Comments on: Cincinnati web designer creates ‘Mobilizing Metro’ iPhone app

By: bart van der zee

bart van der zee — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 05:19:43 +0000

Hello, i live in Cinci and i have an App idea. Are there any developers around the city?

By: Randy A. Simes

Randy A. Simes — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:15:06 +0000

Thanks Jill for sharing some details from within Metro. The new communications system should be exciting, and I have known for some time that Metro has been working with Google on the Google Transit feature, but have had some odd problems getting them to execute it.

Honestly, I have used Google Transit a few times in Atlanta, and it often recommends strange routes for me that are not the most direct or convenient. Don’t get me wrong, I LOOOOOVE Google and most all of their applications, but Google Transit still seems like a work in progress to me…especially for bus systems where routes overlap, cross and turn so much. What I’m trying to say is that I will be much more excited for the new communication system and real-time arrival information through technologies like this.

By: Bob

Bob — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:13:18 +0000

What a great idea! Technology has so much to offer. It is amazing how far smartphones have come, pretty much small computers now that happen to have a phone antenna. Good job Ian and you certainly have my vote:)

By: terah owes

terah owes — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 06:09:35 +0000

I’m in love with the idea & all for it. I am a regular Metro user as well as an avid app user..although with the Android based system. Please find a way to include us in the app users for such a NECESSARY &WONDERFUL idea!

By: visualingual

visualingual — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 22:55:08 +0000

Wow, this will be exciting!

By: Mark Celsor

Mark Celsor — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 21:04:11 +0000

Wonderful stuff! I should have read up on the new system before coming in with so many criticisms.

By: Jill Dunne

Jill Dunne — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:43:19 +0000

This is Jill at Metro… I don’t work on the technical side, but it sounds like this type of application could work with our new transit communications system (http://www.urbancincy.com/2010/06/new-metro-communication-system-to-include-real-time-arrival-information/). The new system is scheduled to be fully operational by late 2011 and at that time, I think we’d want to work with developers like Ian Monk. (Love the app, Ian – I’ve voted!)

We are hoping to roll out Google Transit soon! We’ve had some issues getting everything linked up because of the way our routes are structured, but please know that it is in the works.

Thanks for writing this article, Travis!

By: Mark Celsor

Mark Celsor — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:04:27 +0000

Sorry to continue being such a wet blanket on this post but iPhone apps and transit data are pretty exciting topics for me. I just found a copy of a contract between Washington DC and Nextbus (one of the leaders in realtime transit data collection). The initial engineering estimate to set up the system was $2,001,829 in 2006.

By: Mark Celsor

Mark Celsor — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:51:27 +0000

Agreed. I do think the app itself could be built inside the $25k budget but building a realtime bus information system for Metro would be the crazy expensive part.

By: Travis Estell

Travis Estell — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:39:33 +0000

Well, he created it conceptually! Hopefully it won’t be quite that expensive to tie into Metro’s system. We can only hope that Metro sees the value in this app and would be willing to work with the developers.