Alex de Jong has been Business Manager Public Transport at VDL Bus & Coach bv for more than 15 years. In this role, he is responsible for the international Public Transport (PT) team and for the PT activities in the subsidiaries. In total, he has more than 25 years of experience in the international Public Transport Industry. Alex has been a key player in the transition from internal combustion engines (ICE) to the electrification of Public Transport buses of VDL Bus & Coach. This experience was the foundation that led to the development of the New Generation VDL Citea.
Within the UITP association, Alex is Vice Chair of the Vehicle and Equipment Industry Committee plus a member of the Bus Committee.
Sessions
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June 05: A user-centric approach for more accessible and inclusive mobility in our cities
How to elevate public transport as 'the Bright Light of the City' through product design?
Inhabitants of Barcelona experience their city through the many wonderful touchpoints, such as its beautiful architecture, that the city has to offer. These touchpoints are an important aspect of what makes a city a liveable city for its inhabitants. In relation to the city’s PT system, the key is to seamlessly integrate it into the city to enhance these touchpoints. By doing so, people’s perception of the transport system strengthens their overall experience of the city, and allows them to embrace its magic. A PT system as 'the Bright Light of the City’, should therefore be designed to be user-centric. Such design must offer an accessible, welcoming and comfortable experience as an important element of the liveable city. The product design plays an important role to the perceived quality of the experience of the user, and the non-users that experience public transport from the outside.
