Hamilton is testing an on-demand bus service in Waterdown

Ever wish you could make an HSR bus appear to pick you up any time you needed it, rather than waiting for it to turn up at its regularly scheduled times?

Well, the idea might not be too far-fetched; in fact, this type of on-demand public transit service is currently being experimented with using HSR buses in Waterdown.

Waterdown to test-drive Hamilton’s first ‘on-demand’ bus service! So glad about this service. Hugh for students especially COOP students getting to and from their placements. Thanks, @judipartridge !!
https://t.co/UfOZMd9lvd @tsgambatHWDSB @bmonkley1 @mcgilchristj @penny_deathe

— Waterdown DHS COOP/OYAP (@Waterdown_Coop) January 25, 2021

If successful, this on-demand service – which sounds like it would function almost like a taxi or Uber service – could be integrated into some of Hamilton’s smaller suburban areas like Stoney Creek.

For this pilot experiment – currently making use of HSR buses and drivers – those who want to use the on-demand transit program can use their smartphone to set up a pickup time window and track their summoned bus in real time.

Those buses will be the HSR’s 30 foot vehicles and will pick riders up at a combination of new and existing bus stops throughout Waterdown. They can deliver riders anywhere within urban Waterdown, or drop them off at Aldershot GO Station.

A potential direct transit line from Waterdown’s village to the Downtown Hamilton core is also being explored by the HSR.

The project is being tested using the existing budget for Waterdown transit service in 2021, with the buses that already travel the area’s fixed transit route.

What do you think of the idea of an on-demand bus service in the city’s smaller suburban areas? Leave a comment below!

Lead image courtesy of @hsr

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• bus
• experiment
• Hamilton
• HamOnt
• hsr
• on demand
• pilot project
• public transit
• Stoney Creek
• transit
• Transportation
• Watertown