Comments on: Metro should get on the Google Transit train already http://greenlagirl.com/metro-should-get-on-the-google-transit-train-already/ Urban environmental lifestyle blog in Los Angeles Sat, 26 May 2012 17:25:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Mike http://greenlagirl.com/metro-should-get-on-the-google-transit-train-already/comment-page-1/#comment-405190 Mike Fri, 23 Jan 2009 00:11:21 +0000 http://greenlagirl.com/?p=6246#comment-405190 Google maps with GPS related info as to where the buses / trains are on the transit lines in real time would be even better. Google maps with GPS related info as to where the buses / trains are on the transit lines in real time would be even better.

]]> By: Siel http://greenlagirl.com/metro-should-get-on-the-google-transit-train-already/comment-page-1/#comment-404895 Siel Thu, 22 Jan 2009 02:27:46 +0000 http://greenlagirl.com/?p=6246#comment-404895 I'll try to get in touch with Metro tomorrow to see if there's still internal dialogue going on about this in the agency (and why things're taking so long) -- I’ll try to get in touch with Metro tomorrow to see if there’s still internal dialogue going on about this in the agency (and why things’re taking so long) –

]]> By: Dave http://greenlagirl.com/metro-should-get-on-the-google-transit-train-already/comment-page-1/#comment-404820 Dave Wed, 21 Jan 2009 21:38:26 +0000 http://greenlagirl.com/?p=6246#comment-404820 I completely agree that Metro needs to get on board with Google Transit or at least take the steps to make trip planning easier to use and more efficient than it is now. Maybe getting an online petition or group together to get the ball rolling would help? Not sure the best way to approach the problem, but something needs to be done. I completely agree that Metro needs to get on board with Google Transit or at least take the steps to make trip planning easier to use and more efficient than it is now.

Maybe getting an online petition or group together to get the ball rolling would help? Not sure the best way to approach the problem, but something needs to be done.

]]> By: Siel http://greenlagirl.com/metro-should-get-on-the-google-transit-train-already/comment-page-1/#comment-404778 Siel Wed, 21 Jan 2009 18:56:40 +0000 http://greenlagirl.com/?p=6246#comment-404778 Chris -- You can email Metro -- customerrelations@metro.net -- or try contacing <a href="http://metro.net/about_us/board/board_members.htm" rel="nofollow">Metro Board Members</a>. Contacting <a href="http://metro.net/board/committees/cac_members.htm" rel="nofollow">Metro's Citizens Advisory Council</a> might also be helpful -- Another idea would be to get involved with and try to get a pro-public transit group -- SoCaTa or The Transit Coalition, for ex -- to make this a priority in their agenda -- Anyone else have ideas on how best to push this issue with the Metro? Wad -- I should've more accurately said Metro has a monopoly on web trip planning apps with metro schedule info :) Chris — You can email Metro — customerrelations@metro.net — or try contacing Metro Board Members. Contacting Metro’s Citizens Advisory Council might also be helpful –

Another idea would be to get involved with and try to get a pro-public transit group — SoCaTa or The Transit Coalition, for ex — to make this a priority in their agenda –

Anyone else have ideas on how best to push this issue with the Metro?

Wad — I should’ve more accurately said Metro has a monopoly on web trip planning apps with metro schedule info :)

]]> By: Wad http://greenlagirl.com/metro-should-get-on-the-google-transit-train-already/comment-page-1/#comment-404666 Wad Wed, 21 Jan 2009 06:13:29 +0000 http://greenlagirl.com/?p=6246#comment-404666 Metro does not have a monopoly on scheduling info. For one thing, schedule data are copyright-proof. I also used to put up Metro and other schedules for SoCal transit agencies, and never had trouble from it or anyone else. Unfortunately, only Metro can enter its data into Google Transit. If you look at the API specs, you'll see that it requires very involved coding for every stop in the system. Google also requires access to the agency's stop and schedule database to automatically upload info. It also requires an agreement between the agency and Google. Sadly, this doesn't offer an opportunity to open-source the project. And with Google Transit, there's no point in reviving an open-source schedule effort. By the way, Metro is looking like a jackass for holding out on Google Transit. If Metro were to research what exactly it would gain through Internet ads, it would realize the revenue would be such a pittance that it might not even be enough to cover the salary of an account executive. Ad revenues, especially online, are not particularly lucrative. Metro does not have a monopoly on scheduling info. For one thing, schedule data are copyright-proof. I also used to put up Metro and other schedules for SoCal transit agencies, and never had trouble from it or anyone else.

Unfortunately, only Metro can enter its data into Google Transit. If you look at the API specs, you’ll see that it requires very involved coding for every stop in the system. Google also requires access to the agency’s stop and schedule database to automatically upload info.

It also requires an agreement between the agency and Google.

Sadly, this doesn’t offer an opportunity to open-source the project.

And with Google Transit, there’s no point in reviving an open-source schedule effort.

By the way, Metro is looking like a jackass for holding out on Google Transit. If Metro were to research what exactly it would gain through Internet ads, it would realize the revenue would be such a pittance that it might not even be enough to cover the salary of an account executive. Ad revenues, especially online, are not particularly lucrative.

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