New AC Transit App Allows Riders to Report Suspicious Activity

Bus riders in the East Bay will now be able to anonymously report disruptive behavior, theft, suspicious activity, vandalism or unattended packages aboard Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District buses.

The new smartphone app TipNow-AC Transit, which was announced Friday and is available immediately, will allow passengers to help promote rider safety by being an extra set of eyes and ears, according to the transit
district.

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"As California becomes increasingly interconnected, it is imperative that AC Transit adopt technology that keeps pace with our advancing society," AC Transit board president Christian Peeples said in a
statement. "And with a smartphone in the hand of two-thirds of adults, it's the most convenient tool to keep our buses clean and our riders and operations safe."

The software behind the app was made by Santa Clara-based software developer Resiligence Inc. The company was inspired to create the software after a 2007 mass shooting at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, where a student shot and killed 32 people.

The software allows users to give anonymous tips and compiles crowd-sourced information about suspicious activity. The TipNow app software has also been implemented at University of California at Berkeley, Fresno State University, the city of Fresno, as well as the Fresno County Sheriff's Office.

Riders can download the app using Google Play or Apple's App Store. Once downloaded, riders must simply enter the bus line and number, before describing the incident. Additionally, users can also upload photos and videos with the reported tips.

The transit district is also reminding passengers that the TipNow app should not be used to report emergency situations. For incidents requiring immediate attention, riders should report the incident to the bus driver or call 911.

For more information about the TipNow-AC Transit, riders can visit www.actransit.org/tipnow.

By Bay City News

Photo via Shutterstock