Like most large transit system, the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority makes its real-time data available to third-party developers, with the expectation that they will provide and update smartphone bus-arrival apps. In December, however, one of the most popular apps, NextBus DC, suddenly died. This failure highlights the emerging relationships between public agencies, private data service providers, and app developers. The public is often not aware who is responsible for the services they use.
apps
Reaction to iPhone announcement points to popularity of transit apps
Apple’s new iPhone operating system does not feature a native transit mapping app, and that has many potential users and transportation advocates concerned. A grassroots campaign has been launched to ask Apple to include transit directions. At the same time, Google Maps announced it was adding real-time transit arrival times for six cities.
First quarter of 2012 shows more people are switching to transit
As per-capita VMT has begun to decline, an increasing number of people are riding the nation’s transit systems. According to APTA (American Public Transportation Association), transit ridership in the first quarter of 2012 increased 5 percent over 2011 levels.
Carpooling apps cut commuting costs
An article published earlier this month on the Cartech blog details ways that smartphone applications can facilitate ridesharing. “Now that hybrid vehicles lost their single-occupancy privileges in California carpool lanes, ride sharing could start to …
Carpooling apps cut commuting costs
An article published earlier this month on the Cartech blog details ways that smartphone applications can facilitate ridesharing. “Now that hybrid vehicles lost their single-occupancy privileges in California carpool lanes, ride sharing could start to …
S.F. parking meters to alert drivers when spots are open
The new meters will send messages to smart phones to help drivers avoid cruising in search of a parking space. Read more here.
Avoiding traffic jams
Going beyond smart parking meters, a software application looks at your personal travel patterns over a period of time and makes predictions about the best way to get to where you are going. “According to …
Finding a parking space, and more.
Roadify.com, a parking, traffic and public transportation real-time information application for mobile smartphones, won a $10,000 prize from New York City for the best new app. Not only does it help you find a parking …
Casual car sharing meets the app age
Although casual car sharing has a long history, “The rise of cellphones and now smartphones has brought a whole new dimension to the process. Piggybacking on the casual-carpool model, Web sites and smartphone apps have …
“Our apps are whiz kid certified.”
New York City touts the transit technology created by outsider whiz kids when it switched to an open data policy.