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“From this quick industry scan, it appears that Saskatoon Transit is at the leading edge of adopting a digital first approach and technology integration,” the report concludes.

The transit rider advocacy group Bus Riders of Saskatoon has expressed concern about the move to end posted notices, since low-income bus users may have limited or no Internet access. The group plans to speak at Monday’s meeting.

The Saskatoon Transit app has more than 6,000 daily users and about 1,000 people access the website each day, the report says. Saskatoon Transit’s daily ridership in 2018 was estimated at nearly 40,000 people.

Paper notices can be affected by weather, vandalism and theft, the report says, but it does not provide further detail.

Saskatoon Transit’s plan to end posted detour notices at bus stops means such notices would be sent digitally via the transit app, Google Transit, the Saskatoon Transit website and the agency’s Twitter account.

The move to digital would save on paper and the plastic zip ties used to attach the notices, the report says.

Printed notices would still be posted at the city’s six transit terminals: Place Riel, downtown, Market Mall, Centre Mall, Confederation Mall and the Mall at Lawson Heights.

When a bus stop is closed and service is moved to another street, notices would still be posted at bus stops, the report says.

Shirley Koob has written a letter to city council, predicting the move will decrease ridership.

“Imagine yourself standing at a bus stop in 40 below weather, not knowing if a bus is coming or not and with no way to find out,” Koob’s letter says. “Now, think about that same situation as a senior, or someone with mobility issues.”

ptank@postmedia.com

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