Bee Network 4+

The previous Bee Network app was very basic, but it was good to have a map of the trams handy if needed. When that app was deleted, I really hoped they’d bring out another. And of course, they did!

The theory behind this version of the app is great - all the information you could need in one place.
However, it has been poorly carried out. There are a huge amount of faults with it. I was playing around with the route planning aspect, and the routes it gives you are terrible. For example, I set the start of the journey to Piccadilly Gardens, and the end of the journey to Oldham Road / New Cross (Stop EF). The route it gave me was to get the 76 Bus at Piccadilly Gardens, get off the bus at Thompson Street (the bus stop AFTER New Cross), and walk back to New Cross. It makes no sense. This has happened with a few of the examples I have come up with.
Fix silly things like this, and you’re on your way to a really great app!

I also think it would be a great asset to put all train, bus, and tram timetables into the app.

For now, I would recommend getting information from the website on Safari/Search Browser.

Need to retail single bus ticket as this is what I and many users will buy (unless you’re getting 3+ buses a day which is rare!). I was infuriated this morning in particular as I waited at the stop, no disruptions highlighted and real time information showing the bus was due in a few minutes. The bus then drove past me with the driver pointing at the stop. The stop said that stop was closed but everyone waits in the shelter and not the stop and so no one saw it (Bury New Road Stop near Moor Lane on the way to Manchester City Centre). If your app correctly highlighted the closed stop, I would have avoided an expensive Uber alternative. Infuriating experience lacking any focus on the user whatsoever. I challenge your team to get out on the network and use this app for a few weeks testing, to feed into improvements from a users perspective. Need to do better for your customers given this app has had £2m+ spent on it!!!

The ‘live’ bus tracking information is not live at all even though some of the developer comments on earlier reviews state that live tracking is now available - it isn’t!! It still shows buses that are timetabled to arrive and then just disappear off the app once the time has passed for arrival. Please fix this! Bring back the proper tram journey planner that was available on the GetMeThere app. It was far better than what is available on the Bee Network app. The new version doesn’t work - to get from Oldham Mumps to St Peter’s Square it is telling me that I have a 16 minute walk from Shudehill? There’s a tram stop at St Peter’s Square on the direct route on the Rochdale to East Didsbury line!!