So far, with 157 votes as of 10am, our mobile device survey shows that, at least amongst our readers, there are just about as many Android users as there are iPhone users.
Metro’s initial iPhone offering met with mixed-reviews but it looks like the numbers may reveal that an Android app is something Metro should consider.
Also interesting: about 70% who have participated so far have some sort of smartphone, but a surprising 12% report having a dumbphone with no internet access at all.
As Metro beefs up its mobile resources it makes sense to take a look at how transit customers are accessing the mobile web. Metro recently released an iPhone app, and the stats show that the iPhone is the number one mobile device used to access Metro.net – but Android devices bring a significant amount of mobile traffic to the site as well.
Plus, recent data shows that Android devices may be eclipsing the iPhone in smartphone market share. Is an Android app something Metro should be considering?
And we can’t forget the countless people who may not want to pay for the pricey data plans that come bundled with smartphones and choose to hold onto their trusty dumbphones. Those riders don’t have the luxury of fancy apps with GPS features but still need to access important information from the agency while on the go.
Metro’s recently redesigned mobile website should be accessible from virtually any web-enabled phone – smart or dumb – but as the agency moves ahead with its mobile initiatives, and shares its data with third party developers to design their own apps, we thought we’d ask Source readers (who are likely early-adopters of transit technologies) how you access the mobile web.
‘Why You Ride (or Don’t Ride)‘ is a series where you, our faithful readers, share your transportation routines in L.A. and your thoughts on how to make things better – read more about the concept here.
Want to share your story? Take the survey here if you ride transit regularly, or take this one if you don’t ride.
Name: T.L.
Occupation: Service industry
Location: Downtown L.A.
How often do you drive and for what purpose?
To work 5 days a week. Also to night life, plays, MOCA and sporting events.
Where are you typically traveling from and going to?
Downtown to Westside.
How many vehicles do you or your family have?
1
How long does your commute typically take?
An hour, maybe an hour and a half.
Briefly, how would you describe your typical driving experience? Love it, deal with it, or hate it?
I hate it. There has to be a better way.
On average, what do you spend each month on transportation?
More than $500
Do you use any forms of alternative transportation?
Red Line.
Why do you drive?
Convenience, since I travel long distances. It would be great if I could reach UCLA from Downtown on transit.
‘Why You Ride (or Don’t Ride)‘ is a series where you, our faithful readers, share your transportation routines in L.A. and your thoughts on how to make things better – read more about the concept here.
Want to share your story? Take the survey here if you ride transit regularly, or take this one if you don’t ride.
Name: Gordon W.
Occupation: CIO
Location: Monrovia
How often do you take transit and for what purpose?
Usually 5 days a week to go back and forth to work.
Where are you typically traveling from and going to?
Monrovia to Woodland Hills.
What lines/routes do you take?
I park at the Sierra Madre Villa Gold Line Station and take the train to Memorial Park. I then get Commuter Express line 549 to Ventura and Woodley, then I take either the 750 or the 150 to De Soto.
How long does it typically take?
It usually takes 1.75 hours in the morning, and 2 hours in the afternoon
Briefly, how would you describe your typical transit experience? Love it, deal with it, or hate it?
I deal with it.
On average, what do you spend each month on transportation?
$100 – $300
Why do you take transit?
After driving from Monrovia to Woodland Hills for 20 years, I finally got tired of the traffic on the 210 Freeway in the afternoon. Using public transportation takes longer driving, but the reduction in stress is well worth it.
Two weeks ago Metro released Build 1.0 of its Go Metro iPhone app – marking the agency’s first foray into the world of smartphones.
The news that Metro released an app for Apple’s popular mobile platform certainly nabbed some headlines, but the app itself has received less than enthusiastic reviews – to date it has an average score of 2 out of 5 stars on the iTunes store.
Metro is emphasizing the “Build 1.0″ prefix, which essentially means that further builds are on the way that will take into account feedback from customers. In other words, something better is in the works.
What follows are some comments on the app pulled from the iTunes store, local media and our email box. The best way to ensure your feedback reaches the right people is by using this Metro iPhone App Feedback Form on Metro.net. Additionally, you can also share your thoughts with us by leaving a comment – or if you’re old school, send us an email at sourcemetro@gmail.com.
