TripShot introduces reservations feature for public and private transit networks
TripShot has launched a new reservations feature designed to help transit professionals manage rider capacity in real time while navigating the emerging realities in a post-pandemic world.
By allowing passengers to book ahead and secure a spot on the vehicle, transit managers can effectively manage real-time ridership, reduce crowding on-board and eliminate boarding friction for popular routes.
“It’s the perfect tool to help transit programs gain more control in a time when they need more control,” said Patrick Le, the company’s chief operating officer. “This is something we’ve been working on based on feedback from our clients. And it will certainly ease their transition when employees start returning to work this summer.”
The reservations feature can also provide better comfort and confidence to riders wary of shared transit. Intuitive indicators within the passenger-facing app will show how many of the seats on board a vehicle are filled and will also show if vehicles have been specially retrofitted to reinforce social distancing policies during the trip. TripShot says it serves nearly 100,000 daily riders when operations are at full capacity.
TripShot says companies that have already returned employees to work on a limited basis are taking advantage of the reservation feature and are experiencing positive results, with passengers stating the on-board distancing policies are easier to follow with limited seating and make them more comfortable while riding. Eventually, the reservation option will allow transit programs to establish better contact tracing protocols should the need arise.
“This will allow innovative public transit leaders to deploy a necessary tool to re-engage and build confidence with their riders,” said Rob Antoniak, TripShot’s vice president of business development and strategy. “To us, it’s such an important aspect of operating transit in the new circumstances that exist. This single feature could honestly change the expectations for mobility for the next generation.”