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Dublin Bus mobile app being retired

13

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,786 ✭✭✭DownByTheGarden


    I never knew that site existed. Thanks for that.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,383 ✭✭✭✭Hurrache


    Android tends to download by default, can be browser or OS dependent.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,872 ✭✭✭✭LXFlyer


    You can select live maps by operator and then sub-select by individual route if you wish.

    It is pretty accurate, but like RTPI, there can be glitches where a bus may vanish temporarily where there has just been a driver change or immediately after a driver signing in at the start of their duty.



  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 23,399 Mod ✭✭✭✭bk


    "The best way to use the bustimes.org site is to use the maps, and look at where the live positions of buses are, though surely?"

    Yep, just pointing out that the bus stop data is the schedule rather then live data. And BTW looking at it since, it looks like the Google Maps journey planner is the same.

    "Seeing where a bus actually is, is to my mind, far more useful."

    I think that depends, if you are at a stop where only one bus will do, then sure. But if you are at a stop like I was at earlier today, where almost any bus route stopping there will get you into town, then the stop display can be more useful. Basically best to have both.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,872 ✭✭✭✭LXFlyer


    Why would you not just select the operator (Dublin Bus in that case) and then “map”, and you’ll see every bus they have out on the road on the map, regardless of what route it is on.

    You can then zoom in the area around the stop.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,205 ✭✭✭Citrus_8


    Because most Android browsers don't support pdf review. Older Chrome browser supported a few years back with certain tweaks. I tried to find a solution to this, but couldn't. A lot of people on the www are complaining that Android phone hasn't got this feature. It could also be related to the Android version. It looks that older was ok.



  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 23,399 Mod ✭✭✭✭bk


    The view can get far too crowded in some locations, in particular in the city center. Don't get me wrong, it is a brilliant website and I use it a lot, but per stop realtime views are extremely useful too and it is more just a warning to folks to not rely on the stop view on bustimes.org

    I'm also trying to figure out which app is best for journey planning. From a UI persepctive Google Maps and Citymapper are by far the best, however if they are using statis timetables rather then realtime data, then the results are questionable. Maybe the TFI app, but at the moment it gives me bad suggestions.

    • So TFI App (or Next Bus Dublin) app for realtime info at a particular stop.
    • bustimes.org to see where a specific bus is coming
    • Journey Planning ??


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,872 ✭✭✭✭LXFlyer


    Journey planning (if I don’t know the routes myself!), I’d use google maps - assuming I am not doing it immediately.

    But they can all throw out strange results, and often I find that local knowledge can trump a computer algorithm.

    I do wish that the journey planners could restrict the results to PSO routes and not include commercial services that don’t accept LEAP cards.

    But one of my bugbears is the lack of a proper network map for the buses in Dublin.

    They allow someone to look at the network from above and see what options exist.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,382 ✭✭✭✭sligeach


    I downloaded the Dublin Bus app today, seeing as the web browser option doesn't work anymore. The app loads up but there's no information on anything I click. Does anyone know what the issue is?

    IMG_20230524_181335.jpg




  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 11,876 Mod ✭✭✭✭devnull


    The app has been decommissioned.



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  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 23,399 Mod ✭✭✭✭bk




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,786 ✭✭✭DownByTheGarden


    Next bus doesnt work for me anymore.

    When i tap on a stop it just gives me a message saying "Oh dear! The realtime service in currently unavailable! That why i cam in here, to look for a replacement for that once fine app.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 762 ✭✭✭smackyB


    Sounds you’ve got a bad configuration cached. Try force-closing and restarting the app and see if that fixes it. Failing that an app re-install should definitely work. Apologies for the inconvenience!



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 792 ✭✭✭Jayuu


    I have no real issues with the TFI Live app either. I have my favourite stops saved, the are the first thing that is presented to me when I open the app and from what I can see it's reasonably accurate regarding arrival times. On that timetables tab if I type in 27 in the search tab (as that's my preferred bus route) the 27 bus route both way show up as the first option.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 400 ✭✭TranslatorPS


    Considering how quickly the new website (and its structure) was brought up live, it's rather obvious that DB were eager to get rid of their app, which relied heavily on the old website structures for a lot of its static information.



  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 23,399 Mod ✭✭✭✭bk


    "I have no real issues with the TFI Live app either. I have my favourite stops saved, the are the first thing that is presented to me when I open the app and from what I can see it's reasonably accurate regarding arrival times"

    Yes, it works relatively ok if you have normal needs, if you are using the same two bus stops every day to get too/from work/school.

    I find where it struggles in particular is the Journey planner and map, that seems slow and buggy. I had it crash on me yesterday using the map again.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,205 ✭✭✭Citrus_8


    I picked Adamstown in Dublin West to the Dublin Airport and it gives me a train to Park West and G1 to Red Cow and then Luas to town and either 16/41 bus or a private bus via M50. Absolutely ridiculous.

    Another option to Heuston and then Dublin Express.

    I want cheaper, but longer. App does say that I can choose operators via the settings, however, it only allow to choose one. So why do they use the word operators in plural?! I thought I could exclude Dublin Express by choosing DB and GAI only. I pretend I don't know that I won't need GAI.

