BC Transit rolls out real-time bus locating service for Victoria

BC Transit rolls out real-time bus locating service for Victoria
Andrea Ferrari/CHEK News
Technology called NextRide, which allows riders to track their buses along their route from their phones or desktops, is now live on all 294 buses in the Victoria Regional Transit.

Taking transit in Victoria just got a little easier.

Technology called NextRide, which allows riders to track their buses along their route from their phones or desktops, is now live on all 294 buses in the Victoria Regional Transit.

“The main piece is giving you that information you don’t have at your fingertips,” Neil Corbett, director of smart technology at BC Transit, said.

NextRide can be accessed on the BC Transit website. It will require the use of internet connection or strong WiFi but BC Transit says they will be looking into the installment of WiFi on buses in the future.

“Just the fact that they [the rider] know that it’s [the bus] and gives them a time frame definitely will alleviate those conflicts they may have with drivers,” Andrew Waring, transit operator, said.

The new system costs $6.7 million

Buses are equipped with GPS monitors to update users on information, but as an added safety precaution, it will only be enabled when the bus has come to a complete stop.

The program displays what buses are arriving at any stop for the next three arrivals and if a bus is full, drivers can update that information to allow customers to plan accordingly.

In addition to NextRide, speakers have also been installed on buses let riders know which bus they are taking and where it’s heading to next.

BC Transit says they hope to add almost 300 more buses across the province to the NextRide program by the end of next year.

NextRide has been available since last year in Nanaimo and the Comox Valley.

 

 

Andrea FerrariAndrea Ferrari

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