ANNAPOLIS VALLEY – Kings Transit has an app for that.
More specifically, they have launched a smartphone app that tracks where their busses are, and when they’ll arrive at each stop.
Transit general manager Glen Bannon says he’s excited for transit riders to start using the new app called the Double Map, which is a GPS bus tracking system that shows riders where their specific bus is, and when it will arrive at their stop.
“We’re really excited about this new program. We know busses can be late, and our printed schedules are based on routes working perfectly without traffic. We know that is not the case, so this will give our riders more confidence in us,” he says.
With late busses being the biggest complaint of Kings Transit users, general manager Glen Bannon says he’s confident this app will help fix that problem. “People don’t want to use transit if it’s unreliable,” he says.
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According to Bannon, transit riders’ biggest complaint has always been that busses regularly arrive late along every route, and that this new app, which the authority launched in late July, hopes to give its riders more confidence.
“Instead of getting schedule information, Double Map gives riders information on their bus, their route, in real time,” he says.
“This will give our riders more confidence that they have not missed their bus if they are waiting at a stop. They will know where the bus is, and can plan accordingly.”
The app is free and available for download in Google Play or App Store. After downloading the app, riders are to select Kings Transit Authority and will see their respective routes.
The app, which is designed based on a Google map, can be zoomed in to show more specific details including specific routes and busses moving in real time along those routes. Dots along routes mark each transit stop, with information on when the bus will arrive at each selected stop.
Bannon says the authority hasn’t had any reports of system errors, and that the app and its busses seem to be moving full speed ahead.
“People don’t want to use transit if it’s unreliable – it’s as simple as that. The goal for this is to help improve our service, and I have no doubt this will help people know exactly where their bus is and will improve ridership,” says Bannon.
