Transit ON Demand

• Plan & Book By Smartphone​

  1. Download the free  'Barrie ToD' app from the Apple Store or Google Play.
  2. Enter your starting point and destination within the zone (these areas are highlighted in the app). View the Zone Maps to assist in locating your nearest stop number.
  3. Select the date and time you want to ride (up to 7 days in advance) or request a trip as soon as possible.
  4. Provide rider inform​ation (number of riders, adult/youth, wheelchair, etc.).
  5. Select your payment option: monthly pass, cash, or transfer.
  6. The app lets you know when to expect your ride and where to wait.
  7. Watch your bus arrive in real time via the app.
• Other Planning & Booking Options

  • Plan your trip & book online.
  • Call a booking agent at 705-726-4242 and follow the prompts. The booking agent will help you plan your trip. Call-in booking hours are: 7:30am–5:30pm, Monday–Friday and 9am–5pm, Saturday/Sunday

How to Cancel a Trip

• Cancel in the ToD App or Online

  When using the ToD app or online booking portal, simply select your trip and hit cancel to cancel your trip. Please cancel it at least 30 minutes prior to boarding.

• Cancel by Phone

  Cancellations are accepted via the booking phone line during booking hours: 7:30am–5:30pm, Monday–Friday and 9am–5pm, Saturday/Sunday. Phone cancellations should be done at least 30 minutes in advance. 

Frequently Asked Questions

• Why is my scheduled route changing to ToD?

  As part of the New Transit Network, Transit ON Demand expanded to five zones on May 1, 2024. The expanded ToD zones will replace some of existing scheduled routes effective June 2, 2024. 

  Transit staff continuously monitor ridership numbers. Routes that changed to ToD are in areas with lower ridership. By implementing ToD service in these areas, we’re able to increase coverage throughout Barrie and improve frequency on popular routes with high ridership numbers.

  Examples of increased coverage included in the New Transit Network:

  • The New Express Route 400 between Park Place & Georgian College/RVH on Highway 400 (30-minute frequency operating from 7am–7pm on weekdays and 9am–7pm on Saturdays). 
  • The addition of a Frequent Transit Network, which focuses on higher-ridership areas along major transit travel corridors with existing and/or planned intensification in Barrie. The FTN provides more frequent transit service to over 70% of Barrie’s existing transit customers.
     
• Am I getting less service with ToD compared to a fixed transit route?

  No. Typically, a ToD bus will arrive about 20 minutes after the booking request, while a conventional scheduled bus arrives every 30 minutes. ToD means shorter wait times, quick local trips, and generally shorter walking distances to/from a bus stop. As of May 1, 2024, Barrie’s ToD service has a 4.9 out of 5-star rating from current ridership.

• Can I use Transit ON Demand to travel anywhere in Barrie?

  The ToD service is available in select zones. Riders can travel: 

  • to/from designated bus stops within the same zone.
  • to a connection stop within the zone to connect to a fixed bus route for cross-city travel.
• When did the Transit ON Demand service initially launch?

  The City launched the Transit ON Demand pilot on August 17, 2020, servicing an area from Huronia Road and Lockhart Road to Bayview Drive and Little Avenue. The pilot was a success with riders receiving faster trips, shorter wait times and reporting high satisfaction. The cost of providing ToD is equal to the cost of conventional service, but can cover more area, resulting in a more efficient service for Barrie. The ToD zone later expanded to add additional stops within the single zone. As part of the New Transit Network, Transit ON Demand expanded to five zones on May 1, 2024. 

• How many seats do Transit ON Demand buses contain?

  Transit ON Demand buses have 11 seats and space for up to two wheelchairs/scooters at a time. 

• Can I book future trips?

  You can book trips up to 7 days in advance, with no limit on the number of trips per day.

• When I book, is my trip guaranteed?

  A trip is booked and guaranteed when you receive approval from the app immediately after selecting the trip. The app will not make a booking if a trip is unavailable.

  Riders who book with the Barrie ToD app may be required to locate to an adjacent stop on the other side of the corner or street prior to pickup for service efficiency (the app will notify you of which stop).

• Can a rider ‘walk up’ to a bus for a trip?

  No, riders need to be booked via the app for the system to perform properly (i.e. to generate accurate pick-up and drop-off times).

• How many spots can I book at a time?

  You can book up to the maximum capacity of 11 seats and two wheelchair/scooter spaces.

• How can individuals who don’t have a phone or internet service book a ToD ride?

  When designing the new transit system, staff ensured popular locations remain on fixed routes, limiting the need to have access to phone/internet service to access the most frequented locations across Barrie. The Painswick Branch of the Barrie Public Library is located in a ToD zone and offers free access to computers with internet service.

