Public transportation is an essential service for large and small cities alike. The foundation for public transit is having the ability to purchase and pay for a ticket or pass, knowing your bus or train schedule, boarding efficiently and being able to utilize your selected transportation in a safe, accessible manner.
For years, the foundation of public transit has been simple: show up, pay your fare, and hop on. But today’s riders are looking for more predictability, especially in high-demand corridors or seasonal destinations. That’s where reservation-based mobility comes in.
As Transit Agencies continue in various new service directions post pandemic, The Busbud Group is excited to be involved in one continuing Transit Agency trend, the launch of more mobility services that require the rider to pre-book a ticket.
Today, through its Reservations and Ticketing Management Software-as-a-Service product Betterez, Busbud is providing booking software for the following agencies and use cases:
1. Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) in partnership with All Aboard America’s Ace Express, uses Betterez to allow passengers reserve seats to high-demand ski destinations near Denver. This gives riders confidence their seat is secured as part of their overall travel plans.
Ace Express Coaches, Instagram
2. At YARTS, Yosemite Area Regional Transit System, riders can pre-book a set number of seats for trips into Yosemite National Park. This helps the agency manage seasonal demand and fleet planning, while still preserving public transit’s walk-up flexibility by limiting the pre-booked capacity.
Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System website
3. And ROAM Transit, which serves Banff and Canmore, Alberta through the Bow Valley Regional Transit Services Commission, uses Betterez during the busy summer season to offer a more predictable, less stressful experience for visitors and residents alike through such Betterez configurable products as the Flex Pass.
Roam’s use of Flex Pass
Pre-Booking and Public Transit Can Work Together
While these examples show the growth of reservation-based transit services, we believe they only scratch the surface. There are many more opportunities to improve service and increase ridership through pre-booking models.
For example, Busbud recently spoke with an agency operating a route from a college town to a major airport, roughly 90 minutes away. On weekends—especially holiday weekends—this route sees high demand. With Betterez, the agency could offer a better rider experience through pre-booking including setting up automated capacity notifications, and once a configurable threshold is met, additional buses could be deployed. This shows that pre-booking and public transit aren’t mutually exclusive—they can work hand in hand.
A Flexible Platform to Support Modern Transit
Betterez offers transit agencies a cost-effective, easy-to-use reservation platform that supports both operational planning and rider experience. Whether for seasonal, regional, or intercity services, the system allows agencies to scale services efficiently, without sacrificing public access.
Want to learn more?
Busbud’s Mike Van Horn will be attending Transport Ticketing North America 24 and 25 June in Chicago, contact us at sales@betterez.com to coordinate an appointment.