Customised Bus: Routes Crowdfunded by Riders

Nanjing's bus group lets riders propose a line rather than request a stop. A passenger enters origin, destination and departure time in the Youdian Chuxing app or WeChat mini-programme; the back end clusters similar requests into a candidate alignment, then a WeChat group of those riders negotiates the details before pre-selling tickets. Only when at least sixty people have joined the group buy and paid does the operator survey the route. Four modes have grown out of it — commuting, corporate, university and tourism — and lines are reviewed weekly, with those below an occupancy threshold withdrawn. Fares start at 3 yuan for 10 km, rising 1 yuan per additional 5 km, with 1–2 yuan more for a guaranteed seat.