    I know exactly that the cheapest best option for me is train to Drumcondra and then a bus 16/41. But the app doesn’t give it to me and suggests to change in the city centre which I don't want.

    I could add Drumcondra in the Via field and narrow the options to DB operator, but then I won't get trains!

    This app is useless to me as I know Dublin network better than the whole database which is not very normal.

    FYI, I'm not a regular PT user. I drive every day to work sitting alone in my 5 seats car. Because it takes 15-20 min for me to get to work while PT would be 45 min with 2 buses. That's the BC missed opportunity of having better connections with industrial estates and business parks.

    This app is no good to me. I can plant my journey by just looking to the map and giving myself 2-3 min to think and 5 min to plan. I use PT twice a month only. I would happily use daily if it'd be designed by those who actually use it.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 910 ✭✭✭brianc89


    When I tried your route, I get an option for rail to Drumcondra then take the 700 Aircoach! But it doesn't suggest 16 or 41. It's much much quicker in fairness but isn't covered on the 2eur fair.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 910 ✭✭✭brianc89


    Specific app question:

    Why does 41 say scheduled but the rest don't? When I click into the other options (1,16, 13), it seems to be on time as scheduled.

    Screenshot_2023-05-25-19-12-38-33_75b291342e15d1d0225d1cd401af3649.jpg




  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 23,399 Mod ✭✭✭✭bk


    "Why does 41 say scheduled but the rest don't? When I click into the other options (1,16, 13), it seems to be on time as scheduled."

    I believe it says "secheduled" when it is running off the schedule and the bus isn't been tracked in realtime (and in fact might not turn up at all). The rest are being tracked by realtime.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,205 ✭✭✭Citrus_8


    I know, and I mentioned private buses. This is what I meant. I don't want the app to give me suggestions I'm not looking for. I want the cheapest best option. I don't want 700. I want a train and DB or just DB so that I pay 2 Euro only. I rarely use PT, but going forward I can pop some more examples showing that I have better options than this not smart app.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 910 ✭✭✭brianc89


    Yeah I realised on the way into town that the schedule updates as it goes rather than saying it's early or late.

    Seems a bit flawed?...



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,884 ✭✭✭✭ArmaniJeanss


    Any way to increase the font size, just on this app? Don't particularly want to increase the font size on the entire phone as this is the only app I seem to have a problem with.

    I was going to attempt to put up a screen shot but Brian's pic above is a perfect example.

    There's a hell of a lot of needless white space. The route column is sized for the word 'route' and the filter beside it. But the actual route number value is going to be a 2/3/4 digit code so increase the bloody fontsize of it please. At a stop on the N3 I found it quite difficult to see whether the next bus was a 37, 38 or 39. And why the hell does the first bus have grey shading on it on the display, that makes it even more difficult. Maybe it's a 'you need glasses' situation, but never found myself having to peer forlornly at the Dublin Bus app when on the street, and have no problem with Luas app either.

    'Departs' column takes up a lot of space as well. Could be reduced and/or the font size of the value row increased.

    (Minor point from above screenshot. 'Abbey St' and 'Shaw street' is shoddy inconsistency)



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 170 ✭✭WheelieKing


    Use the TFI app from time to time here myself and i find it perfectly fine. Does what it says on the tin without much singing and dancing which is all i want.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,205 ✭✭✭Citrus_8


    Welcome to the club of clueless users who doesn't know what this app should and could look comparing to the other similar apps around the world. You shouldn't be proud of yourself saying this. I suggest you to up your requirements as people like you doesn't promote progress and improvements.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,503 ✭✭✭StreetLight


    I would like to see an option where the TFI app displays a clockface time of arrival rather than an amount of minutes.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,205 ✭✭✭Citrus_8


    Don't worry, I also think the text is a little bit too small and could be increased in size by very tiny bit. Lots of white space is just a bad design overall. Some options aren't intuitive either and requires to either look through, or sit and think. App users shouldn't think. That's the whole point of the app. They are compact and quick to use versions of the website. I saw someone a while ago suggested a user guide to be published. That's an absolutely ridiculous suggestion as that would prove how bad the app is. It has to be designed in the way that it wouldn't need to stare at screen trying to clearly see something what we need to see and it must be design in an easy to use manner so that all options and functions to be intuitively found and be clear to see and understand.

    Post edited by Citrus_8 on


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 910 ✭✭✭brianc89


    I can't believe it's not already an option.

    I'd like if they could add specific details of each bus or train, like year or build, serial numbers, previous journeys, pictures. Like on PlaneSpotters or FlightRadar. Is it too much to ask?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,542 ✭✭✭p_haugh


    The unique vehicle ID is there in the API, and as seen with bustimes, that functionality is possible (albeit unofficial community entries). It would be great if there was a official version of this data.



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  • Moderators, Regional East Moderators Posts: 23,247 Mod ✭✭✭✭GLaDOS


    Used the app to time a bus home for the first time tonight. Didn't show up. So I guess it works as well as the old app.

    Cake, and grief counseling, will be available at the conclusion of the test



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