Location-Aware Tools for Improving Public Transit Usability

Real-time arrival information, immediately available on mobile devices, can significantly enhance the usability of public transit systems. The OneBusAway system provides just such information to more than 7,000 Seattle-area bus riders per day. The authors describe a new location-aware native iPhone application for OneBusAway that provides bus stop and arrival information tailored to the user's location. Results from survey and user-study evaluations demonstrate quicker access to data using the location-aware tool. In addition, data for OneBusAway users as a whole show strikingly positive changes in rider satisfaction, the number of transit trips per week, reduced wait time at bus stops, and increased walking. The positive results also hold for the location-aware version users, suggesting the possibility of even further gains. © 2010 IEEE.