Ten years ago catching the bus meant an indefinite wait at the stop, wondering when or if the bus was coming. TransLoc changed that with their real-time bus tracking technology and has been changing the way people use transit ever since. Today they celebrate the ten-year milestone with a focus on new technology that will revolutionize transit yet again.
As technology became increasingly personal and lifestyle-driven in 2004, there was a glaring lack of attention given to improving fundamental activities like riding the bus. TransLoc founder Josh Whiton decided to do something about it.
"As a transit rider, I couldn't let go of the idea that public transportation deserved great technology too," said Whiton.
TransLoc made the idea of seeing your bus move on a map in real-time standard, even expected. They recognized the potential of smartphones and created the first native mobile app in the industry, an app that has been downloaded and used by millions of people across the country.
In recognition of these accomplishments, the White House presented TransLoc with the Champions of Change award in 2013. The value to transit riders in eliminating uncertainty and reducing wait times is evident as well. Over 100 agencies and universities now offer real-time information to their riders via TransLoc, and in their ten years TransLoc has never lost a customer.
Yet despite the essential role and innovative capacity of public transit, it remains largely unchanged and accessible to only a small percentage of people. In the next ten years, TransLoc will take on two key issues: making transit more widely available and compelling to use.
TransLoc is developing new and better ways for transit agencies to break down these barriers and respond to their riders' needs. Their next generation of products will create unprecedented connections, harnessing the power of technology to create more responsive public transportation.
"People with access to transit have increased social and economic opportunities," said Doug Kaufman, TransLoc CEO. "Our goal is to make transit so widely available and compelling to use that it becomes everyone's first choice for transportation. I'm excited to share our vision for how."
