SASKATOON – Brighton bus drivers will soon be able to request a ride to and from any stop across the city starting May 31st.
The service will be available on weekdays from 6.30 a.m. to 6 p.m., with no transfers or with connections to high-frequency areas, according to the traffic service’s website.
To request a ride, passengers can download the on-demand transit app and use the Saskatoon code, visit a website, or call 306-975-3100 from 7:00 am to 7:30 pm
People using the service will be picked up at the bus stop of their choice and dropped off from the bus that serves other passengers.
Cory Shrigley, Customer Support Manager and Engagement at Saskatoon Transit says On-Demand Transit already has a bus serving the west side and the service has been advertised primarily through word of mouth.
“We’re seeing success stories from people using it in hard-to-reach places in Saskatoon where using public transport could be a challenge,” he told CTV News.
Shrigley compares the service to UberPool.
Logan Webber takes the bus to school every day and says he is interested in the program.
“I was thinking some time ago about buses dropping people off at certain stops and it definitely helps us get to our places faster instead of having to wait for 20 stops between certain stops.”
Drivers must first register in order to book a ride and have two options when using the app.
You can choose between two stops, the number of seats and the time you want to be picked up. Or select the “Drop-off” option so that the selected time is your preferred drop-off time.
“You can book a trip for tomorrow or a few days in advance, or you can go on something called ASAP as soon as possible,” said Shrigley.
There are no additional costs for the service beyond the regular transit fees and the pilot project will run until the end of the year.
According to Shrigley, expanding the on-demand transit bus program to include weekends could be an option given its popularity.
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