“Transit” (by Transit App, Inc, on the iOS store it’s green with a white sideways S) is the go-to for most people, it integrates schedules with real-time bus/T tracking and also lets you buy tickets you can scan as you board

Edit: it does look there are other options… there is no single “official” app for PRT

https://www.rideprt.org/inside-Pittsburgh-Regional-Transit/rider-info/mobile-applications/

Thanks! The link is perfect. I should have mentioned I have an Android phone, but it looks like Transit has an Android app too. Appreciate the help! I should have poked around the transit website for the app page, but I got impatient.

Just a caveat to add - Mobile Ticketing doesnt NOT work on the T, so you will need to use a ConnectCard.

From the back n forth dialogue I saw on Twitter with PRT .... PRT seems to be in the process of moving to a unified NFC payment system like other Transit Systems with proper fare payment technology (NYC's OMNY, Chicago's Ventra). So the current Mobile Ticketing may never get going on the T.

If you’re ever at a stop without Wi-Fi, you can text “PRT [stop number]” to 41411 and it will respond with a list of the upcoming buses and their estimated time of arrival. Be warned that most do have a stop number, but there are some that don’t. And sometimes it’s not updated but that goes for every app associated with the Pittsburgh public transit

glad to hear they’re working on NFC, the current mobile ticketing system is pretty awkward and not really any more convenient than just carrying a conectcard

Just experienced the ease of NFC / tap and pay in another city. Really makes it easy to use transit. I'll believe it when I see it here.

The Transit app does not let you know which routes stop at the stop you're at. You have to know the route you want information on. I'm currently looking for a new app.

they added QR code readers to many of the bigger T stops so you can pay using the Transit app now apparently. i haven't seen anyone really using them, but they popped up in the last few months.

You can also add the bus route number (like this "PRT [stop number] [route number]" after the stop number if you want the scheduled stops for that route at that stop!

You can also rent POGOH bikes with the transit app!

Some stations have readers now. I would verify that, though.

They do have the scanners at some T stops, last I rode they weren't functional. All the drivers I've had or the station attendant just need to see the mobile ticket and you should be good.

I don't have a car and I get around fine for the most part.

I recommend you live within the peninsula of Pittsburgh (downtown - strip - oakland - squirrel hill - bloomfield - shadyside), as that's where most busses run.

There is a major bus line from Downtown, through Bluff, then into Okaland, then Squirrel Hill / Shadyside. There's another smaller bus line going north of Downtown through the Strip into Bloomfield and Shadyside.

Oakland / Strip / Downtown are probably the best places to live if you don't want to rely on a car. Out of those three, you'll have the most grocery options in the Strip. There aren't as many grocery stores here as you'd get in a larger city (for example, Lower + Central Lawrenceville don't have any major grocery stores within walking distance).

A lot of people love Shadyside but it doesn't have as much mixed development that other neighborhoods have (like bloomfield, southside, the strip, etc). If you don't drive, mixed neighborhoods are much better as it's easier to navigate and you have more stores within walking distance. I would consider Shadyside more bikeable than walkable as stores are more spread out there. Compare Forbes Ave. and Murray Ave. intersection area (Squirrel hill - more walkable) to Center Ave. and Penn Ave. intersection area which is a more bikeable feel (big box stores like target aren't great for walkable neighborhoods due to their large parking lots, among other reasons).

Great assessment except for walking access to the East Busway is really fantastic if you go downtown with any frequency.

I have found PATrack to be the best on Android.

Good but confusing advice here. I think some of what you are referring to here is East Liberty.