Five new apps from the winners of Metro's Developer Challenge

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Smart Ride shows real time bus arrivals on handy map interface.

Smart Ride shows real time bus arrivals on handy map interface.

Back in March we told you about Metro’s Developer Challenge – an invitation to developers to create apps using Metro’s open transit data for a chance to win some big cash prizes.

Well, a few months have passed, the clever developers have worked their magic and Metro’s judges have chosen the winners. Here they are (with some brief commentary on the apps I’ve tried out):

Best Mobile App: L.A. Metro Alerts by Ross MacFarland (Android)

Ross MacFarland has developed an Android app that “Provides NextBus arrival times to Android phones. Highlights include bookmarking of stops and the ability to get alerts when buses/trains are a desired amount of time away.”

I don’t have an Android device and haven’t had the chance to test this app, but here’s what Metro’s judges had to say: “A great app that’s easy to use…just pick it up and use the tool – all very intuitive.”

Best NextBus Mobile App: Smart Ride By Aaron Bannert (iOS)

Aaron Bannert taps into realtime NextBus data for his app Smart Ride which “Allows the user to access nearby routes and stops, check real-time arrival predictions, track the progress along a route, and watch for transit alerts. A Favorites list can also be created for easy access to one’s favorite stops.”

Of all the apps I tried, this is my favorite. The interface is simple and the functionality is robust. For mobile iOS (iPhone, iPad) users, this app is a godsend! It uses GPS data to round up nearby stops and lists the next three arrival times (real time) for each stop. One of my favorite features in the map mode, which lets you view all nearby stops (and upcoming arrivals) from a Google Maps interface. Another fantastic feature for regular riders: stops can be saved so you can find out when your next bus is coming without any hassle.

Here’s how the Metro judges describe the app: “Has a great look and feel, and provides a route and stop selection process that is easy to use.”

Best Mobile App (College): CSULA Transit by Robert Martin and Andrew Greene (iOS)

Cal State L.A. developers Robert Martin and Andrew Greene win the college category with this iOS app that “Displays real-time updates for all buses arriving at the Cal State LA campus using NextBus prediction services. Also displays upcoming Metrolink train arrivals.”

The app includes the major transit stops for CSULA including the University Transit Center, El Monte Busway and Cal State Metrolink Station. Users can click on their stop and find the next trip times for all arriving transit. The software is simple, focused and fast. Should be a boon for transit oriented Cal State coeds.

Here’s what Metro judges had to say: ““A simple yet user-friendly app with a design well suited for handhelds.”

Don’t have a smart phone? Check out the best web mashups after the jump. Continue reading →

Poll results: is transit attracting enough new riders?

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Results of The Source's poll of transit riders.

A few weeks back I noticed an interesting chart on the America Public Transportation Association [APTA] website on how long people had been riding transit. The chart was compiled using data provided by local agencies across the U.S.

In particular, I was struck by their numbers showing that a lot of people — about 30 percent of people surveyed nationally — had been riding transit continuously for one year or less. That suggests that for whatever reason(s), people are willing to try transit.

I posted a similar poll on The Source. As of Thursday, there were 364 responses and the results are above. That’s not exactly overwhelming and certainly not scientific.

With those caveats, it’s still intriguing to compare our numbers to the numbers from APTA. In our poll, about 15 percent of those who responded said they had been riding transit continuously for a year or less and 70 percent had been riding continuously for two years or more.

Continue reading →

Transportation headlines, Friday, July 1

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Here is a look at some of the transportation headlines gathered by us and the Metro Library. The full list of headlines is posted on the library’s blog.

Riders Rave About DASH Service, Survey Says (blogdowntown)

On the eve of a fare increase (to 50 cents) LADOT released results of a survey showing that 90% of DASH riders give the system high marks. Demographic data reveals that over 50% of riders are Latino, female and use the buses to get to work.

Editorial: Bullet train’s folly factor rises (Orange County Register)

A new report from the Center of Investigative Reporting released a report questions whether the California High-Speed Rail Authority has budgeted the funds to build and operate the proposed system. The Orange County Register agrees – and envisions a worst case scenario where high-speed rail can’t attract enough riders to be profitable, shuts down operation and becomes a museum to taxpayer waste.

Back to Basics in Transportation Planning (Project for Public Spaces)

They say hindsight is 20/20 and this article from reformed transportation engineer Gary Toth proves that theory. Gary spent 20 years believing in the “wider, straighter, faster” school of transportation planning, but had a change of heart after he realized that philosophy only served to hurt communities and didn’t solve transportation problems. In fact, he realized, it just caused more problems. I think this paragraph from his article sums up the problem nicely:

“Spread out development made possible by the new highway capacity was creating congestion faster than transportation agencies could widen or replace failing highways. Furthermore, mass transit could not serve the new sprawling suburbs and street design made biking and walking all but impossible. This all caused vehicle trips and vehicle miles to explode at a rate many times faster than population growth.”


