Bee Network

this app got me using the bus, which gets me out and about - really helpful :) it’s flexible and gives multiple options for what bus you can take. you don’t even have to commit to one. it keeps all of the options ready, so you’ll be looking at the one you’re currently thinking of taking, but you can just go have a look at others whenever, back and forth. very handy when you miss one or it gets delayed! in the “plan” section, when you click “options”, i think it’s quite ambiguous what that means (it means transport options, as in are you considering bus or tram or cycling etc). and the panel that it brings up, i was confused trying to close it - turns out if you scroll down a bit, there’s a “done” button just out of sight (i was swiping and looking for an “x”) while you’re following a journey instructions, it would be nice if it displayed the bus number you’re currently waiting for on your phone’s lockscreen (so you don’t have to unlock the phone & get it onto the right app to check). i’ll often be turning my phone on to check the bus number a few times while i’m waiting, as i’ll forget or partially forget/not be sure any more if i’ve remembered it correctly, especially if there’s similar ones (eg 255 vs 256) likewise, it would be nice if it displayed the name of the stop you’re waiting to get off at on your lockscreen lastly, if you accidentally swipe the app away mid journey, please could it remember your journey? replanning it is awkward, especially when you’re already on the bus sorry if these things already exist and i’ve just missed them!

Goodness! It is rare to find an app where clearly so LITTLE thought has gone into its design. Not only has there plainly been a competition among the ‘developers’ to use the smallest fonts known to man (who needs accessibility, eh? It’s only public transport, after all), but they have made it IMPOSSIBLE to plan a journey. When you try to enter a destination, it will list places in other UK cities!! This is a municipal bus network, for heavens sake! The geeks have not bothered to allow specific bus stops to be identifiable from the list of 100s of possible destinations this crippled app will spew forth when you enter, for example, “The Crescent”. Even “The Crescent Salford” does not give any specific bus stops in the long, long list of addresses it churns out. It might have taken a day’s work to have it only list bus stops, so clearly THAT was out of the question… Honestly, the LACK of care, competence and concern for the user on display in this app almost makes one nostalgic for bus deregulation! If this is an example of what passes for competence from Andy Burnham, then he should be barred from political office (God help us all if he claws his way to PM!). Mr Bee Network, you need to invest in some PROPERLY QUALIFIED human-centred designers (not coders; actual real designers), because the incompetents that hacked together this app deserve to be sacked. The worst transport app I have had the misfortune to (try to) use. Avoid. Avoid. AVOID!

I have a student pass, however many times across manchester there is no service and data does not work properly therefore my ticket doesn’t load, and when this occurs i then have to either get off the bus or wait on the side, some drivers are impatient and tell you to either pay or leave, the app needs to make a feature where ur bus pass still loads even without a stable network, in what way would it make sense for a pass to only work with a stable network?? what about in remote areas where network isn’t as stable? fix up!! Stagecoach allowed offline passes and i didn’t have to waste money on buying a ticket when i already have an annual pass worth over 300 pounds