A rural mobility service system designed for the town of Penrith — investigating how public transport can reconnect those overlooked by existing services
The project is set in Penrith, a town in northwest England — a rural district where the population over 65 will exceed 40% by 2031. The existing 19 bus lines severely underserve the eastern residential areas, effectively excluding elderly and disabled residents from hospitals, supermarkets, train stations, and other essential public services. The project delivers three layers of design output: a newly added autonomous bus route (with stops replanned around residents' actual needs); the industrial design of the stops themselves (a concealed, height-adjustable seat; 5G real-time vehicle tracking; voice assistance for visually impaired users; and an LED light strip for nighttime visibility); and a brand identity system designed to build visual trust. The project positions mobility itself as a metric of public service accessibility — and as a means by which this community can regain independence and social connection