June 2

Starting today, real-time transit on Google Maps

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3  comments

Now there’s another way to tell where your bus is – on Google Maps.

Starting today in Google Maps, relevant journeys are handily arranged and summarized in the app—so it’s easy to know at a glance how long you’ll be waiting and what your other options are if you just miss that bus.

Sound a lot like OneBusAway, the app used for years by thousands of Seattle commuters to figure out when to be at their stop?

That’s in part because the guy who wrote OneBusAway- as a University of Washington grad student and was then hired by Google – is responsible. From Geekwire:

The new data is being included thanks to Brian Ferris, who created the popular OneBusAway app before being hired by Google in 2011. Google added real-time data for Portland, Ore., later that year, and other cities like Chicago and London have been added since then, but Seattleites have had to rely on timetable data until now.

The change means users will now receive real-time information instead of relying on timetables. Route options will include the on-time status of different transportation options. This means you may be advised to jump on light rail if traffic is slowing down buses, or told to switch to a different bus line if you just missed your normal bus.

Good news? Mostly.

Using the transit data involves calling up Google Maps, remembering how to add layers to it, selecting the “Public transit” layer, not noticing anything new on the map, zooming WAY in and noting bus stops have been added as little blue bus icons.

Touch the icon and bus routes and times appear in a swipe-up menu at the bottom of the screen.

It’s like OneBusAway except that the original, stand-alone app is faster and also tells you if buses are delayed – and by how much.

But it lives in an app – Google Maps – you almost certainly already have and use.

(Thanks to the Seattle Transit Blog for Tweeting about this earlier today.)

About the author 

Sara W

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  1. An accurate assessment of incoming and outgoing buses sounds as if it’s a good thing to have, if one is taking the buses needed to get out to Shoreline, and back.

    Also, interesting to note that a competitor has seemingly bested Google. Competition still “improves the breed,” as used to be said in auto racing.

  2. It’s worth noting that Google Maps includes real time info in its trip planning results, a trick OneBusAway does not have up its sleeve.
    MLL: Thanks, Brian. Couple questions, if you want:
    I (obviously) couldn’t find the bus delayed/alt route info from simply looking at Google Maps. How do I get it? Do I need to enter a planned trip for this?
    Second, is there a difference between the data OneBusAway gets and what Google Maps gets? Reason I ask is I tested this an hour or so ago at Northgate Transit center. Google Maps (incorrectly) insisted the 303 was in the bay, while OneBusAway (correctly) insisted it was two minutes out.

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