Urbanos de Braga (TUB) buses operating on specific lines. The results were staggering, revealing 7,999 bus stop parking violations along the tested routes.

Specific Violations Identified

One bus stop, located at Rua Nova de Santa Cruz and Rua dos Lusíadas, alone accounted for 2,186 violations. Notably, no citations were issued during this pilot phase.

Impact on Public Safety

Charles Territo, Chief Growth Officer of Hayden AI, emphasized the importance of this technology: “Obstructed bus stops create hazards for transit riders all over the world. It has been a privilege to help TUB and the city of Braga determine where these violations occur and how often.”

Braga city councilor Olga Pereira highlighted the dangers of illegal parking, especially for riders with mobility impairments: “That is unacceptable. We’re grateful for the opportunity to learn where, when and how frequently these parking violations occur through this pilot with Hayden AI.”

Expanding Horizons

Hayden AI's system is already making waves in major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Washington DC. Moreover, the company has recently launched a similar pilot in Barcelona, Spain, focusing on automated bus lane and bus stop enforcement, funded by a €100,000 award from the Barcelona Innova Lab Mobility competition.