Invaluable for Commuters, Shoppers, Students, and Vacationers

Across North America, more and more people are using public transportation because it is so cost efficient vs. private automobile usage. Now, thanks to NextBus it is also time-efficient.

Whether they are commuting, going shopping, headed to school or going to the beach, real-time information from NextBus makes using the bus both efficient and enjoyable.  Riders can now plan their day effectively, knowing exactly when their next bus will arrive. Moreover, they can also set alarms to make sure that they can get to their stop right on time.

Real-time arrival data is always valuable for passengers, but it becomes vital on routes with infrequent bus arrivals.  When a bus comes just once per hour, riders can still travel efficiently by taking advantage of NextBus information at home or on the go.

For example, on scenic Fort Myers Beach, Florida, the Beach Trolley is a sensible and affordable way to travel up and down the narrow barrier island, but it arrives only every 50-60 minutes. But, that’s not a problem when NextBus keeps you advised, as one enthusiastic rider explained:

I vacation in Ft. Myers every summer and just love the trolley service.  Last year it was pretty helpful.  This year was so much better because of NextBus.  I could see when the trolley was getting very close so I could leave a store and get to the stop in time. This helps me so much.

DC’s WMATA Illustrates Value of Arrival Data Everywhere Riders Need It

In a typical WMATA usage scenario, a commuter in the Washington DC suburb of Bethesda, Maryland can time her departure from home to the bus stop within a few minutes by looking at real-time arrival information on her PC, laptop, iPhone, iPad, BlackBerry or Android phone.

Bus Passengers Get Live Arrival Data on Their PCs or Laptops

When riders go to their computer, they can select their route and stop so that they can watch real-time changes in bus arrival information, as illustrated by the live prediction below.

Access any of our live arrival data for every NextBus-supported transit system

Passengers Can Locate Themselves, Their Stop, and Their Bus on a Live Map

Never be lost. Never be late.

If riders don’t know exactly where the closest stop might be or are unfamiliar with a route or an entire transit system, they can use either our Live Maps or Google Maps to see get oriented.

They can then select the closest stop and determine the location of their chosen bus, and when it’s expected to arrive.

View WMATA Map examples here.

Get Arrival Data on Smartphones, Standard Cellphones—or Even Landline Phones

When riders are out and about they can still plan their travel intelligently by accessing real-time arrival data on their smartphone.  We have created special versions of the NextBus system for multiple mobile environments.  They can even use landline phones when there is no other alternative.

• Learn how to get mobile NextBus data on web-enabled phone by clicking here. 
• Learn how to access NextBus via SMS here.
• Learn how to access NextBus via touchtone cell or landline phones here.

NextBus Automatic Alarms Enable Riders to Keep Themselves On-Time

Best of all, riders can set an alarm to warn them that it’s time to head for the bus stop so they  don’t accidently miss the bus. They can choose to receive an email, an SMS message or an alert on the web via a simple and unavoidable pop-up.

The alerts can be one time only, set for weekdays or for everyday of the week.  Different alerts can be set for multiple stops and routes.

The automatic alerts can be a critical commuting component for busy students and employees who need to be on time.

Learn how to set up an automatic alarm here.

Electronic Signage Adds Even More Information on Many Transit Systems

Once passengers have arrived at their stop, many systems provide electronic signs that provide live data to keep them informed. Each route that makes a stop at the location will show an arrival prediction.

Riders may discover that they have time for a last minute errand before the next bus arrives. Or they may be made aware of a special situation that has impeded bus traffic to their chosen stop.