• I left a voicemail for Transit ON Demand. When can I expect to hear back?

  A representative will contact you as soon as possible during booking hours (7:30am–5:30pm, Monday–Friday and 9am–5pm, Saturday/Sunday).

• If I called to book my ride or booked online instead of using the app, will I be notified when the bus is on the way?

  No, only registered accounts through the Barrie ToD app will receive notification. (The Barrie ToD app is available to download in Apple Store or Google Play.)

• Can children under 12 use this service?

  Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Strollers are permitted on board.

• Are Transit ON Demand buses accessible?

  ToD buses are fully accessible. 

  There are working ramps for accessibility included across Barrie Transit’s full fleet. They are regularly tested and inspected to ensure they are in working order. 

  ToD buses have capacity for up to two wheelchairs/scooters at a time. To ensure availability, there is an option to select this service when booking a ride. As with conventional transit service, the driver does not assist you in entering or exiting the vehicle, or from door-to-door. 

  If you require door-to-door accessible transit service, please visit Barrie Transit Specialized Transit.

• How long can I expect to wait for the bus?

  Pickup times are estimates and can vary up to 10 minutes during off-peak traffic times and 18 minutes during peak traffic times. You will receive updates on arrival times in the app and get a text message when your ride is close using real-time traffic predictions.

• How long can I expect my trip to take?

  This is a shared transportation service so there may be up to 12 other customers in the vehicle at one time. Rides may not be direct because the driver may pick up or drop off other customers along the way. When you select your trip, the app will provide you with an accurate and guaranteed "arrive before" time and your trip will not take longer than 25 minutes.

• Can I bring oversized items such as groceries, a bike or luggage?

  You can bring luggage or grocery bags on board, but they cannot be placed on seats if other passengers require them. Bikes may also come onboard the bus, but you must hold the bike to secure it while onboard. You are responsible for loading/unloading your belongings.

• Can I bring my pet on the bus?

  Securely leashed/contained and or caged dogs & non-exotic pets under the care and control of the owner at all times are permitted on a Barrie Transit vehicle (except during peak periods: Mon–Fri, 7–9am & 3–6:30pm). All pets must remain off bus seats.

  Service animals are permitted onto the vehicle and into a transit facility at any time. For the safety of all passengers, service animals must always be securely leashed and under the care and control of the owner. Vehicle operator, authorized transit staff, supervisor or security may ask for confirmation of service animal certification.

• I’m running behind. How long will the bus wait for me?

  To ensure a fast trip for all riders and accurate timing predictions, the maximum time the vehicle will wait for you at your requested pickup location is 1 minute. The expectation is riders are waiting at the stop. To ensure service quality, we ask all customers to:

  • Plan your trip well and allocate adequate time between transfers
  • Book ONLY one trip and not multiple trips from point A to B
  • Cancel your trip prior to boarding rather than keeping your trip and not showing up
• What if I miss my trip?

  If you fail to board your ride without prior cancellation consistently, your account could come under review. When your account is under review, we will first contact you to get a better understanding of the situation, provide trip-planning tips and issue a warning. If the issue continues, Barrie Transit may suspend the account. To ensure service quality, we ask all customers to:

  • Plan your trip well and allocated adequate time between transfers
  • Book ONLY one trip and not multiple trips from point A to B
  • Cancel your trip at least 30 minutes prior to boarding rather than keeping your trip and not showing up
• Will I be picked up at my house?

  No, the bus will pick you up at the nearest Transit ON Demand stop in your zone. It will drop you off within your zone at the Transit ON Demand stop closest to your destination or at a connection stop, so you can transfer to other zones/routes.

• Why am I being picked up on the other side of the road/around the corner?

  When you book your trip and select your desired stop on the app or online booking tool, you will be shown up to two potential Transit ON Demand stops where you could be picked up. The two options will be across the street or around the corner from each other. Your pickup location will be confirmed via text message 15 minutes before your pickup time.

  This feature enhances the quality of the vehicle routes and the efficiency of the pooling system by avoiding the need for the vehicle to U-turn or change directions to pick up a customer.

  If you booked by phone, your pickup location will be confirmed at the time of booking and the location will not change.

• Is the Night Stop program offered on Transit ON Demand?

  Yes. The Night Stop program allows passengers who feel it would be safer to disembark from the bus closer to their destination than the nearest transit stop. The service is in effect from dusk or approx. 9pm until the end of evening service. You can request the Transit Operator to stop at any safe location on the way to your stop (Operator discretion). Let the transit operator know before the location you wish to disembark with as much notice as possible.