Google Maps for iOS Gains Live Traffic Info for Buses, Transit Crowdedness Predictions

As someone who uses the busses a lot in the UK, I’m really excited for these new features!
The ‘crowdedness’ sounds awesome because sometimes busses are so full that you’ll have to stand.
I assume it’ll work the same way as how google shows how busy a shop is at certain times.

For a company the size of google and with an ostensibly class leading map service, the lack of obvious features is fascinating.

Where is the option to tell maps how large your vehicle is? Weight, length, height, etc, to prevent using roads that are inappropriate? Eg, clearance height, allowable weight on bridges, turning radius, and other common restrictions?

Glad to see these new features getting rolled out but would be great to cover the basics first no?

('https://www.macrumors.com/2019/06/27/google-maps-for-ios-transit-update/')


Google today announced ('https://www.blog.google/products/maps/grab-seat-and-be-time-new-transit-updates-google-maps/') a major update for Google Maps on both Android and iOS, introducing new transit-related features.

Google Maps will now provide details on live traffic delays for buses in places where real-time information doesn't exist from local transit agencies, which will let Maps users see if a bus will be late, how long the delay might be, and how long travel might take.



The app will provide details on exactly where delays are on the map so riders will know what to expect before getting on a bus.

Along with live traffic information for buses, Google is adding crowdedness predictions for transit routes. Based on past ride information, Google Maps will offer up details on how crowded a bus, train, or subway is likely to be.



The new Google Maps features are rolling out today on Android and iOS in close to 200 cities around the world.

Article Link: Google Maps for iOS Gains Live Traffic Info for Buses, Transit Crowdedness Predictions ('https://www.macrumors.com/2019/06/27/google-maps-for-ios-transit-update/')

Assuming it ends up being accurate, it will be interesting to see if anyone finds value in it. Maybe I am missing the use case where this will be of any value. First, is there any bus system in the world that people don't expect to be crowded during rush hour and not crowded during off hours? Second, if you're taking the bus, it's because the vast majority of times you don't have a choice, so how many people will change their behavior based on this information? In other words, when you are waiting for your bus, if your mapping service tells you the one coming is crowded, what are you going to do differently? Again, 99.9% of the time, whether your bus is going to be crowded is not exactly going to be a news flash for people.

Based on my experiences in Seattle, they could just hard-code “Crowded? YES” and “Running Late? YES” for Metro Transit busses and leave it at that.