Not a moment too soon: Calgary Transit’s horrendous trip planning system is now integrated with Google Maps, so now you can trip plan using the Google Maps website. Its super easy to use too: enter in your directions like normal (for example, going from Canada Olympic Park to the Saddledome), and select your transportation method from the left. Pull open “Show Options” and you can customize your arrival and departure times. Ridiculously easy and typically accurate, and thats all we ever really wanted to begin with.
If you’re lucky enough to use an iPhone, the benefit of paying for your data plan just paid off. Pull open the Maps application and use your maps like normally, and now select the bus icon on the top (iPhone 2.2 and higher). You’ll get the exact same thing, except now you will know exactly when the next bus will come and what is the best route to take.
This is what technology should do; make our lives easier. Kudos to Calgary Transit for sharing their transit times with Google and letting the information be used in a great way. And Edmonton, don’t feel left out; ETS is also doing the whole public transportation on Google Maps too.
In Toronto there’s a whole lot of “Transit route could not be determined between these two locations”.