Thunder Bay Ontario Makes Life More Comfortable for Riders

Filed Under Feature Stories, Municipal Transit, Real-time Passenger Information Systems

When It’s 9 Degrees on February 4, New NextBus System Lets Passengers Minimize Time in Subfreezing Temps.

Although the city’s winter temperatures are moderated a bit by Lake Superior, it still gets mighty cold when you are waiting by the bus stop and have no idea when the next bus will arrive. Recently, Thunder Bay Transit invested in NextBus technology so that their passengers will always know exactly when the next bus will arrive. That can make a real difference in mid-winter as the winds blow in off the lake.

Transit buses can take riders virtually anywhere within the urban area of Thunder Bay. They operate a fleet of 49 buses on 17 routes. Their service runs from about 6:00 am to after midnight in most areas. Approximately 90% of the city’s urban area is within 1200 feet of a bus stop. That’s less than a 10 minute walk. It’s not surprising that local citizens make full use of their bus system. Although the city has just over 100,000 residents, Thunder Bay Transit handles roughly 3 million passengers annually.

Now that the convenience of NextBus real-time passenger information is available throughout the city, it is anticipated that bus usage will increase significantly.

Here’s a great video that covers the brand new NextBus implementation:

Now, there is no need to spend a moment longer than necessary waiting for a bus on a frosty February afternoon. Simply check your arrival time on you PC or mobile phone and head out to the stop just in time to catch the bus.