Revamped MTA App Now Shows Real-Time Bus Ridership Tracker

NEW YORK CITY — A new, real-time capacity tracker on MTA's app and website will give riders a chance to see if their approaching bus is crowded.

MTA officials unveiled their revamped MYmta app on Tuesday with the new feature, which is being piloted across all buses.

They touted it as a way to help riders socially distance during the coronavirus pandemic.

"Our over two million riders on New York City Transit are already noticing cleaner trains and buses and being vigilant about wearing masks and using hand sanitizer, but we want to give riders all the tools available to maximizing social distancing,” said Sarah Feinberg, interim president of New York City Transit, in a statement. “With this MYmta pilot, bus customers can choose to space themselves out a bit more where capacity allows.”

A video released by MTA shows how the app gives exact numbers of passengers on any given bus. It already gives real-time updates of bus locations.

About 550,000 people use the app every week, according to MTA. It will automatically update on their phones. New app users can download it through the App Store or check new.mta.info from computers. Officials plan to release it on the Google Play Store next month, according to a release.