How to Become a Bus Riding Champion
Every day, Green Mountain Transit riders around Vermont use the Transit app to help them plan their next bus ride. When they select their route and hit ‘GO,’ they are provided with a map of their route and all the essential information they’ll need to have a successful bus riding experience. At the top of this screen, a small green oval displaying a smiley face next to a bar graph or number can be found. When clicked, users are greeted with a pop-up that may be puzzling.
Screenshot of Transit app.
This pop-up is displaying all the user’s ‘GO’ stats. ‘GO’ is the feature of Transit that allows the app to crowdsource data and help provide all users with live and accurate information. While an individual user gets the benefit of being guided by ‘GO’ for the duration of their trip, other Transit users get the benefit of knowing where the bus is in real-time.
What does the pop-up say?
It can be broken down into three pieces of information. First, the number of riders you have helped by using ‘GO’ is displayed. The second piece of information is on a sliding scale at the bottom of the tab. This shows the user’s ‘GO’ ranking, which is based on which user has helped the highest number of riders. Finally, the pop-up tells users what bus line they are helping people on. At first, the data will be displayed for just the current month, but with another click, users can see their overall ‘GO’ ranking.
How can you become a bus-riding champion?
Rankings are based on which riders help the most people, but there are a few tips and tricks that can help you get a competitive edge. Rankings and stats are divided up by bus line, so if you ride the same line regularly, you can rack up points. Make sure you click ‘GO’ when you are riding to help provide the app and your fellow riders with live and accurate information. If you don’t click ‘GO’, you won’t gain points even if you are using the Transit app. Finally, keep the Transit app open while you ride. It will give the option to tell ‘GO’ how crowded the bus is. If you answer this question, you earn double the points! Once you reach your destination, Transit will show you how many points you gained on the ride and where you now rank. You can check your rankings anytime by clicking the gear icon on the home page of the transit app.
Is there any prize for being the most helpful rider of the month?
No, not in a physical or monetary sense. However, the feeling of helping others while also getting the rush of winning any competition is unbeatable. Plus, taking the bus helps cut your carbon footprint all while giving you the convenience of not having to pay for gas or find parking. It’s a win-win. So, do you think you’re game enough to become the best bus rider in town? See how many points you can rack up while helping others and the environment. Happy riding!
Want to learn more about GO crowdsourcing, how it works, and its privacy policies? Check out https://help.transitapp.com/article/91-what-is-go-crowdsourcing
