- QR Codes and NFC Chips at West Yorkshire bus stops being used 10,000 times per week.
- Scans provide direct link to real time departure information for each stop.
- Over 400,000 scans in 2016.
- Leeds city centre stop West Yorkshire’s most scanned.
West Yorkshire bus passengers are now using QR Codes and NFC Chips at bus stops 10,000 times every week to get up-to-the-minute bus information on their smart phones.
West Yorkshire Combined Authority has fitted unique QR (Quick Response) codes and NFC (Near Field Communication) tags at all of the county’s 14,500 bus stops. Located at the bottom left of timetable displays, when scanned by smartphone they show customers when their next bus is due at that particular stop.
In 2016, passengers used QR Codes and NFC Chips over 400,000 times, with Leeds city centre stop K17 on Duncan Street, proving the most scanned with 1,734 uses.
Scanning the QR Codes and NFC Chips links people with the Combined Authority’s yournextbus service provides live, real-time departure details for all bus stops and services in West Yorkshire. The service, which also covers South Yorkshire, North Yorkshire and York, provides scheduled timetable information if real-time information is unavailable.
Chair of West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Transport Committee Cllr Keith Wakefield said:
“Numbers of people in West Yorkshire using the QR Codes and NFC Chips to get information about their bus services via smartphone is steadily growing
“People have told us that having reliable, real-time information available through the yournextbus service online, on bus stop displays and via SMS text, makes them more likely to use buses.
“By Developing services like this, along with initiatives such as MCard smartcards and Park and Ride, that encourage people to catch buses the Combined Authority is helping to reduce the numbers of vehicles on local roads, which helps reduce the cost of congestion to the economy.
“In addition and importantly, fewer vehicles on our streets also helps to reduce air pollution.”
People with a smartphone, can download a QR Code reader app from app stores such iTunes, Google Play and Windows Store. Once installed, they simply need to scan their phone on the QR Code and it will take them straight to real time information for that stop.
People whose phone is compatible phone with NFC technology, just need to scan their phone over the NFC symbol and this will take them to real time information for the stop.
The Combined Authority has produced a short YouTube video to show people how to use the service. It is at http://ow.ly/Q2cy308E0XH(external link)
More details of the yournextbus service, Park and Ride and MCard can be found on the Combined Authority’s Metro travel information website at www.wymetro.com(external link).