Take a ride on the web bus

You’ve heard of mobile internet, but probably never saw it like this before.

Located in the small French town of Tarbes is the ‘Cyberbus,’ a community-driven initiative to provide free web access to local communities and  teach web literacy.

The project brings wireless internet directly to people via a converted bus that is driven to locations around the French town. Locals are picked up at ‘web stops’ and teachers on board the bus guide local people to  desks equipped with PCs.

They are then shown how to surf the web, send emails and other useful tips, such as how to create CVs for jobs. Everyone from students to pensioners, workers and the jobless are welcome.

The Cyberbus project has been running since 2003 and was set up by the Conseil Général of Tarbes, Hautes-Pyrénées.

Check out the video as you see one of the project’s members, Olivier Battini, drives around Tarbes looking to pick up locals for a web session. (Website is in French only).

 — Adrian Giordani, iSGTW