The City of San Luis Obispo Transit is rolling out new technology upgrades to make riding the bus even easier. These upgrades include the ability to buy digital bus passes via a smartphone application and a pilot project for real-time bus information at bus stops.
As of early November, SLO Transit now sells digital bus passes via the Token Transit smartphone application. Riders can download the app via their smartphones, create an account and then start buying their digital bus passes. From there, users will simply show or “flash” their pass to the driver from their smartphones for authentication and verification before they board. The use of Token Transit digital bus passes has the added benefit of allowing users to send digital bus passes to others electronically. All SLO Transit pass types are available for purchase within the app.
Further, SLO Transit will be testing two different solar powered real-time bus information signs. The first sign type is CHK America’s Connectpoint Digital Bus Stop, which offers solar-powered, ePaper, real-time departure and schedule information as well as service alerts. These “Smart City” digital signs are equipped with electronic paper displays that provide crystal clear readability any hour of the day or night. This sign type will be installed at the new San Luis Airport bus stop along Route 1A. The second sign type is a solar-powered, real-time information sign from Waysine with an LED display.
These new features are aimed at enhancing transit travel experience while improving passenger satisfaction and reducing passenger anxiety about bus arrivals and where to buy bus passes.
“We are excited about the potential of these new features as we continue to strive to make our city’s public transit system more accessible and appealing,” said San Luis Obispo Transit Manager, Gamaliel Anguiano. “It’s our hope to continue to help free people from the burden of car ownership by making public transportation a more viable and attractive option” he added.
