Swiftly’s Unified Data Platform
Swiftly delivers a unified data platform that provides real-time passenger predictions, fleet monitoring, and alerts to improve transit efficiency.
Challenges with Ghost and Zombie Buses
Ghost and zombie buses create frustration for riders and transit agencies alike. Ghost buses are those expected by riders but never arrive, while zombie buses appear unexpectedly, disrupting riders' plans.
Definitions
- Ghost bus: A bus the rider expects to arrive, but it doesn’t show up. The app indicates arrival in 5 minutes, but as the countdown reaches zero, the bus disappears, leaving riders stranded.
- Zombie bus: A bus the rider doesn't expect but arrives unexpectedly. The app might show a 20-minute wait, but a bus arrives in 5 minutes, causing confusion.
Impact on Rider Trust
These discrepancies break the promise public transit makes: that riders will know when their bus arrives. When this trust is broken, riders notice and share their frustrations, often using hashtags like
#GhostedByTheBuson social media.
Such unpredictable bus arrivals undermine confidence in real-time transit data and degrade the overall transit experience.
Swiftly’s Solution
Swiftly builds tools designed to eliminate ghost and zombie buses by making real-time transit data accurate and dependable, even when operations deviate from the plan. This leads to fewer confused riders and a more reliable transit experience.
Author’s Summary
Swiftly’s platform enhances transit reliability by addressing “ghost” and “zombie” bus issues, restoring rider trust with accurate, real-time data and fewer surprises.