I was reading the Official Google Blog this morning and Google's at it again. I guess they've had (for a while) Google Transit, which is like Google Maps but only using public transit systems. About 50 cities across the world, including 35 here in the United States use it.
So I was thinking that Valley Metro should use it. We'll have the new Light Rail here in Phoenix starting Boxing Day (26 December) 2008, so why not implement it for the Phoenix area? In this day and age where gas and parking are so expensive, let's give people the option to get driving directions and public transit directions in one step.
Here's an example: San Francisco and the entire Bay Area use Google Transit. I got directions from the San Francisco International Airport to Jack London Square in downtown Oakland. I can get driving directions (shown by default), or I can click on "Public Transit" and get my directions that way.
Cheers - EJ
3 comments:
I agree. Valley Metro needs to join forces with Google Transit. Valley Metro's own trip planner is okay, but a bit fussy about how addresses are entered. There's no reason no to join other cities on Google. The question is who has to make this happen: Google, Valley Metro, or both?
I think it would have to be Valley Metro to make the first contact to Google. Although Google has offices at ASU Tempe, I don't think Google would make the first contact.
Google Transit is cool.. Will be interesting to see if Metro gets with it!
Post a Comment