Overview
Sydneysiders will soon have another option for getting around the city's west, with an on-demand bus service set to launch in this Sunday, July 1.
Kicking off with a five-strong bus fleet, the new Bridj run will initially service Canada Bay, Concord, Breakfast Point, Cabarita, Mortlake and Rhodes, between 6am–11.30pm, Monday to Friday, and 8am–8.30pm on Saturday and Sunday. The areas and routes included are designed to cover gaps between existing transport hubs in the city's west.
Run in partnership with the Transport for NSW, it's the first permanent service of its kind, though trials have been operating across other areas of the city since 2017.
Bridj works a little bit like Uber, combining both fixed route and on-demand transit. To book a trip, jump on the smartphone app — which you can download for free for IOS and android — input your destination and when you want to go, and a booking confirmation will be sent through with a nearby pick-up spot and estimated drop-off time.
The Bridj micro-buses travel different routes depending on where passengers are headed, and like an Uber, can be tracked in real-time via the app. The technology even looks at things like congestion to work out the shortest possible routes and best pick-up spots. It's also fairly affordable, with a one-way adult fare costing $3.10 and $1.50 for concession card holders. You can pay either via credit card through the app, with cash on board or with your Opal card. And don't forget to thank the bus driver.
A map of Bridj's Sydney west service
There are plans to incorporate another 27 of the buses across Sydney in the coming years, as Bridj continues to analyse customer needs and evolve its offering to suit.
The Bridj service will launch in Sydney's west this Sunday, July 1. To learn more about it, head to the Bridj or Transport NSW websites.