SASKATOON -- Bus riders in Brighton will soon be able to request a ride to and from any transit stop throughout the city starting May 31.
The service will be available 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekdays, transfer free or with connections to high frequency areas, the transit service’s website says.
In order to request a ride, riders can download the On-Demand Transit app and use the code “Saskatoon,” visit a website or call 306-975-3100 from 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
People who use the service will be picked up at the stop of their choice and dropped off by the bus as it serves other riders.
Cory Shrigley, Customer Support Manager and Engagement with Saskatoon Transit says On-Demand Transit already has one bus servicing the west side and promotion of the service has mostly been by word of mouth.
“We're seeing success stories of people using it in those hard to get to places in Saskatoon where using transit might be challenging,” he told CTV News.
Shrigley compares the service to UberPool.
Logan Webber takes the bus everyday to get to school and says the program is something he’s interested in.
“I thought about it a while ago, of buses dropping people off at certain stops, and it definitely helps us get to our places quicker instead of having to wait for 20 stops in between certain stops.”
Riders will have to be registered first in order to book a trip and will have two choices when using the app.
They can choose two stops they are travelling between, the number of seats, and time they’d like to be picked up. Or choose the “drop off” option so the time chosen is their preferred drop-off time.
“You can book a trip for tomorrow or a few days in advance as well you could do what's called an ASAP trip, as soon as possible trip,” Shrigley said.
There is no additional cost for the service above regular transit fees and the pilot project will run until the end of the year.
Shrigley says expanding the On-Demand Transit bus program to weekends could be a possibility based on its popularity.
