TransLink to unveil new bus tracking app [Archive]

Vansterdam

08-23-2011, 02:07 PM

TransLink to unveil new bus tracking app - News1130 (http://www.news1130.com/news/local/article/269690--translink-to-unveil-new-bus-tracking-app)

It will be introduced in two weeks

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - If you ride the bus or take the SkyTrain, you'll soon have a new way to plan your commute in real time, but only if you have a smartphone. Two weeks from today, you'll be able to track any bus as it's on the road.

"There are a lot of times where I leave the house at the exact same time and the bus will have just left, because they do vary slightly, and if I knew where they are it would make life easier," says one man who plans to use the application daily.

TransLink is spending nearly $800,000 on the app that tracks the buses using GPS technology. It will also include the existing Next Bus program that allows people to text or call in their bus stop code to find out when it will arrive next.

The money being spent is well-spent, according to some commuters. "Buses are often early or very late so to get real-time tracker you won't miss it as often, like I just did," says one man.

The transit authority will introduce the app on September 6th.

i hope its better then the translink iphone app

that thing always lagged and was super slow

krazynuck

08-23-2011, 02:28 PM

Can't wait to help pay for this app at the gas station and on higher parking taxes

im guessing iOS, Android and blackberry.....maybe even WebOS :fullofwin: now that lots of people have tocuhpads

gars

08-23-2011, 02:31 PM

My friend is doing his Graduate Degree at the University of Michigan. Apparently - they got some Engineering Students to design something like this for their final project - and they use it on all the campus/city buses. Supposed it works like a charm - know exactly when the buses are coming.

I wonder if there's going to be some sort of alert if the bus was going to be full when it hits your stop....

TheKingdom2000

08-23-2011, 02:34 PM

this is pretty sweet.

though, texting 33333 and the bus stop number is helpful, having a real time app is amazing. i wonder how well it will work

twitchyzero

08-23-2011, 02:35 PM

$800k is nothing consider how useful this could potentially be.

08-23-2011, 02:51 PM

FINALLY

Ch28

08-23-2011, 02:57 PM

public transportation

:fuckthatshit:

Great68

08-23-2011, 02:57 PM

Forget the cost of the app, I wonder how much it cost to put GPS transmitters on every bus...

MindBomber

08-23-2011, 03:13 PM

Forget the cost of the app, I wonder how much it cost to put GPS transmitters on every bus...

I doubt it's costing more than a couple hundred dollars per bus, the technology is pretty basic.

CP.AR

08-23-2011, 03:27 PM

buses have had GPS installed since the days of the 98 B-Line.

Mananetwork

08-23-2011, 03:50 PM

$800k .. really?!

akalic

08-23-2011, 03:55 PM

knowing translink they'll find some way of fucking this up just like everything else..then ask for more money from tax payers to maintain its current services

drunkrussian

08-23-2011, 04:12 PM

for anyone who has used any application created by tranalink - whether for a phone or on the web, u already know that a) its gonna suck balls and b) google prolly has some sort of better alternative already
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Gt-R R34

08-23-2011, 05:14 PM

I know 1.5million commuters in the lower mainland will pay 1-5$ for this application.

That's 1 to 7.5million dollars to the Trankslink coffers if they are out of money. I hope they use some brain and change.

Tell me 1 person that won't pay 0.99$ to 4.99$ to know whenever their bus is EXACTLY located and coming.

Edit: That said trankslink is stupid with finances. They won't.

Alby

08-23-2011, 05:20 PM

installous :troll:

b0unce. [?]

08-23-2011, 05:27 PM

the texting service to find out bus schedules is absolute dog shit. not once has it been even remotely accurate.the bus schedules posted on some stops aren't accurate either. during my stay here in ny, their public transit system seems to be on time, all the time. so far it's been just 5 mins late from the scheduled time.

gars

08-23-2011, 05:40 PM

careboy

08-23-2011, 05:43 PM

That's 1 to 7.5million dollars to the Trankslink coffers if they are out of money. I hope they use some brain and change.
http://www.primeaffiliate.com/track/images/20.creation.jpg

b0unce. [?]

