First Bus is geared up to help passengers in Glasgow navigate the new normal with the launch of its brand-new Space Checker tool.
Space Checker, which will be piloted in the city before being launched across all First Bus’ other networks, has been designed to assist customers who are looking to travel by bus, to plan ahead with confidence, see when their favourite service is typically at its busiest and choose a quieter time to travel should they want to.
Customers can now use their new Space Checker tool, created in partnership with Prospective, to plan ahead with confidence, see when their favourite bus stop and service is typically at its busiest and choose a quieter time to travel.
Space Checker uses the latest passenger data for your favourite service to predict how much space there will be on your bus at your bus stop, depending on the time of day for up to seven days in advance.
In this new era of working from home, flexible working and continually changing leisure habits, First Bus is looking to make life as easy as possible and welcome customers back to bus as they adapt to new travel patterns.
By enabling customers to review their travel at any time of the day, and provide greater insights into predicted passengers, First Bus is helping to relieve capacity for key workers, who are restricted to more regular travel patterns, and who do not have the option of avoiding the busier periods.
Customers simply select which bus service they want to take, select the direction in which they are travelling and then select their stop. Space Checker will then indicate the busiest periods for the service and stop, whilst also providing alternative services from that stop.
This latest innovation from First Bus follows the recent introduction of a real time capacity tracker on the First Bus app, industry-leading social distancing seat markings and enhanced, long-lasting anti-viral cleaning regimes all designed to give customers safety and confidence to get back to bus.
Andrew Jarvis, Managing Director for First Bus in Scotland, said: “I am delighted to launch this latest innovation for our customers. It should prove a really useful tool that will help customers to make informed decisions about the best times of the day to travel.”
Pete Ferguson, CEO, Prospective added: “We’re proud to launch Space Checker with First Bus. Space Checker is a great example of the way Prospective’s simulation technology can help passengers to have a smooth journey and operators to optimise service provision. We look forward to helping First Bus roll out Space Checker across the country and drive continual improvements in passenger experience.”
Space Checker, which was created in partnership with Prospective, will be expanded across the rest of the UK before the end of August.
To find out more about Space Checker and to plan your journey for the best time of day click here: www.firstglasgow.com/spacechecker
