Real Time Data available for LA Metro buses!

Ok, I’m a little late on the newsflash, since this pilot started in March.  But in case you didn’t get the memo either, here it is:

You can now find out when an LA Metro bus will actually arrive at your stop!

LA metro is using GPS on buses to track their actual location (this service is provided by a vendor called NextBus). You can get real time bus info on NextBus’s site. Several smart phone apps are using this information so that you can see where the bus is right now, and when it will actually get to you (as opposed to when it is scheduled to get to you). If you don’t have a smart phone, you can also access the information via calls and texts.

I’ve been trying out two of the apps: “Where’s my LA Metro Bus?” ($0.99) and “Smart Ride” (free – has ads). Both have an easy-to-read interfacing showing when the next bus arrives in red font, and both let you save favorite stops (screenshot below is from “Where’s My LA Metro Bus?”.

I like that “Where’s My LA Metro Bus?” gives you an option to look at a map where you can see your location, the stop location, and the bus’s location.

I like that “Smart Ride” automatically finds the stops closest to you when you open the app.

Now if only Big Blue Bus will get on the real time data band wagon, we’ll be golden!

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