08-23-2011, 05:56 PM

Who actually takes the bus in NYC....??

had to take the subway downtown and the bus a few times when i ventured off to jersey on a day when my buddy was busy

jeedee

08-23-2011, 07:19 PM

FUCKING FINALLY

MindBomber

08-23-2011, 08:16 PM

;7555384']the texting service to find out bus schedules is absolute dog shit. not once has it been even remotely accurate.the bus schedules posted on some stops aren't accurate either. during my stay here in ny, their public transit system seems to be on time, all the time. so far it's been just 5 mins late from the scheduled time.

To be fair, comparing the quality of New York and Vancouver's transit systems is like pointing out a 911T has better lap times than my Civic. New York city has a population several times that of the Vancouver core in a comparable geographic area, not to mention a significantly higher property tax revenue to help fund the system.

Death2Theft

08-23-2011, 09:01 PM

Wouldn't be all that hard for the bus driver to hit an extra alert button when the bus is full or they could do it via weight of the bus automated.
My friend is doing his Graduate Degree at the University of Michigan. Apparently - they got some Engineering Students to design something like this for their final project - and they use it on all the campus/city buses. Supposed it works like a charm - know exactly when the buses are coming.

I wonder if there's going to be some sort of alert if the bus was going to be full when it hits your stop....

minoru_tanaka

08-23-2011, 09:02 PM

To be fair, comparing the quality of New York and Vancouver's transit systems is like pointing out a 911T has better lap times than my Civic. New York city has a population several times that of the Vancouver core in a comparable geographic area, not to mention a significantly higher property tax revenue to help fund the system.

With several times the population you think it would be easier for the bus to be on time? I'm going to point out to you that a civic at 4am will be able to drive from one end of Robson to the other end faster than a 911T can at 4pm. When that civic is Vancouver though the driver sleeps in, forgets the keys, asks for more money, drinks a shot and then calls in sick so it doesn't matter that there's only %10 the traffic.

Oleophobic

08-23-2011, 09:06 PM

Most people think the grass is greener on the other side but I bet most New Yorkers who've lived their all their lives complain about their transit system just like we do our own.

SkinnyPupp

08-23-2011, 09:10 PM

Man I wish they had that here for minibuses, including the ability for the driver to set a flag when the bus is full, so we know how long we'll be waiting or if we should get on a regular bus instead! Someone get to making that! :fuckthatshit:

twitchyzero

08-23-2011, 09:17 PM

Most people think the grass is greener on the other side but I bet most New Yorkers who've lived their all their lives complain about their transit system just like we do our own.

i think it's just natural tendency for people to complain about a transit system..but some are just so damn efficient that you really can't help it but to compare it to vancouver's when you come back.

minoru_tanaka

08-23-2011, 09:20 PM

Most people think the grass is greener on the other side but I bet most New Yorkers who've lived their all their lives complain about their transit system just like we do our own.

Yea I'm sure they wished their transit system was just like Vancouver's

MindBomber

08-23-2011, 09:44 PM

With several times the population you think it would be easier for the bus to be on time? I'm going to point out to you that a civic at 4am will be able to drive from one end of Robson to the other end faster than a 911T can at 4pm. When that civic is Vancouver though the driver sleeps in, forgets the keys, asks for more money, drinks a shot and then calls in sick so it doesn't matter that there's only %10 the traffic.

You missed my point.

Several times the population equates to a higher number of riders and therefore a business that is able to operate with greater efficiency due to the higher overall revenue. In Vancouver only two buses might realistically be profitable servicing Robson at a given time of day, but to offer the frequency of stops demanded by riders those two buses are operating at optimistically tight schedules. In New York the higher number of riders for the comparable geographic route would allow for three buses to operate at a more realistic schedule, making it easier to stay completely on time.

minoru_tanaka

08-23-2011, 10:48 PM

You missed my point.

