Whensmybus

Mini Driver

Does this actually work does anyone know?

Have often thought it would be great for Dublin Bus (my own route is notorious for never being on time) and would be great to know where the hell the bus is so I can time my desperate runs for the bus better

KC61

Yes it does!

A similar setup for Dublin Bus is in the pipeline. All the buses are being kitted out with GPS equipment currently.

irishguy

KC61 wrote: »

Yes it does!

A similar setup for Dublin Bus is in the pipeline. All the buses are being kitted out with GPS equipment currently.

I hope they design a better site. It looks a bit crap, or they could feed the data into google maps (Someone has done that for the dart).

If they exposed the raw data as XML for anyone to use I think it would get more use, as people could build IPhone/Other phone applications.

Colm R

This has been discussed here before. My problems with the website are:

1. 1998 called - they want their website back. Come on, it looks awful.

2. It does not work on mobile phone browsers - tested on Nokia browser and Opera Mini.


My problems with the BE providing this:

1. BE (and Dublin Bus) as well as other operators should provide the buses and run the routes.

2. A centralized organisation should be providing the information service. One might call it the National Transport Authority, or something else. I do have a serious problem with organizations doing this disjointed approach.

KC61

Colm R wrote: »

This has been discussed here before. My problems with the website are:

1. 1998 called - they want their website back. Come on, it looks awful.

2. It does not work on mobile phone browsers - tested on Nokia browser and Opera Mini.


My problems with the BE providing this:

1. BE (and Dublin Bus) as well as other operators should provide the buses and run the routes.

2. A centralized organisation should be providing the information service. One might call it the National Transport Authority, or something else. I do have a serious problem with organizations doing this disjointed approach.

That I am sure will be the way in the future. But given the NTA is only in its infancy and is only hiring staff it could be some time before they are in a position to do it. Is not better to at least get the ball rolling now given that the staff in the operating companies are already familiar with the networks without having to wait even longer while the NTA gets going.

Colm R

KC61 wrote: »

Is not better to at least get the ball rolling now given that the staff in the operating companies are already familiar with the networks without having to wait even longer while the NTA gets going.

I agree, it is better to get this going. But I only hope that the BE (and DB) are putting money and expertise in a coordinated and integrated manner so as to easily transfer the data in to some future intergrated system.

Do you have confidence that they are doing this properly?

KC61

Colm R wrote: »

I agree, it is better to get this going. But I only hope that the BE (and DB) are putting money and expertise in a coordinated and integrated manner so as to easily transfer the data in to some future intergrated system.

Do you have confidence that they are doing this properly?

Well the network schematic that Dublin Bus produced was pretty good, and the google maps depiction of the bus stops wasn't bad either.

They're starting points and we've got to start somewhere.

We'll have to wait to see how the Dublin Bus system pans out but as I understand given every bus stop is now numbered you will be able to check out when the next bus will arrive either online or via your mobile.

foggy_lad

KC61 wrote: »

Yes it does!

A similar setup for Dublin Bus is in the pipeline. All the buses are being kitted out with GPS equipment currently.

so drivers will no longer be able to "hide" for an extra break period? maybe dublin busses will arrive on time and at their supposed frequency if this ever gets off the ground but hey it is dublin bus and bus eireann so reliability is not in the vocabulary.

foggy_lad

KC61 wrote: »

Well the network schematic that Dublin Bus produced was pretty good, and the google maps depiction of the bus stops wasn't bad either.

They're starting points and we've got to start somewhere.

We'll have to wait to see how the Dublin Bus system pans out but as I understand given every bus stop is now numbered you will be able to check out when the next bus will arrive either online or via your mobile.

you will be able to check when the next bus is supposed to arrive, if it actually does or if 3 arrive at once is another days work!

Mini Driver

brilliant can't wait to see it work ... although no way I can blame the bus being late for me arriving in work late anymore :mad:

antoinolachtnai

On Swords Express you can see the position of the buses on a map now - http://www.swordsexpress.com/se/live.html .

KC61

Well done on the site upgrade Antoin - a big improvement.

The only point I'd make is that it wuold be useful to specify that monthly/annual tickets are for calendar months rather than rolling periods.

markpb

antoinolachtnai wrote: »

On Swords Express you can see the position of the buses on a map now - http://www.swordsexpress.com/se/live.html .

Cool

Out of interest, have DCC contacted you in relation to sharing your real time data with them? I seem to recall that DCC (and not DB) will be installing the on-street displays. This would allow the displays to show DB and all private operators.

antoinolachtnai

It's a bit complicated. There is certainly an operators liaison committee which we are on.

However, we are constrained a bit in that we are going to have to change our on board equipment next year for integrated ticketing. For RTPI you need to tie in with the ticketing system.

So there is a gap between the location information (GPS coordinates) and the signs themselves which the NTA, I understand, is working to bridge.