Anybody tried the new Google maps with bus timetables?

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lchiu7

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#86513 7-Jul-2011 21:41

Maps 5.7 is out with over 400 cities covered with new bus timetables directions.

I tried it out in Wellington (from my home to the city) and it gave the right directions (walking, then the bus) and showed me the times of the next buses.

Then tried it from the CBD to Pukerua Bay and it indicated a walk to the station, catch the train, get off the train and then walking to the address.

All in all quite impressive. For Wellington residents the Metlink web site for bus timetables is a nightmare to read and perhaps this is going to be an improved way to work out what bus to catch.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

Linuxluver

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#490842 7-Jul-2011 22:43

lchiu7: Maps 5.7 is out with over 400 cities covered with new bus timetables directions.

I tried it out in Wellington (from my home to the city) and it gave the right directions (walking, then the bus) and showed me the times of the next buses.

Then tried it from the CBD to Pukerua Bay and it indicated a walk to the station, catch the train, get off the train and then walking to the address.

All in all quite impressive. For Wellington residents the Metlink web site for bus timetables is a nightmare to read and perhaps this is going to be an improved way to work out what bus to catch.

If it can figure out the fan-sprayed dog spew that constitutes the myriad, un-integrated bus and train schedules that make Auckland's public transport virtually unusable (even when you have all the schedules right in front of you!)......I'll be impressed. I won't even start on the fare structures or the fact the cheapest passes are virtual commercial secrets available only from a handful of places that only open for a few hours each day....

I'm waiting to see what happens when people arrive for the Rugby World Cup from cities with real public transport systems. Should be very interesting.

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NZtechfreak

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#490849 7-Jul-2011 23:10

Heh, I just assumed this feature wouldn't be for NZ! Will try it out sometime for sure. Did you also notice that you can download 10km squares now by enabling it in the labs settings?

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blakamin

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#490851 7-Jul-2011 23:14

It still has to get over the fact every second train to welly at peak hour is cancelld due to faults.
If it does that, google should run kiwirail/transmetro
gunna be lulz at RWC time...

kobiak

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#490860 7-Jul-2011 23:48

works in auckland. great thing before RWC :)

helping others at evgenyk.nz

lchiu7

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#490942 8-Jul-2011 09:56

NZtechfreak: Heh, I just assumed this feature wouldn't be for NZ! Will try it out sometime for sure. Did you also notice that you can download 10km squares now by enabling it in the labs settings?

I did see that as an enhanced Lab features. But true to US standards, it's 10 miles not KM.

I have downloaded maps for Wellington and Auckland CBD and at 10 miles, that pretty much covers the parts of the city I travel around.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

tanivula

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#490997 8-Jul-2011 11:44

Does offline navigation work? The new features are brilliant, clicking on a bus stop or a train station (in Welly) brings up the next times for the applicable routes. Excellent!

Edit: seems to work for all the stops I've tried except the main Wellington Train Station. Guess there's too many to account for or something?

stevenz

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#491215 8-Jul-2011 17:58

This feature works in NZ!?

Mind = Blown!

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Borg

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#491279 8-Jul-2011 21:34

doesn't seem to work in Christchurch, maybe just aucks and wellington currently?

pretty awesome feature imo

nickb800

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#491287 8-Jul-2011 21:53

Borg: doesn't seem to work in Christchurch, maybe just aucks and wellington currently?

pretty awesome feature imo

MetroInfo's real time systems, in fact most of their schedules, are 'munted' so i guess they couldnt provide the data that google needs at the moment

testha

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#492124 11-Jul-2011 16:47

Since the Metlink site is way to slow, I found an awesome app for free that does all the bus timetables in just seconds:

Wellington Transit: https://market.android.com/details?id=wbg.transit

Is location aware if wanted and also does real time updates from the Metlink. Same app also exist for Auckland.

If the developer is reading here, thank you so much for this app, its much appriciated.