The enthusiasm and involvement of the participants was great. They not only indicated their preferences, but also asked many questions and actively contributed ideas. Topics participants consider important: convenience, accessibility, safety and comfort. And in addition: that the bus is future-proof and attractive. 

What participants chose - and what we do with it

Based on the participants’ preferences, the Province of Zeeland together with EBS has now made choices for the interior of the new buses. Below you can read the key outcomes.

Seats: sturdy and the color purple

Most participants chose seats with thick cushions, a firm neutral  (less contoured) backrest, type 2 was mentioned most often. This seat type is rated by passengers in buses in parts of Gelderland, Flevoland and Overijssel with an 8.1 for seating comfort. We follow participants’ preference and therefore choose this type of seat for the new buses. As for the color, it turned out that people up to 30 years old more often preferred blue. While the 31-50 age category more often chose purple. We have chosen purple, matching the exterior of the bus. Purple symbolizes quality and individuality, fitting well with the new transport system we are striving for.

Priority seats in green

For the priority seats, intended for people who need extra support, various colors were mentioned. The red color was mentioned most often by a small margin. However, we deliberately choose green here: a color that looks friendly and inviting for anyone who needs just a bit more support. In our view, green and purple go nicely together. Moreover, the contrast between purple and green is large, making the priority seats clearly visible to passengers with a visual impairment. There will be two priority seats at the front of the bus, close to the door, facing the direction of travel.

Floor with a light look

The bus floor will have a light wood look. A large majority of the participants chose the wood look. Notably, especially people up to 41 years old preferred the wood look; above that, the terrazzo look was the favorite. We align with the majority and choose the wood look. In our view, this choice fits well with the calm and natural look we have in mind for the buses. 

Wi-Fi on the go

All new buses will have a good free Wi-Fi connection. The questionnaire showed that a small majority (54%) regularly or occasionally uses Wi-Fi on the bus. People can of course also continue to use their own network, as 29% of respondents already do.

Convenient charging on the go

Charging devices was considered important by 77%. There will be a USB-C charging point at every seat. 

No preference for tables

Tables are not a must for many passengers; only 18% indicate they would like to use a table on the bus. Because drivers and passengers also indicate that tables are quickly broken, we are not opting for them. So there will be no tables on the buses. There will, however, be multimedia consoles at every seat, where a mobile phone can be clamped in place.  

Drivers and interest groups

The drivers and various interest groups contributed ideas on the same topics as the passengers. In addition, they also discussed in detail other topics such as the on-board computer, which at their request will be placed a bit further forward (an adjustable option is still being considered), the driver’s seat, which should preferably be manually operated and easy to use, the placement of equipment, cameras and displays, the placement of trash bins at each door, and the accessibility of the buses. To improve accessibility, EBS is aligning the use of color for stop buttons and handholds with an interest group for people with a visual impairment. Finally, there will be a spacious wheelchair space near the exit door in the middle of the bus  .

Neighborhood buses

EBS will also supply the new neighborhood buses that will operate in Zeeland from December 2026. Neighborhood bus associations also spoke with EBS about their preferences. The seat layout in the neighborhood buses will be 2x4, the check-in equipment will be placed to the right of the entrance door so that the driver can help the passenger more easily, and there will be a wheelchair lift in the neighborhood buses. 

Who took part?

In total, we held discussions with about 200 people. 85 passengers completed the questionnaire. Most passengers who completed the questionnaire visited the new bus in Goes or Middelburg, in addition to Terneuzen and Zierikzee. Participants came from all age groups, with the largest representation of people between 31–40 years and 68+. Most participants take the bus regularly: 1 to 3 times or even 4+ days per week (57%). Work (27%), recreation (25%) and school (22%) were the main reasons for traveling. In addition, 44% travel with a subscription. People with a car available sometimes appeared to consciously choose the bus, mainly because of comfort, car parking costs or sustainability.

The discussions we held

There were also many questions from passengers, for which we took plenty of time during the sessions. For example, visitors made suggestions for an emergency phone number, good air conditioning and digital travel information at the stops. All suggestions will be looked at more closely in the coming period. Passengers expressed their appreciation for the drivers and wondered whether they would all keep their jobs. That is indeed the case: in principle, all drivers will transfer from Connexxion to EBS. 

Finally, there were many questions about the new system in which the bus is combined with the Flex. For instance, people wanted to know whether their stops would continue to exist. In the vast majority of cases, they will. People also asked who will operate the Flex and what it looks like. The Flex will be operated by taxi companies that currently provide WMO transport for the municipalities. The Flex is a taxi or (mini)bus with a driver. The Flex runs seven days a week between 6:00 and 23:00. You board at a hub, or, outside built-up areas, you are picked up at home. At the moment the Flex operates on Schouwen-Duiveland and Noord-Beveland; later it will be available throughout Zeeland.