http://www.nextbus.com/predictor/publicMap.shtml?a=portsc
Although its early on the west coast; they're not running yet this Sunday morning.
I believe the arrival times were displayed on the Max light rail stations too. I'm sure metro transit could incorporate the Next Bus, or similar technology, although I'm sure it ain't free.
I'd also like to second the idea of neighborhood circulator busses. Maybe they could run on weekends only when there is slack bus capacity, and more people are shopping, eating out, etc.
For the novice bus rider, at least two problems go through their mind. "When the heck is this bus going come, and where on earth will it take me. If I take the wrong bus will I end up across town with no way back?" NextBus-like technology could help the first problem, circulator busses (with clearly market neighborhood maps) at stops could alleviate the second, as the bus will not take you way across town. Circulators could also reduce pressure for parking.
Where I live, I could imagine a bus going around "The Wedge", the area bounded by Hennepin, Lake, Lyndale, and Franklin.
Mike Jensvold East Isles
At 12:30 AM 6/20/2004, mike skoglund wrote:
I would suspect that one problem with increasing ridership on mass transit is the apparent unreliability of bus schedules. I've had great experiences with some routes, but have also had occasional bad experience with an early, late, or missing bus. It seems like there may soon be a technological way to reassure potential riders that their bus is on its way:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3812897.stm
[...]
> Mobile technology has proved a surprising success story for the public sector
> in its bid to make services available electronically.
[...]
> And in Leicestershire mobile phone users can send a text message containing a
> six-digit code unique to their bus stop to a local bus company.
>
> Within 30 seconds a text message is sent back giving the location of the bus.
[...]
It would be great to be able to send a message to the MTC with my station and bus and receive a response estimating how long I have to wait. This would be particularly cool in circumstances where I could catch another bus (e.g., wait for the 50 or 94, or jump on a 16?) or hoof it to a different stop (e.g., if you live between Franklin and Riverside and want to catch a 2).
If the technology is feasible, this would be a great way to market mass transit.
Mike Skoglund // MPLS (near the 7) and NYNY (near the A,C,2,3,4,5, and J,M)
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