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Has Detroit ever considered creating a bus tracking application for smartphones? Or does one exist that I'm not currently aware of? When I visited Chicago, I downloaded theirs and it really made planning trips around town super convenient. Here it is: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mytra...295462993?mt=8
For those without smart phones, I believe you can also text a certain number at the bus stop you are at it will text you back how long until the next bus is coming.
Thoughts?
Nothing that tracks buses live, but for pocket planning the Google Maps for Mobile is the way to go: http://www.google.com/mobile/maps/
For DDOT buses it would be technically possible because DDOT knows, in real time, where all of the buses are. I don't think SMART has that technology yet, so SMART couldn't do it at all.Quote:
Originally Posted by begingri
I suspect the reason it hasn't been done is just cost. It is a great idea though.
AATA [[Ann Arbor Transportation Authority) has live tracking of buses. I certainly see the benefits. I don't have a fancy phone, but I've tracked the Eastern Michigan University shuttle bus many times. It's been very helpful.
http://mobile.theride.org/
They might not have this tracking service available for DDOT riders, but at least if you ARE a DDOT rider waiting for the 11 Clairmount, you now know where to stand to wait for your bus on Junction south of W. Vernor since a new bus stop sign was just put up there recently where an old one had been run down by an errant U-Haul.