Montrealers will soon be able to board STM buses through the back door
The STM just announced that beginning June 19, 13 bus lines will allow Montrealers to board from the rear of the bus, as well as the front.
Boarding using the back door will come into effect this June on the following routes:
45 – Papineau
67 – Saint-Michel
69 – Gouin
80 – Avenue du Parc
121 – Sauvé/Côte-Vertu
139 – Pie-IX
165 – Côte-des-Neiges
193 – Jarry
197 – Rosemont
435 – Express du Parc/Côte-des-Neiges
439 – Express Pie-IX
467 – Express Saint-Michel
470 – Express Pierrefonds
However, certain conditions do apply. Namely, passengers can only board through the back door at bus stops located by metro stations, between 5am and 7pm, when riding articulated buses, and if they are a weekly or monthly pass holder.
Though the conditions do seem a bit limiting, we’re confident this practice is going to make taking the bus much smoother.
After all, this change is coming after the success of the STM’s pilot project with rear boarding on lines 121, 139, and 439 that began in March 2016. According to the STM website, the addition of rear boarding yielded 1082 hours saved in boarding time on the 121 line, 609 hours on the 139 line, and another 47 hours on the 439.
In addition, “88% of customers agree with the approach and think it is right to allow the practice, 77% of customers are satisfied with allowing this practice, 72% of customers have noticed that the boarding process is faster, and 76% of drivers appreciate the new boarding process.”
We can’t wait for this new initiative to begin!
To read more about the STM’s new boarding system, click here.