Google Transit Is Awesome
Google Maps is one of the most powerful tools we transit advocates have to get people out of their cars and onto transit. Many Bay Area transit agencies are already participating, and more are soon to follow.
Not all agencies are as enlightened, however.
WMATA in Washington, DC is putting their petty concerns above the taxpayers of the region, and it’s simply not acceptable. Washington is a great city - and visitors flock from all over the U.S. and the world. We need the best resources available to help people use public transportation.
I wanted to put together a post with a few simple Google Maps/Transit videos to show how Google Transit can add value for people who either take transit now, or would like to consider it.
Here is an introduction to Google Maps for Mobile. It’s not available on every mobile phone, and whatever changes happen to google Maps, they usually happen on the regular desktop/laptop computer version of Google Maps, first, but they do make their way to the mobile versions, as Google Street View did, recently.
This next example is has a Googler getting a flat tire, and he uses his phone to get directions to the nearest bike shop. I wish I had this feature available to me before. The Mike’s Bikes he visits is right around the corner from my old work - good shop, friendly folks. This one introduces Street View and walking directions:
This video introduces transit directions:
How to use the new and improved Street View:
Here’s a video introducing Street View for New Zealand (it’s got some bike trickery!):
You know I’m a huge fan of ZipCar. They used Google Maps to help their members hook up with a car when they need one - it’s just another tremendous display of the integration power of Google Maps - these are things that just cannot be accomplished by individual transit agencies:
We know Google Street View is now availabe in DC - it can and will act as a natural gateway for people to use public transit. Check out the awesome National Museum of the American Indian:
The Headway blog points out how new mobile computing devices like the iPhone are revolutionizing the way people access public transportation information — it makes a strong case for the value of Google Transit.
If you are a fan of public transit, or if you live in or visit the Washington area, let officials there know that you want public transit information available on Google Transit by using the form of at GreaterGreaterWashington to let DC officials know what is up. I did.
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