A
system for patrons of public transportation waiting at transit stops, to provide data to transit vehicles serving these stops, that identifies which transit vehicles are desired, and the transit stop locations corresponding to the data. The
system includes methodology for transit vehicles that received the data, to provide acknowledgements to the patrons of having received their requests. The
system includes a powered transit stop with attachments for
wireless communication, an input panel for selecting transit routes, a
display device, a
video camera, a signaling device and a processor to control interactions of attached devices. The transit stop processor stores patron requests and the
physical address of the transit stop, and uses
wireless communication links with the
mass transit vehicles to upload the stored data to displays located in
mass transit vehicles when they query the transit stop. Communication display modules having storage of the selective call numbers for the transit stops are included on the
mass transit vehicles. In addition passive means are included to enable drivers of mass transit vehicles to visually determine the location of transit stops having patrons waiting. The transit stop's processor and
wireless communication have the added benefit of enabling people at transit stops to initiate an emergency notification call to
emergency response centers(s) whose calling numbers are stored in the transit stop processor. The included
video camera at the transit stop further provides a method for video images to be transmitted in addition to sound and
location data, all of which can be used by the
emergency response centers(s) called to facilitate the most appropriate response to emergency calls. An alternate configuration of the system described by the present invention provides an embodiment for patrons of private transportation to notify dispatchers of roving transit vehicles as to the locations from where they are seeking service. Capabilities are included at the transit stops, which the central dispatch facilities could utilize to acquire video images, in addition to data and sound, as a deterrent to possible crimes that might be perpetrated against their drivers or their patrons.