NJ TRANSIT

The new NJ TRANSIT app looks cleaner and runs better overall, but there’s one change that makes it frustrating to use. In the previous version, opening the app would take you directly to your active ticket and still show the navigation bar at the bottom (Favorites, My Tickets, Home, Rider Tools, More). That made it easy to quickly switch back and check bus schedules or arrival times. In the new update, the app still opens to your active ticket, but it takes up the entire screen. The bottom navigation bar disappears, and the only way to go back is by tapping the small back arrow in the top-left corner. When you’re rushing to see when the next bus is coming—especially since bus arrival times aren’t always reliable—having to reach for that tiny back arrow slows you down. A simple fix would be allowing a left-swipe gesture to return to the main menu or restoring the bottom navigation while the ticket is open. Everything else about the update is great, but this one UI change makes the app less convenient for daily riders.

Public transport in the United States is something like a fruit cake at a Christmas party. It is a part of the culture, everyone knows about it, but many people actively choose to avoid it at all costs. We all want it to be better, it has a huge amount of potential, but it’s focus is still in the wrong areas. If there is any public transit that has actively helped the masses, while time and time again shot itself in the foot; it is without a doubt NJ transit. To make a long story short, use this app for the railways. It’s is easy, convenient, and green. The bus system however, has so many different flaws to purchase tickets for where you want to go, it’ll make your head spin. Just use cash to buy tickets on the bus. It is incredibly inconvenient in this cashless world we live in, and can lead to a lot of pocket change flying around, but it is considerably easier and consistent in contrast to the app. Don’t even get me started on bus zone transfer fees in the app. I pray one day they streamline the ticket process, because NJ transit workers are some of the best in the industry. Super kind and helpful staff, and they also understand how much of a crapshoot the app can be bus wise. They all tell me the same thing. Go to your bank’s ATM and pay cash. It’ll make everyone’s life easier and you’re paying the proper fare, every time. I want to reiterate, my issue lies with the bus system. The Rail system works fine on the app. Buy your tickets for that on here. Just pay cash for the bus. You’ll make everything better while getting where you need to go.

I have used the NJ Transit app for a little over a year. I am generally happy with it for buying tickets as well as planning trips before you buy the ticket. When you are on the train, however, I have not been able to find a way to view the station stops ahead to determine, for example, when to get ready for a station stop or transfer. Once you have boarded the train, you cannot (or at least I have not been able to find a way to) view the stops along your particular route and departure. (The trip planner tells you only that the train you are on has departed. Duh!) Once, after a long time of fiddling about, I was able to trick the app into listing the stations by manipulating the departure time to an earlier one. But most often I have to text my wife along the route so she can tell me if I have to change trains. That is often a problem on busy trains since the conductor rarely reaches me before the station change is upon me. I have asked the conductor how to do this on the app but they will tell you that’s ‘not their department.’ They will only tell you to ‘stay on the train until the last stop’; in other words they will treat you like an incompetent imbecile. Not all trains on my route are direct trains. It would be a nice feature if one could look up the above info on the app AFTER buying the ticket. I sometimes forget, or am too busy, to do it before and then I am stuck, having to txt my wife. Or asking the other passengers for advice. This should be an easy fix.