Microtransit is the buzzword for it. Routes are developed through an algorithm that churns transit data, social media activity and requests for service through a phone app. Riders in a specified service area are guaranteed a direct ride, with only one or two stops, from a bus stop that is within a five-minute walk of where they live or work to somewhere within a five-minute walk of their destination.
Unlike new-age taxi services like Uber and Lyft, which also use apps to arrange rides, Bridj contracts with established transit services to provide drivers and vehicles that hold 14 people on average, Matt George, the company’s chief executive officer, told the board.
Bridj coming to KC
Bridj coming to KC
http://www.kansascity.com/news/governme ... 28314.html
Re: Bridj coming to KC
bridj launches in early march: http://ridekc.org/news/bridj
Ford is the exclusive vehicle provider for Ride KC: Bridj because of its commitment to enabling urban mobility through its Ford Smart Mobility plan.
The one-year pilot program initially will include downtown Kansas City, the near east and west sides, Hospital Hill, Crown Center, portions of Midtown, University of Kansas Medical Center and the Historic 18th and Vine Jazz district. It will augment and serve as a gateway to other forms of transit as many pick-up locations will be at bus stops and areas served by existing Kansas City transit and bike-share systems. Additional routes will be added based on rider demand as identified through Bridj technology.
Re: Bridj coming to KC
I'm still a little confused on how Bridj works. Does it integrate with KCATA so that if a part of my trip is covered by streetcar/bus, it would suggest I take that, and then have a Bridj van waiting to take me the rest of the trip? Or, is it essentially like a shared Uber where it picks up people along whatever generated route works the best for all passengers, and it just so happens to pick people up/drop people off near transit stops?
Re: Bridj coming to KC
it''s like mixing uber with one fixed route. it's not door-to-door like uber, but the scheduling and stops are dynamic. the savings come from not making trips that don't have demand, as far as i can tell.
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Re: Bridj coming to KC
I sounds a lot like a modernization of the Metroflex serviceDaveKCMO wrote:it''s like mixing uber with one fixed route. it's not door-to-door like uber, but the scheduling and stops are dynamic. the savings come from not making trips that don't have demand, as far as i can tell.
Read the description here
http://www.kcata.org/documents/routes/s ... 244swk.pdf
I can see it being expanded to replace low demand lines and expand service into new areas. This kind of service would be perfect in Gladstone or Riverside to connect residents there to an extended MAX or rail line up N. Oak
Re: Bridj coming to KC
Or suburban lines from transit centers to major job locations. When I used to take the Jo from downtown to 151st back in the day, 60% of the stops could have been eliminated and saved 30 minutes on the trip because most of the stops went unused. This could be a great way to promote transit in the suburban market.flyingember wrote:I sounds a lot like a modernization of the Metroflex serviceDaveKCMO wrote:it''s like mixing uber with one fixed route. it's not door-to-door like uber, but the scheduling and stops are dynamic. the savings come from not making trips that don't have demand, as far as i can tell.
Read the description here
http://www.kcata.org/documents/routes/s ... 244swk.pdf
I can see it being expanded to replace low demand lines and expand service into new areas. This kind of service would be perfect in Gladstone or Riverside to connect residents there to an extended MAX or rail line up N. Oak
Edit: I guess that's pretty much what you said I need to finish reading before responding.
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Re: Bridj coming to KC
Yeah, this would be perfect in JoCo to serve a commuter rail system or bus backbone on Metcalf or Shawnee Mission Parkway
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Re: Bridj coming to KC
Any word on what they expect the average wait time to be for a shuttle? Obviously, they expect there to be no longer than a five minute walk, but do you then have to wait 30 minutes if it is 9:00 PM?
I'm pretty excited for the possibilities of this coming out of the Westside. It feels like the routes around me change so much (don't know how often, but they have changed), I kinda gave up on expecting the bus to be a reasonable/reliable transportation alternative to driving or Uber (*edit - not saying faster or equivalent, but something that is not annoying or inconsistent - I want to have more public transportation in my life!). There are a lot of routes that run around me, but they are all slight variations of the same route, with seemingly no rhyme or reason as to why they bob and weave so much.
Google Maps quotes a walk from the 20th and Summit to Thou Mayest at 21 minutes, which is not that long of a walk, but the fastest bus route there involves taking a bus that arrives once every 10 minutes during peak weekday hours, and once an hour on a Saturday, going all the way around Union Station, and walking 8-10 minutes from Crown Center. The fastest routes to City Market quote a 13 and a 17 minute walk. At that rate, I'm more likely to drive to the City Market and walk around from there than I am to hope to coincide with the randomly drawn bus routes Google sends me. I understand public transportation is going to be slower than driving, but there is a distance after which it should generally be faster than walking. Hopefully, the hyper-local approach of Bridj can help. It's really only a 5 mile by 3 or 4 mile grid, so I'd expect them to focus on speeding up 1 to 2 mile trips not served by the streetcar. North of Union Station, I'd expect it to be mostly used for East/West oriented trips. South of Union Station, it could be used for any number of things, so it is possible this will end up being the area of heaviest use.
