Twitter users understand what it means to communicate in 140 characters: keep information short and specific in order to effectively use the social media platform.
The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority knows this too, and has added a new Twitter feed to its array of communication methods between the agency and its customers.
The new account is called @PSTAalerts and is intended to reach a different audience than the original account @RidePSTA, according to Cindi Raskin-Schmitt, PSTA's Manager of Communications.
"The regular @RidePSTA Twitter handle is for agency information and news," she said. "This is just going to be targeted to riders, so there will be very specific information. For example, if there's a traffic accident and a bus is delayed, we'll be able to tell passengers, 'Your bus is delayed, it'll be coming along shortly.'"
PSTA rider Rosalinda follows the agency on Facebook, and likes the idea of additional Twitter feed.
"That way I can know the change of the route and everything about PSTA, because I always take the bus to get to my job," she said.
@PSTAalerts is staffed by customer service agents 24 hours a day. The account officially launched on Monday.