BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Starting Monday, November 18, Bloomington Transit riders can begin to use the Umo mobile app or card to pay fares on buses and microtransit services. Riders can access Umo by downloading the mobile app or by getting a reloadable card at Bloomington Transit offices or the Downtown Transfer Center.
Fare amounts have not changed – $1 for regular fare, 50¢ for reduced fare, $2 for BLink (BTaccess and microtransit) services – and riders will still have the option to pay cash (in the exact amount).
A primary benefit of Umo will be “Fare Capping.” As long as regular fare riders scan Umo to pay for their trips, they will never pay more than $30 per month or $3 per day ($15 per month or $1.50 per day for reduced fare riders). Advantages of “Fare Capping” include not having to pay a large sum up front for a bus pass each month and allowing riders to potentially save money by only paying for what they use in a month. “Fare Capping” applies to fixed-route buses and Blink microtransit trips.
“This fare collection technology project with Umo enhances the customer experience for Bloomington Transit riders,” general manager John Connell said. “But more importantly, it provides equity by allowing those who are not able to buy a discounted monthly pass upfront to receive the same benefits as those who can. Using Umo protects our riders from overpaying in the long run.”
Indiana University students, faculty and staff – as well as City of Bloomington government, qualified Monroe County Public Library and IU Health employees – will still be able to ride Bloomington Transit fixed-route buses fare-free. These riders can continue to present their valid identification cards to the Bloomington Transit drivers as they board the bus.
Riders will need to continue using the SPOT app to access real-time location statuses, route updates or trip planning capabilities. More details about Bloomington Transit and Umo are available HERE.
Umo (pronounced “YOU-mo”) is a smart travel companion and mobility platform that provides simple and flexible travel for users, transit agencies and mobility service providers. Some well-known transit systems that have successfully integrated Umo include Milwaukee’s “WisGo”, Omaha’s “Metro” and British Columbia’s “BC Transit.”
Bloomington Transit is operated by the Bloomington Public Transportation Corporation (BPTC) in Bloomington, Indiana. The transit system consists of fixed-route buses operating seven days a week and a paratransit system focused on transportation for those who are not able to ride the fixed-route system. Bloomington Transit provides vital transportation for Indiana University students and connects the community to destinations throughout the City of Bloomington.