Smartphone apps can improve public transit

A new study has suggested that smartphone apps may be the key to getting people out of their cars and onto mass transit.

The study of commuters in Boston and San Francisco found people are more willing to ride the bus or train when they have tools to manage their commutes effectively, reports Fox News.

The study asked 18 people to surrender their cars for one week. The participants found that any autonomy lost by handing over their keys could be regained through apps providing real-time information about transit schedules, delays and shops and services along the routes.

The results could have a dramatic effect on public transportation planning, and certainly will catch the attention of planners and programmers alike. By encouraging the development of apps that make commuting easier, transit agencies can drastically, and at little cost, improve the ridership experience and make riding mass transit more attractive.
 
The point is for transit agencies to provide enough information to put riders in control of their experience and have greater choice in when and where to ride.