This time of year is typically marked by the end of the exciting March Madness, the NBA playoff games are underway and warmer weather here. March Madness is the popular term assigned to the NCAA college basketball tournament. Why? Because 68 teams compete in a single-elimination tournament in the pursuit of a championship trophy. Over the course of four weeks teams will be upset, injuries will occur, fans will go crazy, and only one team will remain standing. Much like college basketball, there is madness surrounding public transportation. Passengers express frustration with waiting, drivers continue using antiquated processes, administrators lack reporting and data to facilitate important decisions, and people continue to wonder, "Where is my bus?"
Fortunately, intelligent bus solutions are available as an answer to these pain points. As transit agencies compete for the winning spot, it is important to assemble the best starting lineup available.
The Point Guard: Real-time GPS Tracking
The indispensable core of any great team.
GPS technology allows administrators and the public to track vehicle location in real time. That information can be accessed by dispatchers as a way to manage the fleet and assign vehicles to various routes. The information can also be presented to the public via a mobile app in an effort to keep riders informed and provide estimated arrival times.
The Shooting Guard: Demand-Response System
Fun to watch, and clutch when the game is on the line.
Riders are familiar with the convenience of Uber and Lyft. Organizations may benefit by providing their own on-demand system, customized to their routes and stops. Universities, airport systems, and large corporations are adopting on-demand services to further enhance their shuttle services. This service may be a great replacement to a dial-a-ride service or Safe Ride program. Riders simply request a pick-up and drop-off and dispatchers immediately send a driver to accommodate the request.
The Small Forward: Automatic Passenger Counting
An integral part of the team, success is never fully achieved without this member.
In the days of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, drivers used pen and paper to track ridership. These two Hall of Fame NBA stars have long since retired, but many agencies continue using the antiquated process of manual tracking. The latest technology is now available to automatically count passengers as they board the vehicle. Using sophisticated camera imaging sensors, accuracy of automatic passenger counters is now above 95 percent and records incredibly reliable information for administrators. APCs can detect adults, children, luggage and even the driver as it provides ridership information at your fingertips.
The Power Forward: Automated Voice Annunciation
A strong and fierce competitor that’s hard to ignore.
Many organizations are implementing automated voice annunciation to comply with ADA regulations. As vehicles arrive at stops the speaker system will automatically play custom messages to alert riders. These messages can be played from interior or exterior speakers and are triggered based on geo-fenced zones.
The Center: Onboard Wi-Fi
The big guy, highly valuable on any team.
Riders use smartphones and tablets for everyday tasks, such as email, social media and video streaming. Offering the benefit of onboard Wi-Fi is an easy way to satisfy passengers and improve ridership. Creating a wireless hotspot is achieved by simply using the same router that powers the vehicle GPS.
Don’t get caught up in the madness. Identify the solutions that will improve your transit operations. The technology is out there to make life easier and more efficient for drivers, passengers and administrators.
Justin Rees is CEO of Ride Systems.
Ride Systems is a provider of transportation technology solutions that enhance the rider experience and improve overall transit operations. The GPS vehicle location service is easily viewed on a free mobile app and gives riders the information they need to make transit simple.
