RIde Mobile Application
New RIde Mobile Application Will Make it Easier to Know Pick-up Times
In an effort to better serve passengers who use the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA)’s RIde Program, officials today announced the launch of a new mobile applicationand website that will tell passengers their pick-up times and how long they have to wait for their ride.
Provided in accordance the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the RIde Program is RIPTA’s paratransit service for people with disabilities. Its vans can be seen traveling throughout the state providing door-to-door trips for qualifying passengers. RIde transports about 1,500 passengers a day, taking them to work, doctor’s appointments, meal sites, adult daycare centers and more.
Currently, passengers have to call RIde Customer Service Agents to book a trip, cancel a trip, and get a window of time in which they will be picked up. Now, once they make their appointment by calling in, they will be able to use the new application to tell them when their ride will arrive.
The information, which uses GPS data from the RIde vans, gets more specific as the time of the passenger’s trip approaches. In addition, passengers can use the mobile application or website interface to cancel trips.
“We’re always listening to our customers and looking for ways to improve our service so we’re really excited about this for our passengers,” said Mark Therrien, Executive Director of RIde. ““Now passengers will be able to log on the day of their trip and get a good idea of when the van will pick them up.”
Therrien said that RIde staff has already had some passengers testing the software and the response has been enthusiastic.
“Government should move at the speed of business and a priority of my administration is to innovate within government to provide better customer service,” said Governor Raimondo. “I applaud RIPTA, Mayor Avedisian and Reveal Management Services for working together to enhance the public travel experience for Rhode Islanders with disabilities.”
Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian, Chairman of RIPTA’s Board of Directors, said that the launch of the new software for RIde passengers is part of the transit authority’s ongoing efforts to use technology in order to improve service to customers. “Over the past few years RIPTA has sought to streamline and strengthen our services to allow for better access through technology and we’re excited to provide this new application for our RIde passengers,” Avedisian said.
He noted that RIPTA continues to work on the implementation of software that will provide real-time travel information to passengers on all fixed routes and also that the transit agency will soon be introducing automated ticket vending machines in order to make it easier to buy tickets and passes.
The software for the RIde Program, which cost about $25,000, was developed for RIPTA by Reveal Management Services of Overland Park, Kansas. The company has done other work in the transportation industry, particularly in the area of paratransit, but said that this is their first mobile application for a service such as RIde.
How to Access the RIde Program Mobile Application
Open the Google Play Store or Apple store, search RIde Reveal, and then select 'Get' or 'Install.'
The free app provides:
• Pinch to zoom features
• High contrast view
• Compatibility with most commonly used screen reader software
• Expected vehicle type (taxi or van)
• Expected customer fare
You will need the following information to log into the new app:
Agency Code: RIPTA Customer Number: (If you do not know your customer number, please ask a RIde CSA) Password: (Defaults to 4 digit year of birth)
Once the app has been installed, you can change the password, or reset it should you forget it. In order to reset your password, you must have a Text Notification Number set up in the RIde computer system. Please inform a CSA if you would like to add a Text Notification Number to your customer profile.
If you have any issues, please contact RIde either via email (ride@ripta.com) or by calling customer service at 401-461-9760.