I'm pretty excited for the possibilities of this coming out of the Westside. It feels like the routes around me change so much (don't know how often, but they have changed), I kinda gave up on expecting the bus to be a reasonable/reliable transportation alternative to driving or Uber (*edit - not saying faster or equivalent, but something that is not annoying or inconsistent - I want to have more public transportation in my life!). There are a lot of routes that run around me, but they are all slight variations of the same route, with seemingly no rhyme or reason as to why they bob and weave so much.
Google Maps quotes a walk from the 20th and Summit to Thou Mayest at 21 minutes, which is not that long of a walk, but the fastest bus route there involves taking a bus that arrives once every 10 minutes during peak weekday hours, and once an hour on a Saturday, going all the way around Union Station, and walking 8-10 minutes from Crown Center. The fastest routes to City Market quote a 13 and a 17 minute walk. At that rate, I'm more likely to drive to the City Market and walk around from there than I am to hope to coincide with the randomly drawn bus routes Google sends me. I understand public transportation is going to be slower than driving, but there is a distance after which it should generally be faster than walking. Hopefully, the hyper-local approach of Bridj can help. It's really only a 5 mile by 3 or 4 mile grid, so I'd expect them to focus on speeding up 1 to 2 mile trips not served by the streetcar. North of Union Station, I'd expect it to be mostly used for East/West oriented trips. South of Union Station, it could be used for any number of things, so it is possible this will end up being the area of heaviest use.
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Re: Bridj coming to KC
I believe in Boston and DC, you're never supposed to have to wait more than 10 minutes for a bus.
I think this is the future of public transportation for areas that don't get heavy use. I could see in 5 years not even having mapped/scheduled bus routes outside of the urban core. It just makes so much sense to have routes change dynamically to adjust to demand. No transfers are needed. You don't have to walk/wait more than 10 minutes. You can schedule pickup times that work for you. If this can be at all competitive price-wise with current public transit, it will replace it eventually. The more people that use it, the better it will get.
I think this is the future of public transportation for areas that don't get heavy use. I could see in 5 years not even having mapped/scheduled bus routes outside of the urban core. It just makes so much sense to have routes change dynamically to adjust to demand. No transfers are needed. You don't have to walk/wait more than 10 minutes. You can schedule pickup times that work for you. If this can be at all competitive price-wise with current public transit, it will replace it eventually. The more people that use it, the better it will get.
Re: Bridj coming to KC
bridj service starts march 7.
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Re: Bridj coming to KC
Is there a map of the service territory or pickup locations yet?DaveKCMO wrote:bridj service starts march 7.
Re: Bridj coming to KC
i've been told reservations start this week for trips starting march 7. download the app at http://bridj.com.
Re: Bridj coming to KC
took my first bridj trip this morning. got any questions?
the biggest thing for me was understanding you could travel WITHIN the two blobs on the service area map. for example, my trip was from 18th/woodland to 12th/oak (which was not my normal commute).
i used the promo code for a free ride.
the biggest thing for me was understanding you could travel WITHIN the two blobs on the service area map. for example, my trip was from 18th/woodland to 12th/oak (which was not my normal commute).
i used the promo code for a free ride.
Re: Bridj coming to KC
Just saw it at Main and Linwood.DaveKCMO wrote:took my first bridj trip this morning. got any questions?
the biggest thing for me was understanding you could travel WITHIN the two blobs on the service area map. for example, my trip was from 18th/woodland to 12th/oak (which was not my normal commute).
i used the promo code for a free ride.
How does pick up work? The promo video made it seem like you need to go to a specific place for a group pick up.
Re: Bridj coming to KC
yes, you need to go to the pick-up location dictated in the app (which will be an existing KCATA bus stop). your drop-off location will also be shown. once you book the trip, you'll get a boarding pass (it's a 'flash pass' for the operator).
Re: Bridj coming to KC
so can you use bridj with your KCATA monthly pass?
Re: Bridj coming to KC
seems like they expanded the service area to include KU Med and east of downtown
Re: Bridj coming to KC
no. not sure if that will change in the future.dnweava wrote:so can you use bridj with your KCATA monthly pass?
Re: Bridj coming to KC
I'm surprised they don't go out to Midtown/Plazadnweava wrote:seems like they expanded the service area to include KU Med and east of downtown