I admit I don’t ride the bus as much as I should. I am one of those people that preach public transportation, but generally opt for the irresponsible car option. That being said, I do take the bus about once each week. Because I don’t know the bus routes very well, I use the King County Metro website to find the route. While the site seems to be unchanged since my freshman year in college (2002), it works pretty well, and I am generally happy as I close my browser and rush out the door. My way home from my location, however, isn’t quite as easy, since I’m sans computer. Sure, I can use my phone’s browser to look up the routes, but navigating the web on a phone can be a pain.
As a recent iPhone adopter, and general smart phone addict, I can’t help but think of possibilities with the new app stores that are becoming standard. As an intermittent bus rider, I would really like to see an iPhone app that will tell me which bus to get on at what time. Fortunately, some developers have taken the initiative to get this done. In Portland, OR, a resident named Andrew Wallace released an app that helps you find bus schedules and uses the GPS in the iPhone to help you locate the nearest stop. I am hoping someone will step up in Seattle and do the same. <wink> <wink>
But what if this app was taken a step further? In Seattle, anyone can go online and get information on the current location of buses. What if an app tapped into this as well? Now you would have the bus schedule, and also be able to see if it are late or not. It might also be fun to kill time by watching little dots move around a map of Seattle on your phone.
Now imagine this: You have found the appropriate bus at the appropriate time and are happily riding amongst the Seattle locals. It’s been a long day at work, and you really need a nap. You are wary of resting your eyes, however, because last time you missed your stop and ended up in Mukilteo. Well, maybe this super bus app could solve this problem. Just tell the app which stop you want to get off at, and the alarm will go off when you are there.* Now you can sleep on the bus stress-free!
*Note: Credit for this last idea actually goes to my roommate, but I liked the idea enough that I am going to post it like it is my own.
This app would be special because it involves a public sector entity – the City of Seattle – which raises an interesting question: who should develop the app? In my next post, I’ll discuss possible ways a government institution could tap into the web 2.0 community to create some useful services.
As you may know, this app has been released, and I find it very useful. It’s called seattle bus map. See more at http://www.mobclix.com/appstore/app/299293359
Nice photo, by the way!
Thanks for the tip! I’ll definitely check that out.
Also, there’s an iPhone app that wakes you up at a specific location. It’s called iNap: Arrival alert.
Try clicking
phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=290401644
http://thomascwaters.com/?p=49
I can vouch for the Seattle bus app, it’s 10 bucks but it’s pretty awesome. Tracks all of the buses via GPS and you can watch the buses move along their routes in real time.
It will be very interesting when more government agencies begin to adopt the technology and efficiency these apps provide.
I would think SF would be a city ripe for this type of experiment, especially with some of their above ground Muni systems.
I really wish someone would make a bus app that you can say “I am leaving from this address and going to this address” and it tells you what bus number to get on and where to get off. Maps really sucks at doing this, a lot of times it takes you a long way around or it totally gives you erroneous directions. I take the bus just about everywhere and am some what new to Seattle so getting around is a pain.