"Boston bus operator Bridj drops its monthly pass option" by Jon Chesto 12/15/2015
Private bus operator Bridj has found that its monthly pass proved to be a little too popular.
Matt George, the Boston-based startup’s chief executive, said his firm stopped offering its monthly pass option this week. Customers used to be able to spend $70 per month and get unlimited rides on Bridj shuttle vans. But as their passes expire, they won’t be able to renew, George said. Instead, they will need to buy one-way tickets that typically sell for $2 to $5.
George said Bridj buses were essentially getting filled up during peak travel times. Getting rid of the monthly passes, he said, should open up more space on the buses. One-way trips can be reserved in advance using a mobile app.
“It allows us to be more flexible in the face of larger-than-expected demand,” George said. “A large majority of trips were sold out, and that’s a real issue if you’re relying on Bridj. … [This is] a move toward a level playing field for everyone.”
George said the company is nearly doubling the size of its Boston fleet by mid-January to help keep up with demand, although he declined to disclose the number of buses in its fleet or the number of local users.
Bridj’s buses are geared toward urban white-collar workers. Its routes are concentrated in parts of Cambridge, Brookline, and Boston where demand is heavy....
So is the Globe.
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Come the New Year I won't be going back to cover such things.
