[CivicAccess-discuss] getting transit information

[Daniel Haran]

Thanks Tracey!

On 4/3/06, Tracey P. Lauriault <tlauriau at magma.ca> wrote:
> > For various cities, I would like to compile:
> > -whether an online route planner is available.
> >
> http://www.octranspo.com/Intro_Trip_Planner.htm

Hmm... it's functional, even if its usability isn't the best.

> > -bus stop locations (GIS-friendly file formats would be good)
> >
> http://www.octranspo.com/maps_menue_systemMap.htm (not necessarily friendly!
> > -complete schedules in an easily parsed ("read") format.
> >
> http://www.octranspo.com/mapscheds/stopscheds/BusStop_menuE.htm  +
> http://www.octranspo.com/maps_menue.htm

>From that second link, "Text-format Winter Timetables" at the top left
is the ticket :)

> > If you would like to help, let me know what city you are in, and how
> > your city's transit operator reacted to your request for the above
> > information.
> >
> just got it off the web, if you cannot work with what i send & need
> something better let me know and i will call!

I don't see an easy way to extract bus stop information from the
website. Can you find out if they would release that?

> > The objective is to build free / open-source route planner software,
> > and convincing municipalities to open their transit data.
> i like it!  Keeping it up to date seamesslessly would be something amazing!

Real-time route planning? That would be very nice indeed!

http://www.octranspo.com/mapscheds/560/5601000.htm
"The busiest times are cold mornings in January ... that's when "560"
receives over 5,000 calls per hour!"

Yep- cold mornings are the time I hate having to wait for a bus; I
want to be able to get out of the door at the very last minute.
Imagine software that knew what time you travel, and that would
pro-actively alert you when buses were late. I'm sure others will find
or suggest more uses, but waiting in the cold is my pet peeve.

Thanks for helping :)

Daniel.