Best L.A. hot dogs? You tell us

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The snap dog at the Dog Haus in Pasadena. Photo by Steve Hymon/Metro.

The Fourth of July weekend is a great time to discuss hot dogs. And in the search for the perfect hot dog, Los Angeles is a good place to start. L.A. consumes more hot dogs than any other city in the country, according to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council. But where are all those fabulous dogs?

At the risk of being lynched, I’m not a fan of Pink’s hot dogs. Nor do I understand the appeal of Dodger Dogs. In Chicago, where I’m from, there is really no question about how a hot dog should be cooked, dressed and eaten. When I was growing up, the only question was which hot dog place was best: Fluky’s or Wolfy’s? [Source Editor's note: Steve Hymon would vote for Super Dawg as Chicago's best].

So it was a sweet surprise when I sampled the Chicago Dog from Fab Hot Dogs at 19417 1/2 Victory Blvd. in Reseda (Metro Local lines 164 on Victory Blvd. and 242 on Tampa). Perfectly cooked, steamed bun, day-glo relish, tomato, peppers, pickle, mustard. There’s nothing left to say except, “Get on the bus and go there!” (Specifically, if you’re from Chicago.) They have lots of other kinds of dogs, but why would anyone want one?

Lately hot dog fans have been arguing the merits of the relatively new New York transplant Papaya King, 1645 Wilcox Ave. in Hollywood (Metro Red Line, either Hollywood/Vine or Hollywood/Highland). It’s good like a New York hot dog cart dog should be. And that’s saying something. But is it fantastic? You tell us.

Another newcomer to the area: The Dog Haus in Pasadena, 105 N. Hill Ave – a one-block walk from the 780 Rapid bus stop at the corner of Hill and Colorado Boulevard. This place is the real deal and do not skip the tots, lovingly pictured above.

Any other hot dog suggestions? Share your recs at: sourcemetro@gmail.com or by filling in the blanks here.

And be frank.

The art of transit

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photo by Kristina Moller, via her Flickr photostream

A nice and moody shot of a typical New York subway entrance taken by Kristina while visiting New York from her home in Denmark. The photo was taken with an iPhone and the popular Hipstamatic app.

To submit a photo for the Art of Transit, post it to Metro’s Flickr group, email it to sourcemetro@gmail.com or Tweet it to @metrolosangeles with an #artoftransit hashtag. Many of the photos we’ve featured can be seen in these galleries on Flickr.

Transit forecast for Friday, July 1

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For a complete list of planned service advisories please visit the Service Advisories page on Metro.net. And for the latest service alerts follow @MetroLAalerts on Twitter.

Gold Line

Due to vehicle testing after 9pm, southbound trains to East LA or Union Station may depart Sierra Madre Villa 2 minutes later than normal.

  • Southbound trains may depart Sierra Madre Villa at 9:22pm, 9:42pm, 10:02pm, 10:22pm and every 20 minutes until last train at 12:40am. Times are approximate and subject to minor work related delays.
  • Southbound trips continuing to East LA Atlantic will depart on regular schedule from Union Station.
  • During this time, trains in both directions will share ONE track at Allen Station. Please check train destination signs and announcements before boarding.

Dates: today only.

Line 115

Due to special event the listed line will be on detour between Manchester Blvd. & Kareem Ct.

Eastbound: Regular route to Manchester Blvd. and Tamarack Ave., then continue via Manchester Blvd. to (R) Prairie Ave., (L) Century Blvd., (L) Crenshaw Blvd., (R) Manchester Blvd. and regular route.

Westbound: Regular route to Manchester Blvd. and Van Ness Ave., then continue via Manchester Blvd. to (L) Crenshaw Blvd., (R) Century Blvd., (R) Prairie Ave., (L) Manchester Blvd. and regular route.

Dates: today only.


Video: "Metro Song" a humorous hip-hop ode to the D.C. subway

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Here’s a fun transit diversion for your Thursday afternoon. The “Metro Song” is a humorous hip-hop take on the Washington D.C. subway system.

The video pokes fun at the little problems transit commuters face – a nice reminder that all transit systems have their issues, and all transit riders have their complaints.

My favorite verse, about the seemingly endless struggle to keep subway escalators running:

We sent a man to the moon
brought him back two weeks later
apparently not as long as it takes
to fix an escalator

And while this video might not be a ringing endorsement of public transit (although I think there’s love behind every jab), it might inspire transit filmmakers to take the humorous route in our Transit Flicks Video Contest.