MyBusTracker – Ahead of Its Time?

I’ve been meaning to blog about this for a while, but never got round to it. Plus, I prefer talking about stuff once I’ve actually used it myself a few times, so I can bring its discussion into a practical context and also assess its usefulness.

I first heard of the MyBusTracker in the local council newspaper, probably about a month ago now. In Edinburgh, you’ve got these electronic display screens (= ‘BusTracker’) on more and more bus stops, where you can see which bus will be arriving, and when (these display screens are all over the country, not just in Edinburgh!).

This ‘real time’ information about bus departure times apparently uses GPS and AVL (= Automatic Vehicle Location) technology.

In a genius move, you can now get this information not only on the bus stop while you’re waiting for the bus, but also, on the internet or via your mobile phone! Each bus stop has its own code and all you have to do is enter the code into the website to find out what time the next bus will be arriving.

While you don’t really need to track the bus stop of your choice on an everyday basis (nothing wrong with just going to the bus stop and listening to music, till a bus arrives..), it is really handy for my new bimonthly commute to London (i.e. when visiting my BF). Seeing that I have to catch a very specific train, especially when going down on a Friday, it’s really handy to in advance track the time of arrival of a bus, so I can leave the house at the appropriate time.

Similarly, tonight I’ll be arriving into Waverley at 11.30PM, which is a wee bit on the late side. What I’ve done just now is write down the number of my bus stop (just opposite the Waverley steps, no. 36235974), and then I can just  track the bus stop just as I’m arriving, via my mobile phone  (my computer will be shut down by then).

The only thing I’ve been wondering is whether this system is ahead of its time. I mean who’s going to use their mobile to track bus stops? I suppose if you have a 3G phone and use it… at the moment, I would not use my phone for any surfing via my mobile phone provider or tariff. I’m only using it around the house, or where I can hook up to other free WLANs (such as on the train, in Wetherspoons, why, even in the Old Truman Brewery on Brick Lane today!). I have no intention of using it in any other way. It’s pointless anyway, as Internet surfing and such on my phone only depletes the battery.

Overall, though, thumbs up for MyBusTracker. Tonight, it should help me finding out the time my next bus leaves just as I get into the station. I then know whether or not there’s a point in going up to the bus stop, or whether I’d be better off getting a cab straight away