I gotta be honest. The computer geek and transit advocate in me just about had a nerdgasm when I saw this SCVTV video about the new GPS system on Santa Clarita Transit buses:
Interim Transit Manager Aguilar said it best: you will soon be able to expect the same data-based forecasts and predictions on our bus system as you do with airlines. Arrival/departure times at many stops, mobile phone access, web access and even LCDs with maps showing the real-time location of your bus!
No more guessing, no more frustration with your missing or late bus; now you can know exactly where it’s at and when it will arrive to pick you up. What’s more, the City’s Transit staff will be able to analyze this data and improve future performance. Nice.
This probably won’t get much media coverage in Santa Clarita; after all our community is built for the single passenger in his automobile (indeed our City makes much of its revenue from auto sales) but watch for this to draw some coverage from transportation and government media, especially if we’re one of the first southern California communities to implement this technology.
PS: Did you know you can take your bike on a bus? What better way to avoid holiday parking frustrations than to ride your bike to the Patios & the Mall, then take the CNG bus home with all your presents and your bike? Parking is one of the worst things about driving, and not having to park is one of the best things about cycling, so why not give it a shot? Come on you know you hate the Town Center parking lot come Black Friday!
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PS: Did you know you can take your bike on a bus?
(Fred) Regrettably, on a good bulk of the buses, there is only room for two. Most of the time they are used up by kids going to the skate board park. Thankfully I catch the bus near the beginning of each route I take, so I am the first one on with a bike. Other bike riders frequently have to wait for the next bus, because the racks get filled up fast. And good luck finding an open rack if you have to switch buses at the main terminal by the mall.
How can you say it won’t get much media coverage when the city is already promoting it and it’s months away from launching? Either way – I’m glad you’re stoked about it. It really is going to be awesome!