New bus app launch 'wonderful news'

Bus travel will be made free during the event next month, in a bid to reduce strain on the roads, as thousands of visitors arrive and roads close for events.

The long-awaited bus app has launched this week, and includes live bus tracking and an improved journey planner.

The app will also have the list of daily roadworks affecting buses, with a link to diversion information.

CT Plus operations manager Kevin Jackman said: ‘It’s great to see that the buses on the live map now also show their direction of travel. Also, the ability to simply position your current location will also be a bonus to those visiting the island or exploring areas of Guernsey they may not be familiar with.’

Bus Users Guernsey co-ordinator Fergus Dunlop had downloaded the app and said it seemed to be working well, with a faster refresh rate on the live map than the old web version.

‘It’s fantastic to have one, with the Island Games coming up,’ he said.

‘It was a big pressure point and they’ve done it. This is wonderful news.’

He said the new app still needed some tweaking and the group was asking members for their feedback.

The app includes bus stop information, user-saved bus stops and school bus routes.

Users will be able to rename saved stops to make them easier to find.

Unlike the previous map, where buses were marked in the colours of the relevant bus route, all buses are shown in red. Users need to click on a specific bus to find out which route it is on.

CT Plus said they expected people to press on bus stops to see which buses arrive, rather than to follow buses. It added that the new app also does not allow for customised colouring in the same way as the previous app.

Clicking on the bus also shows the expected passenger numbers, estimated using previous boarding patterns.

The app replaces the mobile version of the website currently being used.

Environment & Infrastructure president Lindsay de Sausmarez said they were keen to encourage anything that makes bus use easier and more convenient.

‘With the new app now launched, being able to track live bus locations and plan your route will make this a more viable travel option for more islanders and visitors alike,’ she said.

The website buses.gg will continue to operate and this will continue to give the detailed roadworks diversion information affecting bus routes.

The app can be found at the App Store or at Google Play. The app is called buses.gg.