Is NextBus The Next Transit Step For Spokane?
One of the most frustrating things about transit is the information gap riders experience when waiting for their bus or train. That's why our buddies at the blog 'MetroSpokane' are promoting a service called 'NextBus' that provides riders realtime information about the arrival of their ride.
Here's how it works. What do you think? Is NextBus feasible for Spokane?
About SRTC
SRTC is the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for Spokane County. Urbanized areas with populations exceeding 50,000 people are required to have an MPO. SRTC was formed to address the county's transportation planning needs. It provides coordination in planning between the public, cities, small towns, the county, the state, transit providers, and tribes.
SRTC offers services including transportation monitoring, transportation modeling, census information analysis, travel demand forecasting, historical traffic count analysis, geographic information systems, and trip generation rates.
4 comments:
While it might work at the Plaza, I can not see how it would help out in the neighborhoods. I doubt if there will be a computer monitor at each bus stop.
At this point you're probably right Charles. My feeling is that most people would probably prefer to see money go to expand/add routes rather than computer systems. And what about calling 328-ride when you have a question? I thought I had missed the bus the other day so I used my cell to call 328-ride. The very nice operator told me the bus was running late and would be there in 3 minutes... and it was! Seems like you accomplish the same thing by calling the hotline that NextBus could do. Although it would be really cool if money grew on trees :)
I'd like to see all STA info in formats that make it easy for me to receive a text message or view something on my PDA phone. Seems they could incorporate that into whatever informational system they use.
I love the trip planner because I can use my phone's web browser to check it out. However, the full schedules are all in PDF form--not simple web pages I could look at.
--barb
Good thinking Barb, I never thought of utilizing text messaging, etc. to get bus info. Next time the STA folks are in the building I'll ask what's feasible in that arena, just out of curiosity.
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