How many days does it take to launch a bus route tailor-made just for you? In Shanghai, the answer is three days.

Earlier this month, the city took a significant step towards building a more flexible public transit system with the official launch of a customized bus service platform.

The platform, which is available on the "Suishenxing" (SH MaaS) app, now operates over 220 "DZ" routes — short for dingzhi (Chinese for "customized") — spanning all 16 of the city's districts.

These routes connect popular destinations such as residential neighborhoods, industrial parks, subway stations, schools, hospitals, and tourist sites, offering tailored solutions for commuters.

In addition to booking existing routes, users can propose new ones by submitting their travel needs and voting on popular routes. Transit operators will decide whether to launch new routes based on their popularity.

The threshold for opening a new route is currently 15 to 20 passengers per trip. For those with high demand, a route can be launched in as little as three days.

This customized bus service reflects Shanghai's broader shift from rigid, fixed-route buses to dynamic, demand-driven transportation — a transition from "passengers waiting for buses" to "buses responding to passengers".

Accessing the platform is simple: users can navigate to the "Customized Bus" feature within either the Suishenxing app (SH MaaS) or its WeChat mini-program.

In addition to serving commuters, the platform will launch its first tailor-made bus route for pet owners on May 24, the day the city's 4th Pet Lovers' Carnival will be held, connecting the Shanghai Fashion Center and Langxiang Park.

For a modest 20 yuan ($2.8), you can bring your furry friends onto the bus and enjoy the city's street views on a pet-inclusive journey.

Sources: thepaper.cn, Xinhua