UK transport technology firm Passenger has launched myTrip, a mobile ticketing and tracking app for buses.
Due to be released in August, myTrip is being developed to help smaller operators without existing apps (including school and shuttle bus services) as the UK emerges from lockdown.
myTrip users will be able to buy bus tickets from their mobile and see live bus locations for the services operating in their area. As well as the live location, they will be able to see information about the bus itself via Passenger’s new Enhanced Vehicle Information feature – including when the bus was last cleaned and whether the bus is ‘quiet,’ ‘moderate’ or ‘busy’ – helping to welcome customers back on board as the economy opens back up.
Designed to fit the needs of smaller operators, myTrip includes:
- Mobile ticketing;
- Live bus tracking;
- Enhanced vehicle information including real-time occupancy, cleanliness and wheelchair availability;
- In-app/contact free verification service (for student or other ID-verified discounted tickets); and
- Free Bus Open Data Service (BODS) hosting.
Users will also be able to contribute feedback on how busy a bus is. This information is then weighted and analysed against data from ETM hardware suppliers, drivers and other sources to show the buses occupancy in real-time.
Passenger conceived myTrip to support UK bus operators in communicating real-time occupancy updates and live bus tracking to their users, to help rebuild confidence in public transport as the COVID lockdown eases.
Passenger CEO Tom Quay explained: “Safely returning to normality as the COVID lockdown is lifted is hugely important and a big task for the UK’s public transport operators. Bus operators must balance user’s needs and government guidance. myTrip will help extend support – to every operator – to meet these needs confidently, on a fantastic app platform and supported by our hugely dedicated and passionate team.”
