Meet Boston's New Tech-Enabled 'Pop-Up' Bus Service

A private bus service launched this week in Boston that decides service based on crowdsourced data on where and when people need to travel.

1 minute read

June 6, 2014, 9:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Katherin Q. Seelye reports on a 'pop up' bus service called Bridj that chooses routes from data collected from "Google Earth, Facebook, Foursquare, Twitter, LinkedIn, the census, municipal records and other sources" to decide where people are and where they need to go.

"The brainchild of Matthew George, a 23-year-old entrepreneur, Bridj uses algorithms to make the bus routes 'smarter.' As more people use it, it will adjust the routes accordingly," writes Seeyle.

The article includes the take of both the Boston Taxi Drivers Association and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority on the innovative transit service. As for the latter's take: "The transportation authority sees Bridj at this fledgling stage as a complement to the T. 'This is not a competitive situation at all,' said Joseph Pesaturo, the authority spokesman."

For the record, however, city bus fare is $1.50, subway fare is $2, and Bridj fare is $6.

"Mr. George is in talks to start Bridj in several other cities, which he declined to identify, by the end of summer."

Wednesday, June 4, 2014 in New York Times

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 30, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Close-up on Canadian flag with Canada Parliament building blurred in background.

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?

As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

April 28, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

Washington

Washington State’s Parking Reform Law Could Unlock ‘Countless’ Acres for New Housing

A law that limits how much parking cities can require for residential amd commercial developments could lead to a construction boom.

5 hours ago - Streetsblog USA

Bluebird sitting on branch of green bush.

Wildlife Rebounds After the Eaton Fire

Following the devastation of the Eaton Fire, the return of wildlife and the regrowth of native plants are offering powerful signs of resilience and renewal.

6 hours ago - AP News

1984 Olympics

LA to Replace Inglewood Light Rail Project With Bus Shuttles

LA Metro says the change is in response to community engagement and that the new design will be ready before the 2028 Olympic Games.

7 hours ago - Newsweek

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.