Bay Area transit providers turn to Discord to keep riders informed
Bay Area transit providers have partnered together to launch the Bay Area Transit Discord Server to keep both current and potential riders informed and engaged.
The Discord Project will assist in putting out alerts for all the major Bay Area transit agencies in the area - Bay Area Rapid Transit, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, AC Transit, San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority, Caltrain and San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans). All of the participating agencies will have representatives active on the platform to engage with their respective riders.
The dicord channel will have an updated events tab that lists both in-person and virtual events from each agency so people can ask questions and coordinate with other transit agencies. People can learn about and RSVP for events, staying abreast of developments throughout the Bay Area’s many transit systems. Additionally, the server allows transit users to interact with one another, share photos and discuss transit policy.
"We are thrilled to introduce the Bay Area Transit Discord Server, which represents a significant step forward in our efforts to reach more riders," said SamTrans Digital Communications Specialist Jamie Vizmanos, who led the project. "We believe this platform will serve as a valuable resource for riders throughout the Bay Area, fostering a sense of community and keeping them informed every step of the way."
Later this year, the server will introduce a feature that will auto-populates press releases and blog posts so riders can stay up to date with what's currently going on at each participating agency.
"As a rail service serving Silicon Valley, Caltrain has never shied away from innovation,” said Caltrain Executive Director Michelle Bouchard. “Our presence on Discord will help to create an online community of transit riders, bringing us into a new era of social media, as we prepare to enter a new era of train travel."
More than 1,200 people have signed up for the server in the first 48 hours.
Eman Abu-Khaled | Associate Editor
Eman Abu-Khaled is a recent graduate of Kent State University with a bachelors in journalism. She works through Endeavor Business Media with Mass Transit as an associate editor. Abu-Khaled brings a fresh perspective to the visual side of journalism with an interest in video and photography work.
