View source for NextBus

{{about|a [[Vehicle tracking system]]|the NeXT computers bus|NuBus}}

'''NextBus''' is a [[Public transport|public transit]] vehicle tracking system which uses [[Automatic vehicle location|automatic vehicle location]] (AVL) information, often from [[GPS tracking unit|global positioning satellite]] receivers, to predict when the next vehicle will arrive at any given transit stop, which attempts to reduce wait times and reliance on schedules.

NextBus is developed by Nextbus Information Systems, Inc., a subsidiary of [[Cubic Transportation Systems]], for [[bus]]es, [[tram]]s, [[light rail]] operations and other [[public transport]] vehicles.

The company was founded by Ken Schmier, Bryce Nesbitt and Paul Freda in 1997 in Emeryville, California with U.S. Patents 6,006,159 & 6,374,176. As of 2013, the company systems were operating in over 130 locations. NextBus Information Systems, Inc. was previously a subsidiary of Webtech Wireless, Inc. and was acquired by  Cubic Transportation Systems in January 2013.<ref>
{{cite web
| last = Gannes
| first = Liz
| title = NextBus Acquired by Cubic for $20.6M
| accessdate = 10 Oct 2013
| date = 27 Jan 2013
| publisher = All Things D
| url = http://allthingsd.com/20130127/nextbus-acquired-by-cubic-for-20-6m/?refcat=news
}}
</ref>

==Overview==
[[File:Chapel Hill Transit Bus Stop.jpg|thumb|right|[[Chapel Hill Transit]] bus stop with NextBus display board, [[Chapel Hill, North Carolina]]]]
Each vehicle is fitted with a [[GPS tracking device]], which transmits speed and location data ([[telematics]]) to a central server. There, a computer running proprietary software calculates the projected arrival times for all stops in the system using this data, along with configuration information and historic travel times. These times are then converted to a 'wait time' and made available via the NextBus website and electronic signs at [[bus stop]]s and [[tram stop]]s as well as cell phones, and other wireless devices via the [[Internet]].

==Usage==
NextBus provides a [[Intelligent transportation system|real-time passenger information system]] for all routes for several major transportation agencies including the [[San Francisco Municipal Railway]], [[Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority]], the [[Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority]], and the [[Toronto Transit Commission]]. The system is also available in many other smaller universities and public transportation agencies for a total of approximately 100 systems.

{{Fleet digitalization|state=expanded}}
== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* [http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9135164/San_Francisco_misses_the_NextBus San Francisco misses the NextBus – Computerworld]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20111218192753/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/getthere/2009/08/nextbus_system_well_worth_a_tr.html Get There – NextBus System Well Worth a Try]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20170127153733/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/local-breaking-news/nextbus-predictions----not-so.html Post Now – NextBus predictions – not so accurate]
* [https://archive.today/20130205201949/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/getthere/2009/07/metro_transit_nextbus_launches.html Get There - Metro Transit: NextBus Launches Today]

==External links==
* [http://www.nextbus.com NextBus company homepage]

{{Public transport}}

[[Category:Wireless locating]]
[[Category:Companies based in Emeryville, California]]
[[Category:Scheduling (transportation)]]
[[Category:Public transport]]
[[Category:Fleet management]]


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