The University’s new shuttle tracking app TripShot, the third in three years, is live.
The University instituted TripShot on the recommendation of both UR’s new shuttle service provider WeDriveU and the positive results from the Department of Transportation and Logistics’ use of it for Safe Ride.
Although it’s early in its rollout, many students have favorable opinions of TripShot. Graduate student Tamar Galvin compared TripShot with its predecessor, PassioGO!
“[TripShot is] definitely better than [PassioGO!],” Galvin said. A lot of times [PassioGO!] would just crash on me, like it just wouldn’t open. So at least this one opens, and it will give you the times that things are supposed to be there. I also just like the interface better.”
Despite the change, students are still having some issues with tracking shuttles. Senior Grace Cui noted that “The UI, the look of it, is better than Passio GO!, but the actual function, I think they’re just similar.”
Some students, including first-year Lissen Turner, have said that PassioGO!’s tracking quality decreased sharply with the start of the fall semester.
“It was really, really accurate the first week before anyone was here,” Turner said. “Now, I think it’s less accurate for the actual tracking, but … I’ve experienced the time being accurate for when they’re showing up and leaving.”
That decrease in functionality is because the University is waiting for permanent buses to arrive before equipping them with TripShot’s tracking technology, according to an email from Executive Director of Transportation and Logistics Jim Chodak.
“We are currently in the process of replacing several buses in our fleet over the next month or two,” Chodak said. “During this transition period, some of our substitute buses will not appear on the TripShot app for tracking until the permanent replacement buses arrive and are fully integrated into the system.”
In order to make shuttle use as easy as possible while they wait for the new buses, the Department of Transportation and Logistics has been working with dispatchers to post more consistent updates about which shuttle lines are having tracking issues.
Chodak expects integration to be complete by the end of the Fall 2025 semester, and for these tracking issues to be fully resolved.
“Once all bus replacements are complete,” Chodak said, “TripShot tracking will be available for every shuttle in our fleet, providing students with a more consistent and reliable experience.”
