Kolombus, a public transport company in Norway has just launched a social network for the buses. It’s kind of like foursquare meets Facebook for public transportation and by the looks of it could get more people riding the bus.
Through the use of a social network paired with real time bus data, the service aims to connect people who share similar journeys.
The way the tech side of things work is through QR codes at every bus stop in Rogaland County. QR codes are those bar code looking things that most smart phones can scan. The QR codes allow users to download bus data to find out where a bus is, and whether or not it’s on time.
The fun and really exciting part of this network is that with help from the web service Tales of Things, people are able to leave messages for each other at the bus stops. The QR codes contain messages left by commuters including what’s good in the area, personal ads (like phone numbers for people who may just fancy a fellow commuter) and even details of a faster, more efficient route.
The concept of getting people to be more social in their commute is brilliant. The idea is packed full of opportunities for potentially odd and wonderful encounters. Also the idea subverts the notion that ones daily commute can be boring, monotonous and unenjoyable – especially if the bus is late.
Kolombus isn’t the first idea around a playful aspect of public transportation. In London there is Chromarama. Chromarama “makes commuting magical”. It’s basically a game for people who frequently use London transport, including the cycle hire scheme. Through tracking measured by Oyster cards, users can make their way around London gaining points and making friends along the way. Commuters can have missions, which involves taking a specific journey and they can build or join teams of other commuters. Although it’s still in beta mode, this game could really revolutionise life on London’s underground. Maybe even make people talk to each other! Least not, it will get more people on bikes, buses and trains.
(Spotted on Grist)
Katherine Hui is currently the Social site editor at Green Thing, a web-based public service in London that inspires people to lead greener lives through creative content.
Before this, she worked as the Development Manager at Social Innovation Camp, an organization that encourages people to use web and mobile-based technology to mobilise social change. She oversaw 300 ideas submission and helped build 20 prototypes – five of which have gone on to get further funding or investment.
Katherine’s came over to the UK form Canada in 2007 for an MSc program at the London School of Economics. Before arriving in London, she managed a small environmental start-up in Vancouver called the Canadian Climate Change Alliance.
Katherine is football mad. She is a loyal supporter of Arsenal FC, plays for Islington Borough Ladies FC and coaches for Gunners in Islington in her spare time. Her second favourite hobby is kite surfing and she can sometimes be found chasing the wind.
