Clark County ready to roll out app for public transit

There soon will be an app for that, known as Ride RTC.

The mobile ticketing application will have a “soft launch” on Tuesday for Android and Apple smartphones, with a full rollout expected by October, said Scott Mazick, information technology director at the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada.

RTC officials said they hope to spend the summer working out any bugs in the new app while also gathering feedback from early adopters of the program.

The technology is aimed at reaching a new generation of younger bus riders who tend to rely on smartphones for nearly every aspect of life. For those who aren’t as tech-savvy, RTC officials said bus tickets will still be available for purchase online and at vending machines.

Here in Las Vegas, riders can download the app to their smartphone, then register their personal information and credit card. The app’s security is about as safe as making a purchase from the popular online outlet Amazon, Mazick said.

Ride RTC will provide a list of bus purchased passes. A barcode appearing on the phone’s screen will be scanned by the bus driver.

The app is also capable of accessing a rider’s location from his or her phone’s GPS system, allowing it to display the nearest bus stops and plan your route. Real-time bus arrival information is also available if riders are using their cellular or Wi-Fi networks.

In short, Mazick said the app will allow bus riders to “plan, buy and go,” citing similar technology for transit agencies in New York, Los Angeles and Boston.

ROAD RAGE

Don from Henderson said he recently witnessed a “road rage” incident at Eastern Avenue and Pebble Road. A vehicle preparing to turn left was stopped at the crosswalk, rather than scooting into the intersection. The driver right behind him was “clearly upset,” believing he might not be able to turn left if the light turned red.

“The second driver blared his horn in a very big and persistent way, over and over again,” Don wrote. That prompted the first driver to closely enter the intersection, and both vehicles eventually turned left during the same signal cycle.

Don wanted to know the proper etiquette for drivers who find themselves in similar situations.

Basically, you need to bring your patience.

At an unprotected left turn — when an arrow signal is not provided — it’s the driver’s prerogative to slowly move into an intersection if, and when, they deem it’s safe enough, said trooper Jason Buratczuk of the Nevada Highway Patrol.

Sure, it might be a little rude of the first driver. But, maybe they weren’t familiar with that particular intersection, or saw something in the road that you didn’t. In the end, the vehicles lining up behind these types of slowpokes simply have to wait their turn.

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