The Herald reports the T will transmit data on where trains are once it's satisfied its current real-time bus data stream is working OK. So no specific arrival time yet.
I regularly use several bus lines. One of them chronically says "no prediction available" or something similar, during the day when the line is certainly running. The others work fine for me.
My experience with the bus data has been very good, right down to noting that I likely wouldn't make a bus, then looking down the street to see it go by. Nextbus is the first bookmark on my phone's browser, and is fantastic. Although I'll be glad when somebody writes an app for it, with some customization features that make it easier to drill into the specific routes or stops I use most often.
I've bookmarked my bus stops too. It's very convenient and accurate. Doesn't even require an app, as it's browser-based, and for people with limited data plans on their phone, it's all text so it likely doesn't take up much data allocation.
I've been very pleasantly surprised with this service.
Good. If this is successfully deployed, we'll be right up there with those "lazy, can't-do" French who run RATP, and who have been providing this data for years. An interesting thing to measure after successful deployment is what I presume will be a big uptick in the number of people jumping on the 57 bus or walking down Commonwealth Ave, Beacon and Boylston Sts. when they have hard evidence that there really is NOT "another train right behind this one".
Btw, what a typically ridiculous Herald-style picture they took of that kid. I know any publicity is good publicity when you're starting out, but sheesh.
You're right in that the word data is plural, but just about no one knows that and this has become common parlance. In my head I like to think of it as a collective noun and it sets my inner grammar pedant at ease.
I've been using Catch the Bus as well and it's been really solid for me. The downside is that now every morning my wife is harassing me about when the next bus is coming.
I'm a fan of MassTransit. They have a tracker that'll show you all the stops on a map - you tap on a stop and it shows ETA. But on the same map it'll also show you where the buses are, which is sometimes even more useful...
Comments
Occasional outages
Has anyone else noticed that occasionally the third-party services (like NextBus) just completely lose all the data?
I didn't track it down at the time I noticed it, but I'm guessing the most recent XML from the MBTA was borked?
Only on one bus line for me
I regularly use several bus lines. One of them chronically says "no prediction available" or something similar, during the day when the line is certainly running. The others work fine for me.
My experience with the bus
My experience with the bus data has been very good, right down to noting that I likely wouldn't make a bus, then looking down the street to see it go by. Nextbus is the first bookmark on my phone's browser, and is fantastic. Although I'll be glad when somebody writes an app for it, with some customization features that make it easier to drill into the specific routes or stops I use most often.
Amen to that
I've bookmarked my bus stops too. It's very convenient and accurate. Doesn't even require an app, as it's browser-based, and for people with limited data plans on their phone, it's all text so it likely doesn't take up much data allocation.
I've been very pleasantly surprised with this service.
There are iPhone and Android
There are iPhone and Android apps, I know for sure. I'm not certain about other platforms.
has anyone used that
has anyone used that excursion boston app mentioned in the herald article? how well does it work?
Hooray for....catching up with the French!?
Good. If this is successfully deployed, we'll be right up there with those "lazy, can't-do" French who run RATP, and who have been providing this data for years. An interesting thing to measure after successful deployment is what I presume will be a big uptick in the number of people jumping on the 57 bus or walking down Commonwealth Ave, Beacon and Boylston Sts. when they have hard evidence that there really is NOT "another train right behind this one".
Btw, what a typically ridiculous Herald-style picture they took of that kid. I know any publicity is good publicity when you're starting out, but sheesh.
Grammar police report on your headline
"Are" instead of "is," unless the MBTA is so stingy as to provide only one data point on their buses. Then again, that might be possible...
You're right in that the word
You're right in that the word data is plural, but just about no one knows that and this has become common parlance. In my head I like to think of it as a collective noun and it sets my inner grammar pedant at ease.
right after they adapt
right after they adapt commuter rail to work with Charlie Cards, no doubt......
I do use the "Catch the bus" app for iPhone and it is an amazing tool, its value far exceeds its price tag of [i think] $1.99
Agreed
I usually ride my bike, but do have Catch the Bus and I love it. Definitely accurate, and totally worth the price!
me too
I've been using Catch the Bus as well and it's been really solid for me. The downside is that now every morning my wife is harassing me about when the next bus is coming.
MassTransit
I'm a fan of MassTransit. They have a tracker that'll show you all the stops on a map - you tap on a stop and it shows ETA. But on the same map it'll also show you where the buses are, which is sometimes even more useful...