Transit Tip: Check Your DASH Sign for Stop Number
Eric Richardson
[Flickr]
This DASH "F" sign at 8th and Flower now includes the stop's unique identification number, "6140."
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — For a little over a month now, smart DASH riders have been able to get live arrival times for their buses via the web, phone and text. For those who spend a decent amount of time on the little white and blue buses, the info is invaluable.
LADOT is now doing its part to make the latter two of those access mechanisms easier by printing each stop's unique identification number on the DASH stop sign.
Using the code is easy. Just make a call to (213) 785-3858, press 0, and then type in the stop number (for instance, "6140" in the pictured sign). You can also get arrivals via text by sending a message to 41411 that says "dtdash" and the stop number (for instance, "dtdash 6140").
Those with mobile web access or checking in from their desks can access the info by visiting dtdash.com.
The system is operated by Syncromatics, the vendor that provides GPS systems for LADOT's DASH buses.
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Dana Gabbard on December 04, 2009, at 09:59AM – #1
This is so helpful we may add a link to it on the detour page of the SO.CA.TA website. Man, it is hard keeping up with all the transit agencies that now post service noties on Twitter!
http://socata.net/21.html
Ravi on December 04, 2009, at 02:37PM – #2
I just added the phone number to my cell!! Between their GPS devices and this nifty tip, it will be easier for me to make my appointments!
TransitRulz on December 05, 2009, at 09:12AM – #3
This one made by Syncromatics is ok, but the one in San Francisco made by NextBus is so much better! Check it out at www.nextbus.com.
Eric Metz (@lastreetcar) on December 05, 2009, at 03:38PM – #4
This is an amazing update! Now if only MTA routes (at least selected routes) had this functionality...
Bert Green on December 05, 2009, at 03:50PM – #5
Nextbus is great, but it does not cover LA. For the MTA system I've been using Google Transit, which works on my smartphone. It's pretty reliable, but it uses schedule information and not real time GPS.
Karin Liljegren on December 05, 2009, at 09:31PM – #6
I LOVE this - the other day I was upstairs working, I viewed the next bus time was 22 min. I sent 12 more emails, went downstairs, checked the time again, "2 min", walked across the street and here it came. Wow - that made DASHing actually dashing!