Ride the Bus! GPS Tracking Improves City Transit

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/jkzou)

Just about everyone can relate to the feeling of sitting at a bus stop waiting for the bus to arrive. You glance at your watch, tap your feet, and glance at yesterday’s newspaper as the clock hands inch past the scheduled arrival time. Sadly, the bus has broken down a few streets over and the next one won’t arrive till well past the scheduled time. By the time you give up waiting, you’re left to flag down a cab or call a sympathetic friend and rush frantically to the office to avoid being late to your meeting. This may sound all too familiar to people who ride public transport regularly, but in some cities, GPS tracking may soon put a stop to scenarios like these.

[caption id="attachment_5412" align="alignleft" width="375" caption="Riders Know Accurate Arrival Times"][/caption]As more and more public transit systems equip streetcars and buses with GPS vehicle tracking, transportation managers can begin to use the information to keep schedules on track and to keep the public aware of delays. In Toronto, the transit commission has plans to institute a text message system that will allow commuters to receive a text message detailing the actual arrival time of the next car simply by texting an information request to a posted number. The GPS vehicle tracking devices already installed on the streetcars provide the information for transportation personnel and enable them to give much more accurate information to customers in a hurry. The group also has plans to incorporate a similar system for buses once all of the vehicles have been equipped with GPS tracking capabilities.

With deadlines, meetings, and projects all clamoring for attention, few people have time to wait around for a streetcar or bus that may be fifteen or twenty minutes behind schedule. With the help of GPS tracking, public transit users can know immediately whether the bus will be on time, a few minutes late, or hopelessly delayed. This information gives them the opportunity to make other arrangements immediately if necessary rather than waiting for a late bus only to give up in frustration and scramble for an alternative at the last minute.

As more and more cities incorporate GPS tracking into their transit systems, city dwellers will appreciate the benefits they receive from the tracking information. The next time you’re waiting for a late bus, consider asking your city officials whether plans are in the works for a GPS tracking system to be incorporated in local public transportation.