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December 8, 2005
Google Transit Launches with TriMet
We got scooped by News4Neighbors, but here it is: today Google launched a Transit Trip Planner, using TriMet as their first partner, so right now it's a Portland exclusive.
My favorite part is the comparison of driving costs with the transit fare!
What this highlights is that TriMet has great data, and a real willingness to be innovative. Here at Portland Transport we're very well aware of this. Tomorrow we'll be launching a transit tool of our own, relying on TriMet's data. Watch this space...
Posted by Chris Smith at 9:47 AM
Comments
December 8, 2005 10:37 AM
Lenny Anderson Says:
My brother who will be visiting from Florida over the holidays has requested information from both TriMet and C-Tran via email about using the two systems for a single trip...he'll be staying in Vancouver, but traveling most days to our father's place in Portland. Both web sites indicate that you can travel without paying two fares (except for C-Tran Premium service), but then seem to contradict this in the details provided. At a time when the I-5 corridor is our most congested, it borders on criminal that these two transit systems make it more difficult and costly to cross the river/border between OR and WA without a car.
December 8, 2005 12:49 PM
Jessica Roberts Says:
Hm, every search I've tried has just given me driving directions. What am I doing wrong?
December 8, 2005 1:07 PM
Cat Says:
Boy, the Google product is pre-beta. It took me many, many tries to get it to recognize my location, and then it gave me very bad advice (walking to Foster to catch a 14 in to town, when I'm starting a few yards from Holgate!).
But I do believe they'll get it right over time.
December 8, 2005 11:23 PM
Justin Says:
THAT IS THE BOMB DIGGITY!
Sorry for the all caps. *ahem* yea. sorry, nothing to see here, folks. move along, move along, and go google your own bus!
December 11, 2005 8:32 PM
Jason McHuff Says:
A couple of thoughts:
- There is a discussion group about Google Transit
- There was a blog post a while back that talked about linking interactive maps and trip planners:
There are two great tastes which need to go together: interactive online maps and online trip-planners for public transportation. ...TriMet will show you a map of your start or end address with the correct bus stop highlighted, but it won't show you the whole route. - You only get one routing option, and it might not be the best one
- Is this another example of how we have one of the best transit systems in the nation?
- Lenny, I agree that it is not clear on how to use TriMet tickets on C-TRAN. C-TRAN's page says that you can use 10-Ticket Book tickets, but states that they don't take transfers.
