Metrobus launches pilot 'on demand' service, but it's not meant to help already-crowded bus routes

Metrobus in St. John's has launched a pilot project that aims to take passengers to and from places in the city that aren't being serviced by regular public transit routes.

The project, called Metrobus On Demand, is a "shared-ride service" passengers book trips through an app or over the phone, select a pickup point and a destination, and meet a driver who will take them on their ride, reads the Metrobus On Demand website.

While riders can hop on a "shared minibus" to travel to certain places in the city, or to connect to a traditional bus stop, Metrobus general manager Judy Powell toldCBC Newson Tuesday the service isn't meant to alleviate the overcrowding currently experienced on fixed Metrobus routes.

"It's basically a bus that's flexible," said Powell, "and the route is actually developed in real time as rides are ordered."

It's almost like an "Uber for transit," she says, except it's a shared-ride service, in that numerous passengers travel together.

How it works

The on-demand service is made up of service zoneslocations including Signal Hill, Quidi Vidi Village and the Miller Centre and a service hubon Water Street.

Riders can travel to and from any service zonesor from a service zone to Water Streetand vice-versa. The service runs from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, said Powell, and riders pay using Metrobus cardsor cash.

As rides are ordered, says Powell, Metrobus software and algorithms develop the best route for pickups and drop-offs. Instead of waiting at a typical bus stop, the app assigns riders a "virtual" pick-up and drop-off point, near the address provided by the user.

"You may need to walk a short distance to meet your driver," reads the Metrobus website, "but it cuts down on travel time and shortens your trip time."

Powell says the on-demand concept is offered in places "all around the world," as these types of services grew in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic when traditional ridership levels dropped.

Metrobus has certainly seen changes in traditional ridership this year, she says CBC News reported in September that ridership during the first eight months of 2023 was 44 per cent higher than the same period in 2019.

The on-demand project wasn't implemented to help alleviate crowding in traditional bus routes, says Powell, but it does help people who aren't already being served by public transit connect to fixed routes.

Powell says she's pleased with the resultsof the pilot project, which was launched earlier in October, with some days seeing more than 70 on-demand rides.

The pilot project currently involves two buses with 16 seats each, and Metrobus has another on-demand vehicle as a backup.

Although the pilot project ends in April, says Powell, Metrobus will be making decisions about the continuation of the service within the next few weeks. She says the intention is to eventually introduce new areas to the project.

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