December 26, 2007
Give the Gift of Consumer Insight to 511
If you're done with your pagan tree-worship holiday, head on over to MeTransCo's 511 Survey, and let them know just how bad they suck. 'Tis the season! You could win an iPod, as if you didn't already have four or five of them already.
The MTC is interested in how people use their services (if at all) -- for example, which of 511's many sites do you use most often? Or were you, like us, totally unaware that 511 even HAS multiple sites? Apparently they consider bicycling.511.org to be totally different from transit.511.org. Because nobody EVER mixes multiple forms of transit! That's like transportation-miscegenation! Which would be an awesome name for a Schoolhouse Rock song.
Anyway, go give 'em a piece of your mind. Let them know what you think of their worse-than-Duluth trip planner, and their circa-1995 mapping tech. And also how they STILL don't use Nextbus info. And how's about that navigation! No sir, not confusing at all. The holidays are a stressful time, and this is a great chance to let off some steam.
Unrelated: check out the '70s-pornstar busdriver in this bus rack instructional video.
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When doing the demographic part of this survey, they grouped 18 to 29. Isn't that a bit strange? A 29 year-old is very different than an 18 year-old. Usually it's 18-25... anyhow, I thought it was strange.
Now, I better win that Ipod touch. Who doesn't need another ipod??
“The information I receive from 511.org improves my quality of life.”
Oh, come on! Are we the Borg over at 511?
Take this with a grain of salt, but a couple years ago I was dating someone in the SF transit planning industry. I learned that the whole NextBus thing is fraught with potholes because NextBus doesn't want to share data and MUNI doesn't want people to see the data lest they start putting real world measurements to their service.
My first hand experience is that Nextbus people love sharing data, and get a big kick out of all the third-party hacks that people have constructed using their info. Of course, hacks aren't the primary purpose, so I can see why the system isn't totally transparent.
On the other hand, it would not surprise me to learn that many people at Muni do not like having their bad news broadcast so publicly.