{"id":638,"date":"2024-03-22T13:48:49","date_gmt":"2024-03-22T20:48:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/?page_id=638"},"modified":"2026-03-09T15:13:47","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T22:13:47","slug":"sms-text-service","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/riderinfo\/sms-text-service\/","title":{"rendered":"Get Next Bus Times By Phone"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">SMS Schedule Notifications (Victoria Only)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Using a mobile phone without data or apps, and riding with us in Victoria? Check schedule times via text message with our SMS Next Bus service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>This is a free service. Standard message and data rates may apply.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>See expected arrival times for the next 4 or 5 buses to arrive at your stop:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Text your six-digit stop ID (e.g. 100032) to 11111,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You will receive a reply that lists the next 4 buses scheduled to arrive at your stop, including their estimated arrival times.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you\u2019re at a stop on multiple routes and would only like to see times for a particular route, add the route number after the stop ID, e.g. 100150 27<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For help using the service, text HELP to 11111<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Locating the six-digit stop ID<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Locate the six-digit stop ID at the top right of the bus stop sign<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Stop\/Start Receiving SMS notifications<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you wish to stop receiving notifications, text <strong>STOP<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you wish to resume notifications, text <strong>START<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Please visit our <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/contact\/\">Contact<\/a> <\/strong>page for customer support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Notifications d\u2019horaire par SMS (Victoria seulement)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Vous utilisez un t\u00e9l\u00e9phone mobile sans donn\u00e9es ni applications et voyagez avec nous \u00e0 Victoria ? Consultez les horaires par message texte gr\u00e2ce \u00e0 notre service <strong>SMS Next Bus<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ce service est gratuit. Des frais standards de messagerie et de donn\u00e9es peuvent s\u2019appliquer.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Voyez les heures d\u2019arriv\u00e9e pr\u00e9vues pour les 4 ou 5 prochains autobus \u00e0 votre arr\u00eat :<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Envoyez le num\u00e9ro d\u2019arr\u00eat \u00e0 six chiffres (ex. : 100032) au 11111<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Vous recevrez une r\u00e9ponse avec les horaires des 4 prochains autobus pr\u00e9vus \u00e0 votre arr\u00eat, incluant leur heure d\u2019arriv\u00e9e estim\u00e9e<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Si plusieurs lignes desservent votre arr\u00eat et que vous souhaitez conna\u00eetre uniquement les horaires d\u2019une ligne pr\u00e9cise, ajoutez le num\u00e9ro de la ligne apr\u00e8s le num\u00e9ro d\u2019arr\u00eat, ex. : 100150 27<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pour obtenir de l\u2019aide sur le service, envoyez AIDE au 11111<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Trouver le num\u00e9ro d\u2019arr\u00eat \u00e0 six chiffres<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Ce num\u00e9ro se trouve en haut \u00e0 droite de l\u2019affiche \u00e0 l\u2019arr\u00eat d\u2019autobus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Arr\u00eater\/Reprendre les notifications SMS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Si vous souhaitez arr\u00eater de recevoir des notifications, envoyez le mot <strong>ARR\u00caTER<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Si vous souhaitez reprendre les notifications, envoyez le mot <strong>REPRENDRE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Veuillez consulter notre page <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/contact\/\">Contact<\/a> <\/strong>pour le service \u00e0 la client\u00e8le.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/bus-stop-id-location.jpg\" alt=\"Three different bus stop sign designs, with a magnified graphic showing where to find Bus Stop IDs.\" class=\"wp-image-86475\" style=\"width:640px\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Riders can also find the six-digit number on Google Maps (desktop only) by searching the bus stop location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Les passagers peuvent \u00e9galement trouver le num\u00e9ro \u00e0 six chiffres sur Google Maps (version ordinateur seulement) en recherchant l\u2019emplacement de l\u2019arr\u00eat d\u2019autobus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/google-maps-screenshot.png\" alt=\"Google Maps screenshot, showing a bus stop at Gorge Rd E and Garbally Rd. The Bus Stop ID is just below the street address.\" class=\"wp-image-86476\" style=\"width:640px\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>BC Transit also has two phone-in options for Next Bus information. You can call the Transit Info Line at <a href=\"tel:12503826161\">250-382-6161<\/a> and add your Stop ID at the prompt, or you can talk to a Customer Service Agent from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays or holidays.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile is-image-fill-element has-white-color has-primary-default-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-e2159a80db093a3180c40d785ec7d46f\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Your Guide to Accessibility<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Information and guidelines to enable safe accessible ridership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-light-blue\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"..\/accessibility\/\">About Accessibility<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/102424_COW_BCT_Web_191-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"An elderly woman using a walker steps off a transit bus.\" class=\"wp-image-10000090170 size-full\" style=\"object-position:49% 95%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/102424_COW_BCT_Web_191-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/102424_COW_BCT_Web_191-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/102424_COW_BCT_Web_191-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/102424_COW_BCT_Web_191-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/102424_COW_BCT_Web_191-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/102424_COW_BCT_Web_191-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/102424_COW_BCT_Web_191-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/102424_COW_BCT_Web_191.