Originally published by Guelph Today on April 28, 2021.
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A couple of new options for transit-takers will launch next week, with the start of a regular route to the Hanlon Creek Business Park and on-demand service in some areas.
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Beginning Monday, the on-demand service replaces community buses, which went on a dedicated route connecting regular Guelph Transit services with a variety of destination locations such as medical centres and shopping outlets on a one-hour loop.
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This new service runs in the same areas of the city as community buses, but allows people to book the nearest pick-up and drop-off spots, with no fixed route or schedule.
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“We would carry about 30 to 50 passengers a day (during a 16 hours),” said Jason Simmons, the city’s manager of transit operations, said of community buses. “We decided to better utilize those resources.”
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Rather than using full-sized buses, the on-demand service employs a 14-passenger vehicle.
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People can request the on-demand service from anywhere in the city, though travel is limited to the previous community bus areas, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
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It operates much in the same way Uber and other ride-sharing services do, Simmons explained.
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“(The app) will direct you to the closest stop that is available to you … and then it will give you three options within the next 40 minutes of when we would be available to pick you up. What happens is it gives you a guaranteed arrival time.”
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To book a ride, download the “On-demand your way” app, visit book.ondemandyourway.com or call 519–822–1811 (prompt 5) during limited hours.
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In addition, on-demand transit access to the Hanlon Creek Business Park, at the south end of town, to the west of the Hanlon Expressway, is being added.
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That bus will run during regular hours, additional buses during morning and afternoon rush hours.