Swiftly’s Unified Data Platform for Transit Efficiency
Swiftly provides a unified data platform that delivers real-time passenger predictions, fleet monitoring, and alerts to improve transit efficiency. Their tools aim to eliminate “ghost” and “zombie” buses, which disrupt rider trust and cause frustration.
Understanding Ghost and Zombie Buses
Ghost buses are those expected by riders but never arrive, despite apps showing an imminent arrival. Zombie buses are unexpected buses that show up sooner than the app predicts, confusing riders.
- Ghost bus: A bus predicted to arrive that disappears at arrival time, stranding riders.
- Zombie bus: A bus arriving much earlier than predicted, leaving riders unable to plan properly.
“Ghost and zombie buses break the promise that public transit makes to riders: You’ll know when your bus is coming. And when that promise is broken, riders notice.”
“Just search #GhostedByTheBus on X (formerly Twitter) or Google, and you’ll see stories like…”
Impact on Riders and Transit Agencies
These unpredictable bus arrivals shake rider confidence in real-time transit data, making the system feel unreliable and causing confusion and delays for passengers.
Swiftly’s Commitment
Swiftly builds tools to help transit agencies provide accurate, reliable real-time information even when unexpected events occur, resulting in fewer stranded riders and a more dependable transit experience.
Author's summary: Swiftly’s innovative platform combats unreliable bus arrivals, enhancing rider trust through accurate real-time transit data and reducing frustration caused by ghost and zombie buses.