Santa Monica Big Blue Bus and West Hollywood Take Bold Steps to Tackle Bus Lane and Stop Obstructions with Hayden AI’s Cutting-Edge Technology

Starting today, two more Southern California cities—Santa Monica and West Hollywood—will deploy Hayden AI’s game-changing automated transit enforcement platform. This innovative technology will tackle the growing issue of illegally parked vehicles obstructing bus lanes and bus stops, making public transit safer, more efficient, and more reliable for millions of LA-area commuters. The cities join the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) and Culver City in using Hayden AI’s industry leading solution to revolutionize how public transportation is delivered.

The new enforcement begins with a 60-day warning period for Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus and Los Angeles Metro buses serving Line 212 in West Hollywood, with full enforcement starting September 1, 2025.

“Santa Monica and West Hollywood are leading the way in adopting transformative technology to make public transportation safer and more reliable,” said Charley Territo, Chief Growth Officer of Hayden AI. “Our bus-mounted camera platform is helping cities across Southern California eliminate obstacles to smoother bus operations. We’re proud to bring these benefits to Big Blue Bus and Metro riders in West Hollywood, helping to keep their routes clear and their commutes hassle-free.”

For Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus, this rollout follows the success of a 2023 pilot program where Hayden AI technology was tested on two buses. The results were eye-opening: 7.7 violations per bus per day, amounting to 606 violations over just 45 days. This highlighted the urgent need for automated enforcement, especially as research has shown that keeping bus lanes clear can speed up bus travel times by 20-28% during peak hours, improving rider satisfaction and even boosting ridership by 2-9%.

“The implementation of automated enforcement advances Big Blue Bus’s commitment to providing equitable access to efficient and reliable transportation and supports Santa Monica’s broader strategic priority of clean streets and safe neighborhoods. Bus lane disruption disproportionately impacts individuals who rely on public transportation, particularly seniors, students, persons with disabilities, and those with limited access to private vehicles,” says Santa Monica’s Director of Transportation, Anuj Gupta. “Even a single vehicle blocking a bus lane can lead to significant delays, missed connections, and frustration for riders who depend on our service. By ensuring bus lanes remain clear, we enhance the efficiency of our multimodal transportation network and keep Santa Monica’s residents and visitors moving safely, efficiently, and comfortably.”

Hayden AI's platform utilizes artificial intelligence in bus-mounted cameras to detect and record illegal parking violations that obstruct bus lanes, bus stops, bike lanes, and double parking. The technology is already in use across major U.S. cities, including New York City, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Oakland, and Sacramento, proving its effectiveness in reducing transit blockages and making public transportation smoother.

With this expanded deployment in Southern California, Hayden AI continues to set the standard for transit zone enforcement, pushing cities toward more efficient, equitable, and sustainable public transportation networks.

About Hayden AI: At Hayden AI, we’re pioneering real world problem solving powered by AI. Cities use our mobile perception system to speed up transit and make streets safer. Learn more at www.hayden.ai

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250701371051/en/