Google describes its mission as “organizing the world’s information”. Friday, at the Transit track of GOSCON, Google discussed its plans for Google Transit with the assembled participants.
Ultimately, Google intends for the transit planner to be part of its overall multi-modal trip planner (as in get from any point A on the globe to any point B – I hate the way they think small). In the nearer term we’ll see improvements like a better walking trip algorithm (to get you to the bus).
Interestingly, one of the thorny issues in trip planners has been to get transit agencies to agree on a common data model. It appears to me that Google’s entry into the field will prove catalytic, and their transit feed data specification will rapidly become a defacto standard. It’s relatively simple right now, but will become more robust over time as features are added.
3 responses to “Organizing the World’s Transit”
Chris writes: ” In the nearer term we’ll see improvements like a better walking trip algorithm (to get you to the bus).”
That’s part of the problem. They want to get you to the bus and don’t seem to realize that they have to get the bus, jitney, shuttle, or ride sharing cab to you.
Once someone has to go to the grocery store with two children in tow in Sat. morning to get groceries the bus is out of the question.
There is a need to create something with the flexibility of the private car, but without the cost and the “planners” don’t see that. They are suffering from tunnel vision.
M.W.
Having people walk to a more logical place (so they’re along a simple route or at a central stop) makes it more efficient and less expensive to serve them. That being said, my vision of the ultimate transit corridor includes a service that drops people at their actual destination, as well as a high-frequency, limited-stop route that would get people who are willing/able to walk a faster trip.
Until that, there is Flexcar and taxis.
I’ve used Google transit, and the problem right now is that for whatever reason, any time you have to walk, it just draws a straight line from point A to point B. So the Google map looks prettier, but you’re far better off using Trimet’s trip planner for now.