By Madeline Baker, Times Chronicle
Users of the South Okanagan-Similkameen transit system have a new way to plan their bus trips as efficiently as possible, even around the usual day-to-day variations, then enjoy the ride without concerns about missing their stop.
BC Transit’s NextRide system began its testing and training phase in the area in January, and now they have announced that the technology is live and available to travellers.
NextRide technology allows travellers to find out, via a web browser or smartphone app, the current location of their bus along its scheduled route and when it is predicted to arrive at their stop.
Because it tracks the buses in real time, it can also account for changes in real time.
Automated announcements on board the bus also indicate each stop, which improves the accessibility of transit for those with limited vision, newcomers to the transit system, and even thrifty tourists exploring the region via public transit.
“It’s great to see the successful NextRide program being rolled out across the province,” said Transportation Minister Rob Fleming.
“State-of-the-art technology like this will enhance the user experience, encourage more people to leave their cars at home and help rebuild transit ridership as we emerge from COVID-19.”
The Automatic Vehicle Location, or AVL technology that drives this program is provided in partnership with Consat, an engineering company out of Sweden with satellite locations worldwide. Consat Canada CAO Roger Sauve said that the company “is confident that our solutions will meet the goals of BC Transit to improve the overall customer experience across the province.”
BC Transit does ask for patience from customers using Google Maps to schedule their trips, as it takes several weeks for Google to connect with Nextride and begin sharing information, so any real time features may not yet be available.
More information on the Nextride program, including how to access Nextride from your mobile device or computer, can be found on the BC Transit website at bctransit.com/nextride-faq.
NextRide falls under BC Transit’s Smart Bus program, which introduces new technologies to improve service.
