Apple Maps Transit Directions Expand to Prague, Czech Republic

Sunday July 31, 2016 11:45 PM PDT by Eric Slivka
Apple continues to slowly expand the transit functionality of Apple Maps, today adding Prague, Czech Republic as the third city in Europe behind London and Berlin to be supported.

apple_maps_transit_prague
Apple Maps transit data in Prague includes the Prague Metro and Esko Prague commuter rail, as well as local trams and buses and even Czech Railways' seasonal Cyklohráček "excursion train" targeting cyclists and families.

apple_maps_transit_prague_overview
Prior to today's expansion to Prague, Apple last week added transit information for San Diego, California and areas of British Columbia, Canada including Vancouver and Victoria. Apple Maps transit data is now available in roughly two dozen metropolitan areas scattered around the world, with an additional concentration of cities in China visible to users only when in the country.

(Thanks, Ram!)

Tags: Apple Maps, transit
23 comments


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mw360
32 months ago
Let's give that European intern a great big round of applause.
Rating: 19 Votes
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palmerc
32 months ago

To me as a user it doesn't help.


I was responding to your statement that it would take 20 years, which while hyperbolic is not exactly inaccurate.

In my own personal experience as a developer for such apps, even seemingly well run public transit agencies have terrible IT Infrastructure, poorly conceived APIs and cobble together data from several systems - Realtime data, scheduled, GIS (walking directions), and some sort of deviation notification system.

In the end, you end up with a custom solution per town, and sometimes even by form of transit (for example bus company and light rail are two different entities). Hence, the slow pace of progress.
Rating: 3 Votes
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Creek0512
32 months ago

This is good news, I'm all for it.

Strange thing though, is that they've made it available in Czech Republic which doesn't have an Apple Retail presence & only 1 Flyover city (Prague ofc). YET they recieve this exclusivity, when for example Sweden (3 Apple Retail Store, 5 Flyover locations) has a need for it. People comute here regularely and local traffic in general is available everywhere for everyone, Transit would be a big welcome to have.

But does Sweden have an Apple Museum ('https://www.macrumors.com/2015/12/21/new-prague-apple-museum/')?
Rating: 1 Votes
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palmerc
32 months ago

At this rate it will take 20 years.


If you only knew what a **** show the job of public transit data can be. Each and every town can operate independently and with very little in the way of standards. Not to mention the fiefdoms and ownership issues.

Apples first choice to push the problem to the public transit authorities was the logical decision from a developer pain standpoint, unfortunately you can't rely on public transit agencies to have budget or even interest in a reasonable user experience
Rating: 1 Votes
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FieldingMellish
32 months ago
While wonderful for Maps expansion, I'd still like to hear at that, while in NYC and searching for a common street name, that Apple maps does not first show me that common street name on another continent.
Rating: 1 Votes
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John Mcgregor
32 months ago

I was responding to your statement that it would take 20 years, which while hyperbolic is not exactly inaccurate.

In my own personal experience as a developer for such apps, even seemingly well run public transit agencies have terrible IT Infrastructure, poorly conceived APIs and cobble together data from several systems - Realtime data, scheduled, GIS (walking directions), and some sort of deviation notification system.

In the end, you end up with a custom solution per town, and sometimes even by form of transit (for example bus company and light rail are two different entities). Hence, the slow pace of progress.


Maybe Apple can learn from them - http://www.trafi.com
[doublepost=1470058905][/doublepost]

Sorry man, the truth is he was TOO optimistic. It will take about 70 years to get to the Poland, a country which is four times bigger than Czech Republic.


Yeah i kinda was optimistic in my gestimate :)
Rating: 1 Votes
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truthertech
32 months ago

I


I was about to ask why it was taking so long... Thanks for answering so quickly!



Facts- While over two hundred million people are now in areas covered by Apple Transit, along with a thousand cities, here's why Apple declined to simply throw the switch and turn them all one at once, ala Google.

-http://appleinsider.com/articles/16/07/07/why-apples-transit-maps-are-rolling-out-so-slowly
Rating: 1 Votes
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Baby12
32 months ago
In Poland Apple maps are totally useless! Most of features do not work. I mean nearby feature, FlyOver, transit, Siri. In Poland we love contactless payments but Apple Pay seems to be far dream.

Google maps offers more options
Firstly transit
Secondly fantastic navigation with line suggestions
Thirdly street view

And so much more!
In Poland for 16GB iPhone 6S we have to pay around 800€ and we get 1/2 of iPhone. That's true. I hope Apple will notice central and eatern Europe.
Rating: 1 Votes
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John Mcgregor
32 months ago
At this rate it will take 20 years.
Rating: 1 Votes
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