Angelenos might soon get easy public transit directions on Google Maps — along with the driving and walking directions already provided by Google. Why? Metro finally released its transit route and schedule data on a new beta developer website!
“This can only mean one thing, that Metro will soon be on Google Transit, enthuses Juan Matute at The LA Subway Blog. The data on the developer website’s exactly what’s needed to put Metro’s info on Google Transit, so that anyone searching for driving directions to an address can serendipitously discover if taking public transit could be a cheap and convenient alternative.
Google Transit‘s already in so many cities that it’s embarrassing a big city like L.A.’s missing in the public transit action. Even the O.C.’s been on there for a long long time!
Juan anticipates L.A. will get Google Transit within the month — but wants you all to join the Los Angeles Wants Google Transit Facebook Group to keep the pressure on Metro. The Facebook group’s members include many local environmentalists, transit fans, Metro employees, and most importantly, me.
Earlier: Metro should get on the Google Transit train already
Update, 7/6/09: Los Angeles is on Google Transit!
It’s about time. :)
LisaNewton’s last blog post..Hiking to the Hollywood Sign
Comment by LisaNewton — June 11, 2009 @ 12:15 am
Let’s hope it doesn’t take too much longer –
Comment by Siel — June 11, 2009 @ 6:51 pm
This is fantastic news! So many times I’ve checked google maps *hoping that public transit directions would be available. I’m sure whatever google comes up with will be leaps and bounds ahead of metro trip planner!
Rosemary’s last blog post..Adventures and Announcements
Comment by Rosemary — June 11, 2009 @ 9:48 pm
Let’s hope it comes soon! Trip planner frustrates me to no end, especially because it has a hard time taking into account the fact that I am willing to walk and take buses from other agencies. Even though it lets you pick those options, they never seem to work well for me.
Rachel (Heart of Light)’s last blog post..Friday flowers
Comment by Rachel (Heart of Light) — June 12, 2009 @ 11:39 am
I was very very frustrated by trip planner today. I’m also frustrated with the Big Blue Bus’ schedule info and maps — which don’t have any info on where the stations actually are! The situation forces me to toggle between google maps, metro.net, and bigbluebus.com in an attempt to figure out if the BBB 10 will actually drop me closer to my destination at another stop than recommended on metro.net —
Anyway, like you guys, I’m psyched Metro looks like it’s on board — but now we need to push BBB….
Comment by Siel — June 12, 2009 @ 5:57 pm
Hi Siel-
I completely agree! Once Metro goes on Google Transit, next up is to ask what Big Blue and Culver City would need to do to go on Google Transit as well. I have a stack of paper BBB time tables and a paper BBB map taped to my wall to figure out when to catch that bus. (I rely on all of your strategies too.) Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE Big Blue Bus. But I look forward to having BBB and Metro information streamlined on a more versatile platform (Google Transit.)
Sirinya
Sirinya’s last blog post..Metro Releases Schedule Data in Google Format – Google Transit to Follow!
Comment by Sirinya — June 14, 2009 @ 12:25 pm
Well maybe we can work on pressuring BBB together. Interested?
Comment by Siel — June 15, 2009 @ 7:00 pm