Kern Transit is pleased to announce the launch of newly upgraded maps and schedules on our website, providing riders with a more intuitive and user-friendly experience when planning their trips. The updated tools are designed to make finding transit information faster and easier, whether you’re a daily commuter, occasional rider, or first-time passenger.
New Features Designed for Riders
The enhanced maps and schedules include several new features that improve trip planning and access to service information:
Date Selection Tool
Riders can now view schedules for specific dates, making it easier to find accurate service information for weekdays, weekends, holidays, and other service periods.
Customizable Schedule Views
Users can tailor schedule displays to meet their needs by choosing to view all stops along a route or selecting only the stops most relevant to their trip. This streamlined approach helps riders quickly find the information they need without unnecessary scrolling.
Helpful Schedule Icons
New visual icons have been added throughout schedules to help riders identify key locations and amenities at a glance, including:
- Connecting transit routes
- Medical facilities
- Park-and-ride locations
- Other important rider amenities
These enhancements make it easier to recognize available services and connections while planning a trip.
Improved Mobile Experience
The redesigned maps and schedules feature a cleaner, more modern layout optimized for smartphones and tablets. Riders can access information more easily from any device, whether they’re planning ahead or checking schedules while on the go.
Understanding the New Schedule Format
While the new schedules provide additional tools and a more modern experience, riders may notice a few differences from the previous schedule format.
Request Stops (REQ)
In previous schedules, “REQ” was used to indicate a request stop. In the new schedule format, request stops are identified with an information (“i”) icon instead of the “REQ” notation as seen below.
Selecting or viewing the icon will display the following message:
“Must coordinate with driver to arrange drop off. Must phone agency to arrange pickup.”
This change provides riders with more detailed information about how request-stop service operates while maintaining the same service availability where applicable.
Untimed Stops (*)
Previously, an asterisk (*) identified stops that did not have a specific scheduled time. In the new schedules, these stops now display an approximate time to help riders better estimate when the bus is expected to arrive.
No Service (X)
In previous schedules, an “X” indicated that a bus did not serve a particular stop on a specific trip. In the new format, this is now represented by a dash (-).
City Designators
Previous schedules included city names or designators to help identify which community each stop was located in. Due to limitations of the new scheduling platform, these designators are no longer displayed. Riders can use stop names, route maps, and the interactive schedule features to help identify their desired destinations. We recognize that many riders found this feature useful and will continue to explore opportunities to enhance the rider experience as the system evolves.
Explore the New Tools Today
Visit the Kern Transit Website to view the updated maps and schedules and start planning your next trip with greater ease and convenience.
We encourage riders to explore the new tools and become familiar with the updated format. If you have questions or need assistance planning a trip, call us at (661) 862-5032. Kern Transit staff are available to help!