Several times the population equates to a higher number of riders and therefore a business that is able to operate with greater efficiency due to the higher overall revenue.

Overall revenue = greater efficiency? Have you never dealt with a big corporation before?

In Vancouver only two buses might realistically be profitable servicing Robson at a given time of day, but to offer the frequency of stops demanded by riders those two buses are operating at optimistically tight schedules. In New York the higher number of riders for the comparable geographic route would allow for three buses to operate at a more realistic schedule, making it easier to stay completely on time.

Pretty sure I got your point. You're saying that it's easier to run a transit system if there's a greater population. Do you honestly think that it would be easier to handle public transit for a city of 10 million vs a town of 10 thousand? Pretty dam sure you are getting mass transportation confused with mass production. They only sound similar. You understand we're talking about moving people here, not making circuit boards right? In NYC there's 10 times the people pouring into downtown every morning. The roads are packed.Bumper to bumper all day long. Think it's as easy as putting a few more buses out there? It just becomes another bus waiting in traffic.

Oleophobic

08-23-2011, 10:58 PM

Yea I'm sure they wished their transit system was just like Vancouver's

Right, that's exactly what I said in my post

minoru_tanaka

08-23-2011, 11:07 PM

^Sure that's why I started my sentence with "yea". Means I agree.

goo3

08-24-2011, 05:05 AM

Forget the cost of the app, I wonder how much it cost to put GPS transmitters on every bus...

Transmit GPS coords over cellular data.. If they're tracking their buses, they probably have some already equipped with a data connection.

Here's a real-time map. Watch the buses move, LOL: NextBus Google Map (http://www.nextbus.com/googleMap/googleMap.jsp?a=guelph&r=01&d=01_inbound&s=woodwool_s)

Oleophobic

08-24-2011, 07:41 AM

i think it's just natural tendency for people to complain about a transit system..but some are just so damn efficient that you really can't help it but to compare it to vancouver's when you come back.

I agree. I'm just saying some of the criticism is undeserved and people like to exaggerate. Hell people say things like "The SkyTrain breaks down all the time it sucks!" or "our buses are never on time". Then they go on vacation for 2 weeks in another city and come back raving about how amazing their transit system is and how punctual their buses are unlike in Vancouver.

I'm sure there are tons of locals in the other city who bitch and moan about how their buses/trains are "never on time" just like people do here. These people lived there all their lives and experience all the ups and downs with their system that a tourist on vacation will never experience.

Our system will never compare to NYC/LA and other major cities with higher population densities, but it's not as bad as people make it out to be.

gars

08-24-2011, 08:37 AM

There are always pluses and minuses to all systems. I lived in London for 2 years and originally thought London was the most amazing system ever. Then I realized that it isn't - there isn't any AC in the summer, the trains/systems are insanely old - and break down more than any train system I know. Their trains sometimes only run till 11:30 at night - which is ridiculous for a giant city like London. And when it snows 2 inches, most of the trains stop - because they're not all underground.

And I also thought the TTC in Toronto was the most amazing system, then I spent 5 days there - talked to people and realized just how crappy the system was. There are constant delays on the trains - sometimes 15 minutes at a time. The streetcars are horrible and get held up if there's someone turning left. It's also ridiculously stupid that traffic would basically come to a standstill if people are getting on and off the train because the trains run in the middle of the street as opposed to the curb lane.

I took a bus in Vancouver everyday for a few years - and honestly, they've been quite good. The problem with buses are that it doesn't take much to fill a bus up. If you have a class of kids going on a field trip - it'll be full. And some of the routes only have buses every 10-15 minutes because of low ridership - and you can't really book a bus in advanced if you have a big group.

Tapioca

08-24-2011, 12:43 PM

Here we go again... another thread on Translink has regressed into a comparison of systems.

I don't take the bus much, but the Skytrain system, overall, is pretty good. Sure it hiccups once in a while, but the complaints about it breaking down all of the time are greatly exaggerated.

