Following a soft launch in March, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (CA) Nextrip real-time bus arrival information is now live. To support the service, LA Metro is upgrading its bus stop signs to display stop ID numbers and QR Codes. Link to full story in The Source. Original post
San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (CA) and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission announced that customers can now use the ticket vending machines at all 44 BART stations to add value to their Clipper cards. “This is great news for customers all around the Bay Area,” said MTC vice chair Amy Rein Worth at a pressRead… Read more »
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (CA) is testing new fareboxes on selected bus routes starting May 18. The new fareboxes will be able to issue and read electronic day passes and allow riders to swipe magnetic stripe tickets from other transit agencies. After reviewing the results of the the pilot test, VTA expects toRead… Read more »
TransLink (BC) is adding 600 security cameras to its bus fleet with a goal of protecting drivers and customers, reviewing incidents, and investigating claims. The agency placed cameras in 244 buses in 2006 and says they have helped protect drivers and solve crimes. According to TransLink, the number of bus driver assaults has dropped 20%Read… Read more »
With bicycle-sharing coming to Boston (MA) in a few months, Fortune interviewed Alta Bicycle Share president Alison Cohen about technology, revenues, and the future of bike sharing in North America. On technology: “Our bikes and stations are built by Public Bike System of Montreal…With a system that’s secure like that, theft and vandalism are veryRead… Read more »
At long last, The Transit Wire has a Twitter account. I’ll continue posting stories via @OakSquareSusan, but now you can follow @TheTransitWire directly. If you’re not a Twitter user, you still can visit The Transit Wire on Facebook or subscribe by email and RSS using the links on the home page. Or do it theRead… Read more »
Maglev without the magnets? The Aero-Train (which almost shares a name with another futuristic train) keeps the levitation but, according to Fast Company, the prototype from Japan would use the principles of “wing-in-ground effect” to eliminate drag by flying very close to the ground. So is it transit? Fast Company says yes: “Take one ofRead… Read more »
In addition to getting transit directions, HopStop users can now find out how many calories they’re burning on the walk to and from the subway stop. “It’s nice that I’m getting something out of it,” an Upper East Side lawyer told the New York Post. “I won’t feel guilty drinking a Frappuccino.” Earlier this month,Read… Read more »
Chiltern Railways (UK) launched a mobile ticketing application that allows customers to buy, download, and validate tickets on their mobile phones. The free application delivers a 2D barcode, which can be scanned at the faregate and by ticket inspectors. “This innovation in ticketing is a first within the rail industry,” said marketing director Thomas AblemanRead… Read more »
BART (CA) updated its mobile website to allow riders with GPS-enabled phones to find the closest station or plan a trip based on their current location. Original post