Get on the Google Bus!
As an infrequent transit user, I’m often flummoxed by the transit schedule. If my route requires only one bus, I go outside and stand at a bus stop. I ask questions of the driver or fellow transit users.
If my route requires me to take more than one bus and I need to arrive at a certain time, I try to use the TransLink Scheduling website. It’s not that bad, but it’s not that intuitive either.
Now I can take the Google bus.
TransLink is the first Canadian bus system to provide data for Google’s transit trip planning system. Since it’s still in beta, and I’m not a regular bus user, I haven’t had a chance to use the system yet. Seems easy enough:
1. Go to www.google.com/transit
2. Click on the “Vancouver” link, in the list on the page.
3. Enter your starting location or address. If your start or end point is in Vancouver, you can just enter the address, like 970 Burrard. If it’s a neighbouring municipality, enter a comma after the street address and then the municipality’s name afterward (i.e. 4711 Kingsway, Burnaby).
Thanks to Morgan News for the transit tip.