Eric Richardson of Blogdowntown reviews the app and finds that it doesn’t do much to build upon Metro’s “archaic” Trip Planner:
The iPhone version doesn’t do much to improve matters. It selects one trip instead of presenting a list of options, but does so in a manner that is unlikely to make sense for Downtowners. For that trip from Pico and Hill to City Hall, the LAMetro app would have us walk a half mile to Olive and Olympic to catch Foothill Transit’s Silver Streak, paying $2.75 for the seven minute bus ride. A smarter rider would walk just a block to 12th and Hill, catching the DASH D for only $0.35.
The app also misses the chance to allow the user to use his or her current location for the trip’s starting point, and doesn’t offer any saved state information if the rider happens to exit the trip midway. The extensive use of Metro’s website for data also means that a constant Internet connection is required, a downer for those who would wish to use the app in subway tunnels or on an iPod touch.
Jane Lee, a local software developer, sent us an email expressing her disappointment at the quality of the app:
You guys *seriously* have got to be kidding me.
In a city like LA with dozens (at least! these are only the ones I know of!) of talented iPhone developers that have millions of users of successful products between them, you choose a contractor to come up with an app that basically is a useless and limited wrapper for the mobile website and think this is awesome? Just in a city like LA. Nevermind the independent developers and companies outside of the city/county that would have done a better job with one hand tied behind their backs as well.I’m disappointed. There’s just so much wrong with the app I don’t even know where to begin to offer criticism, and I don’t even work on mobile apps full time. I don’t even know how anyone used the app and thought it was okay to submit. I really think this app should be scrapped and a more competent company found to start from scratch.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the new iPhone App. I have been waiting years for LA to invest in the Metro system from a technology standpoint. I believe 1000 times over that as the technology and convenience of the Metro system increases, more and more people will utilize it as their primary means of transportation. I hope soon that the app will locate busses in real time such that arrivals can be forecasted by patrons to down to the minute. Less time waiting at stops will yield thousands more riders. The first generation of the iPhone App is a great step in that direction. Congratulations and thank you!
Welcome to Twitter Tuesday, a weekly feature here at The Source in which we’ll round up the latest Metro related tweets in the Twitterverse. To follow Metro on Twitter just search for @MetroLosAngeles. We recommend adding the #MetroLosAngeles tag to your tweets to get our attention.
And when it comes to complaints, the best way to get them addressed is to use the Customer Comment Form on Metro.net. There you can provide all the detail needed so that customer service reps may best address your problems.
Rants:
CarlessValGirl Bus 164 on Victory Blvd heading West… thanks for arriving 11 minutes late, & for making my day that much more stressful. #metrolosangeles
SevenPhoto @metrolosangeles can someone radio in to my bus driver and tell him to stop slamming on the brakes when there’s no one in front?
joeTOCIE where is mr. Line 91?? @metrolosangeles failing again…
felixhaufe @metrolosangeles Is it really necessary to play music and commercials on your buses? I want it to be quiet sometimes too. #customer #service
SevenPhoto I hate you @metrolosangeles for making me late for my movie date at @barnsdall. So mad. #bus #fail
EVtakeover The #metrolosangeles 150 departing universal at 11:35p just drove off without picking up!
greylurk Did all of the Blue Line trains break over the weekend? Now boarding my third Blue line train from Long Beach to Imperial. @metrolosangeles
falling_icarus @metrolosangeles worse blueline commute ever this morning. Our train has had to stop for more a few minuets at every stop. #fail
Unfinished business:
Kythera @metrolosangeles It’s been a couple of weeks, and those dead birds are still up in the netting @ LAX bus ctr. One’s getting skeletal…
@Kythera, looks like your customer services calls went unheeded. We’ll see if we can force some action on this rather gross issue.
Compliments:
sirinya47 @metrolosangeles, @juan_Matute and I are celebrating our engagement with a gold line bar crawl. Every train has been on schedule!
kenyaw @metrolosangeles thanks for the heads up on service delays earlier today. I love it when a public agency new media plan comes together!
christashima So great when the train arrives just after I step on the platform. Sunset/Vermont > Mariachi Plaza in 28 min. via @metrolosangeles
sirinya47 On a @metrolosangeles 920 #7333 with the nicest driver who loves my Xootr.
