SFist: Google Relieves Your Muni Frustrations

Akit

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:13:19 -0800

The 511 trip planner was a piece of crap because whenever you punched-in an exact address into the system, it would stop you and force you to choose a range of addresses. For example: 123 Fake Street (I input this information) 511's message: Choose 100-120 Fake Street, 121-130 Fake Street, etc. And sometimes, it doesn't even know what the hell you are asking. I attended a focus group sponsored by the MTC about the 511 system, and I was blunt to them, I told them that the system sucked and it needed a major revamp. That was over four years ago.

rubylovesnorman

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:56:58 -0800

I think this is awesome. Definitely an improvement.

jlantsberger

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:00:16 -0800

Can someone please explain to me the hatred for 511's trip planner? I use it probably once a month or so if I'm going to a new place, and I've found it really helpful, esp. with the nextmuni times built in..

Generic

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:58:06 -0800

Bah. Ingrates.

Rah

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:47:40 -0800

Uhh, this thing isn't all that useful. When getting from my house to the Sunset, which I do a lot, it suggested that I take the 24 half away around the city to the 91 owl (which only runs in the middle of the night of course). It recommended that rather than the 48, which stops 2 blocks from my house, or the 35 which stops 1 block from my house, or the 33 which stops 5 blocks from my house. Needs some work google...

roseman

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:01:17 -0800

"You're just a 40-minute ride away from meeting up with your friends (versus 13 if you had a car)" **SCREEEECH** Ummmm, that is WRONG. You're just a 40-minute ride away from meeting up with your friends (versus 43 if you had a car, since after a 13 minute drive you then spent 1/2 HOUR failing to find a parking space, and then got a ticket for parking in a bus zone).

wsanders

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:54:15 -0800

Google buses are elitist. We demand that they break down and arrive late with the same frequency as Muni.

mariconsoy

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:45:14 -0800

@sfistJonathan I think under MTA's plan for congestion car parking pricing, they are actually going to be able to have something like you want. I understand that 1000s of parking spaces on the street and in garages will get a pressure sensitive chip under them, so a central computer can feedback to PDA [etc] applications when/where spots are open... The same system will control the pricing at each meter, and raise/lower it as they want... Imagine how fab it will work. It makes my mouth tremble and drool.

DC1974

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:15:37 -0800

Hmm... I don't see the point about complaining about the Google buses (other than to just complain), they are engaging in good traffic demand management (it would be better of course if the offices weren't in a suburban location), relieving congestion and removing cars from the road. And considering how overtaxed Muni is right now, the more that can be done with alternate shuttle services the better.

KWillets

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:58:50 -0800

There is Muni service to Caltrain, but it takes about 3x longer than biking there. But yes, Google's commitment to the environment holds up about as long as it takes to say "767".

robingl

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 23:58:53 -0800

It is ironic and disengenuous of Google to offer this (frankly, not very useful service). Aren't they sending those Gray buses with no logos that are block traffic on Fillmore, Divisadero (often parking in Muni bus stops and blocking Muni as well) and probably other streets, picking up their employees and taking them to work. Pity they and their people aren't supporting public transportation. After all, there is very good Muni service to the Caltrain station and regular trains to the South Bay.

SFistJonathan

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 20:36:02 -0800

If only Google would calculate how long it takes to find a parking spot - that might even the score a little...

mpantone

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 17:07:03 -0800

Don't you mean "relive"?