A Canadian public transport agency has turned to a unique bus idea to create more customer smiles.
For years, Canada’s Calgary Transit has been searching for ways to make the ride to work better. With its latest trial, it may have just struck the right chord.
On July 6, the Alberta-based transit agency introduced a karaoke bus. The vehicle, which was parked at Brentwood Station, allowed customers to hop on board and take to the stage to belt out some of their favourite songs.
Calgary Transit communications and information lead Stephen Tauro says the initiative provided a reward for many Calgary citizens who had struggled over the past couple of years.
“Coming off two hard years during the pandemic, our ridership suffered a bit,” Tauro told ABC.
“Customers went away from our services because they were working from home.
“We thought we’d have a little bit of fun and try to regain ridership and new customers through this initiative by sparking some interest and attracting people to our services.”
This isn’t the first time Calgary Transit has launched a rather unique bus design. Before the karaoke bus idea, the agency had a puppy bus where it fitted a bus with fake grass and partnered with a local rescue service group to bring puppies onboard for customers to cuddle.
All this action takes place in Calgary Transit’s information bus that’s dedicated to public engagement. Tauro says the agency outfitted the entire bus with a different seat configuration before adding power and a TV to the bus’s interior.
Tauro says the process to outfit the karaoke bus was simple and low cost. The information bus has been around since 2014, with Calgary Transit relishing the opportunity to use the vehicle for activities like karaoke.
“It turned out to be fantastic,” Tauro says.
“We didn’t know what the reception would be like, but when we pulled up in the bus there was a line of people waiting to hop on.
“That initial trial at the start of July went really well.”
The karaoke bus is still in service. Tauro says the bus operates on random routes throughout Calgary, meaning customers might not know they’re on a service designed for smiling and singing until they come through the doors.
Calgary Transit will keep the bus in service throughout the Canadian summer, operating once a week until the summer period ends. Once the karaoke bus stops running, Tauro says Calgary Transit will begin planning its next idea.
“It’s a temporary outfit,” Tauro says.
“We have more things planned to turn the bus into other activations.
“We’re looking at different ways of spicing the journey up. We have some ideas waiting to execute.”
Tauro says the karaoke bus idea has been successful. He says the feedback from customers has been completely positive. Considering Calgary Transit just wanted to put smiles back on faces and Tauro says the karaoke bus has accomplished its purpose.
“We’ve been trying to find different ways of engaging customers and making their journey more than just a utilitarian A-to-B journey,” Tauro says.
“The karaoke bus has been about community building and having fun.
“With a karaoke bus driving within the community, people have been riding on it with fellow neighbours and friends, so we hope we’ve caused some smiles and cheers to be had.”