I was in NYC 2 weeks ago and while the subway is decent, it's bloody hot in the stations. Moreover, many of the stations have seen better days. You can't beat the energy in the trains though with random buskers, etc.

I've never had the pleasure of experiencing public transit in Japan, but out of the transit systems I've tried in Asia, North America, and Europe, the only system that is truly great on almost every level is the MTR in Hong Kong.

Durrann

08-24-2011, 01:06 PM

hope this app is efficient

shawn79

08-24-2011, 01:53 PM

the text msg for the bus are pretty accurate already too

ptrinh

08-24-2011, 09:05 PM

i wonder if that app is free..

trip

08-24-2011, 09:22 PM

i use googlemaps app for my berry and its pretty accurate already. however, it doesnt take into account when busses are super late

which has only happened once in a whole year

MG1

08-24-2011, 09:37 PM

twitchyzero

08-24-2011, 10:01 PM

I don't take the bus anymore. Haven't in decades, so this may not be happening anymore, but in the past, some bus drivers would purposely speed through their route to get to their favourite stop to have a longer break. This app back then would have busted those fokkers.

buses have had gps on them for a few years now...it's only a first for the public to be able to track it real time

MG1

08-24-2011, 10:21 PM

I'm talking decades ago, LOL............ as in 35 years ago when I was at UBC.

Alphamale

08-24-2011, 10:41 PM

I'm talking decades ago, LOL............ as in 35 years ago when I was at UBC.

I thought you were 18.

twitchyzero

08-24-2011, 10:43 PM

so you are older than those trolley buses from the 60's :okay:

MG1

08-24-2011, 10:56 PM

so you are older than those trolley buses from the 60's :okay:

sad, but yes

dignatas

08-24-2011, 11:42 PM

^Sure that's why I started my sentence with "yea". Means I agree.

Sounded like sarcasm

Alby

09-02-2011, 01:28 PM

Doesn't look like an app unless they port it over. Seems like a web base for inquiring whereabouts of the bus.
http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee421/janxer/239929a3.jpg
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SpartanAir

09-03-2011, 11:12 AM

Currently when I open the translink app, it just closes instantly and opens safari to the insanely confusing translink route planning site. Someone has to get their shit together.

tgill

09-03-2011, 12:40 PM

Currently when I open the translink app, it just closes instantly and opens safari to the insanely confusing translink route planning site. Someone has to get their shit together.
Yeah they took down the mobile website a few months back when they announced this new one and replaced it with that shitty non-mobile html planning website in the meantime.

PiuYi

09-06-2011, 11:14 PM

anyone try this today?

snowball

09-06-2011, 11:19 PM

It works pretty well, it's not an app just a page, updates bus location every 2 minutes

MelonBoy

09-06-2011, 11:59 PM

This may be a stupid question but does translink have some sort of secured wifi connection on the bus lol.. cause i swear when I took the bus today a wifi popped up and said translink but it was locked lol..

Anyways this apps gonna have to be pretty awesome... cause google maps atm is pretty sick lol.. the gps is actually better then a lot of the actual gps devices iv tried.. lol

PiuYi

09-07-2011, 02:42 PM

the map function doesn't work on my BB Curve :(

FiveDime

09-07-2011, 03:43 PM

whats the name of the app? i cant seem to find it in the android market place

Lomac

09-07-2011, 03:45 PM

Translink, I believe?

Edit: Nevermind. Their old app used to be under that name but I can't find it under the iPhone app market either now.

09-07-2011, 10:23 PM

You have to go to the site m.translink.ca it only works for stop numbers

MG1

09-08-2011, 06:02 AM

About five years ago a couple of SFU comp students came up with this idea of tracking buses live for a project and asked Translink for permission to proceed. They were denied (by Translink).

tiger_handheld

09-08-2011, 07:19 AM

About five years ago a couple of SFU comp students came up with this idea of tracking buses live for a project and asked Translink for permission to proceed. They were denied (by Translink).

Reminds me of the movie Synapse. It's about how corps steal ideas from up and coming tech students.