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn how to use your phone to check next bus departure times at your stop.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":2501,"parent":60,"menu_order":7,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"1003,1004,1108,1256,1497,738","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-638","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>SMS Text Services for the Victoria Regional Transit System | BC Transit<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Get real-time bus arrival times and schedule updates in Victoria with the BC Transit SMS text service. Find instructions on how to use it and get bus info fast.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/riderinfo\/sms-text-service\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"SMS Text Services for the Victoria Regional Transit System | BC Transit\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Get real-time bus arrival times and schedule updates in Victoria with the BC Transit SMS text service. Find instructions on how to use it and get bus info fast.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/riderinfo\/sms-text-service\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Victoria\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-03-09T22:13:47+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2026\/01\/mobile-night-sms.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1707\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.bctransit.com\\\/victoria\\\/riderinfo\\\/sms-text-service\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.bctransit.com\\\/victoria\\\/riderinfo\\\/sms-text-service\\\/\",\"name\":\"SMS Text Services for the Victoria Regional Transit System | BC Transit\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.bctransit.com\\\/victoria\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.bctransit.com\\\/victoria\\\/riderinfo\\\/sms-text-service\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.bctransit.com\\\/victoria\\\/riderinfo\\\/sms-text-service\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.bctransit.com\\\/victoria\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/49\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/mobile-night-sms.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-03-22T20:48:49+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-09T22:13:47+00:00\",\"description\":\"Get real-time bus arrival times and schedule updates in Victoria with the BC Transit SMS text service. Find instructions on how to use it and get bus info fast.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.bctransit.com\\\/victoria\\\/riderinfo\\\/sms-text-service\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.bctransit.com\\\/victoria\\\/riderinfo\\\/sms-text-service\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.bctransit.com\\\/victoria\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/49\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/mobile-night-sms.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.bctransit.com\\\/victoria\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/49\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/mobile-night-sms.jpg\",\"width\":2560,\"height\":1707,\"caption\":\"Person looking at her phone app for an update on the bus\"},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.bctransit.com\\\/victoria\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.bctransit.com\\\/victoria\\\/\",\"name\":\"Victoria\",\"description\":\"Victoria Regional Transit\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.bctransit.com\\\/victoria\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"SMS Text Services for the Victoria Regional Transit System | BC Transit","description":"Get real-time bus arrival times and schedule updates in Victoria with the BC Transit SMS text service. Find instructions on how to use it and get bus info fast.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/riderinfo\/sms-text-service\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"SMS Text Services for the Victoria Regional Transit System | BC Transit","og_description":"Get real-time bus arrival times and schedule updates in Victoria with the BC Transit SMS text service. Find instructions on how to use it and get bus info fast.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/riderinfo\/sms-text-service\/","og_site_name":"Victoria","article_modified_time":"2026-03-09T22:13:47+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2560,"height":1707,"url":"https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2026\/01\/mobile-night-sms.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/riderinfo\/sms-text-service\/","url":"https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/riderinfo\/sms-text-service\/","name":"SMS Text Services for the Victoria Regional Transit System | BC Transit","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/riderinfo\/sms-text-service\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/riderinfo\/sms-text-service\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2026\/01\/mobile-night-sms.jpg","datePublished":"2024-03-22T20:48:49+00:00","dateModified":"2026-03-09T22:13:47+00:00","description":"Get real-time bus arrival times and schedule updates in Victoria with the BC Transit SMS text service. Find instructions on how to use it and get bus info fast.","inLanguage":"en-CA","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/riderinfo\/sms-text-service\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-CA","@id":"https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/riderinfo\/sms-text-service\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2026\/01\/mobile-night-sms.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2026\/01\/mobile-night-sms.jpg","width":2560,"height":1707,"caption":"Person looking at her phone app for an update on the bus"},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/","name":"Victoria","description":"Victoria Regional Transit","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-CA"}]}},"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-01 05:25:38","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/638","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/49"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=638"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/638\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3701,"href":"https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/638\/revisions\/3701"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/60"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2501"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bctransit.com\/victoria\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=638"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}