Metro Q&A:
PeltFrelken @metrolosangeles I noticed you have downloadable Pocket Guides in 10 languages. Do you have one in English?
http://bit.ly/bJ6S6S
@PeltFrelken, good observation. I’ve contacted the Metro web team and they’re going to get the English version up on the site. Thanks for pointing that out.
Transit technology:
reinix @metrolosangeles Hello!Fix your TAP… things. I have a College Fall Pass, and it doesn’t work sometimes. I had to pay full fare today
Observations in transit:
jmossinca Whoever thought it was a good idea to board the bus smelling like a compost heap clearly has a flawed thought process. #metrolosangeles
koffiekommie
http://twitpic.com/2od8th
– There’s a small dog on board the Metro Blue Line Train! @metrolosangeles
Good ideas:
RedEbbm #metrolosangeles needs to focus on students. Still young and willing to change more easily. Giving way to new generation of transit riders.
‘Why You Ride (or Don’t Ride)‘ is a series where you, our faithful readers, share your transportation routines in L.A. and your thoughts on how to make things better – read more about the concept here.
Want to share your story? Take the survey here if you ride transit regularly, or take this one if you don’t ride.
Name: RFQ
Occupation: Not employed
Location: Downey
How often do you drive and for what purpose?
Three to five times a week to take sibling to doctor appointments and mother to grocery store. Two or three times a month to Fullerton Amtrak Station to watch trains.
Where are you typically traveling from and going to?
Home to USC University Hospital. Less than a mile to grocery store. Downey to Fullerton Amtrak Station.
How many vehicles do you or your family have?
1
How long does your commute typically take?
No commute. 12 miles to USC Hospital.
Briefly, how would you describe your typical driving experience? Love it, deal with it, or hate it?
I love it!
On average, what do you spend each month on transportation?
$100 – $300
Do you use any forms of alternative transportation?
Bus.
Why do you drive?
Time saving. Convenient. There are three things that I think are finite: Time, Money and Petroleum. The time saved and the ease of use makes it inevitable. If you go grocery shopping with someone over 80 years old once a week, do you really think you can walk or take a bus?
‘Why You Ride (or Don’t Ride)‘ is a series where you, our faithful readers, share your transportation routines in L.A. and your thoughts on how to make things better – read more about the concept here.
Want to share your story? Take the survey here if you ride transit regularly, or take this one if you don’t ride.
Name: “Lazyoldtabby”
Occupation: Web site developer
Location: San Gabriel Valley
How often do you take transit and for what purpose?
Five days a week to work.
Where are you typically traveling from and going to?
Covina or Industry Metrolink station to Mariposa/Nash Green Line station in El Segundo.
What lines/routes do you take?
Metrolink San Bernardino or Riverside line, Red/Purple line, 405X, and the Green Line. Occasionally I take the Purple Line and the 720/920 to Beverly Hills.
How long does it typically take?
1 hour 2o minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes.
Briefly, how would you describe your typical transit experience? Love it, deal with it, or hate it?
I deal with it.
On average, what do you spend each month on transportation?
$100 – $300
Why do you take transit?
Transit takes about the same time as freeway during peak hours, but cost less.
This one appears to have been a blowout, with the yes votes holding a huge lead over the no votes almost as soon as the voting began. (Here’s the link to the original post).
Can’t say I’m really shocked. For one, The Source is on a website run by a transit agency, so we’re probably predisposed to having an audience interested in having more mass transit in the L.A. area. Plus, I don’t think too many people were surprised to read in the media that the subway is not going to be a panacea for traffic on the Westside or across Los Angeles County.
In the meantime, there’s plenty to write about concerning the Westside Subway Extension, particularly now that its draft environmental impact statement/report has been released. If there’s anything you would like to see us focus on, please leave a comment with this post or email us at sourcemetro@gmail.com.
We had a lot of posts on The Source today, so I wanted to re-post the poll in case anyone missed it. Here’s a link to our earlier post providing more info on the subway vs. traffic issue.
Thanks to everyone for reading and the thoughtful comments. Have a great weekend!
