Planning Your Bus Route Just Got Easier
The Edmonton Transit System (ETS) has partnered with Google Maps. What does this mean? You can now plan your bus trips using Google Maps!
This will make it easier for people to figure out how to get around using public transit.All you need to do is type in your location and the location of where you want to go (just like in Google Maps), and you get a detailed description of how to get their using the ETS.Check out the City of Edmonton’s press releasefor more information. You can also check out this blog which has lots of information on how the program works. Hopefully this initiative increases ridership.
February 20th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Tried this yesterday. Not totally impressed. Wanted to get from NAIT to City Centre Mall (which didn’t come up in the list of destination options). Google suggested the No. 8 bus, which I know doesn’t go to the mall. I wanted the schedule for the No. 9. Then I tried the ETS website and it just happened to be down (though it is frustrating at the best of times). Hope other users are having a better experience. Though the story I heard yesterday morning on CBC radio didn’t convince me of that. The reporter ran into a bit of difficulty trying to get to and from the Human Society using Google Maps.
February 20th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
I haven’t tried it yet, but my brother-in-law had Google tell him that his bus wasn’t running on holiday Monday. The ETS site, of course, had the correct information.
Hope that they manage to work the bugs out of the system soon, though – I seriously dislike using the ETS site.
April 7th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Great feature! I have always been bus challenged, really a wonder that I ever made it to my destinations and have certainly missed my share of connections.
Sadly after mapping my route to work (Londonderry to Nait), I discover that a one way trip will take 46 minutes. Currently I am lucky enough to drive, as it takes only 13 minutes. Cycling to work in the summer, a 25 minute ride is still faster than taking the bus. I feel there are some efficiency issues that ETS needs to address if the city wants to get the ridership up and reduce the cars on the road.
April 9th, 2009 at 12:10 am
The style of writing is very familiar . Have you written guest posts for other blogs?