A case for open data

[dwb]

A very very interesting video to watch! Translink should take note, the CEO's recent comments on HASTUS for mapping and the realtime pilot were quite revealing about their closed shed approach!

http://www.streetfilms.org/a-case-for-open-data-in-transit/

A Case for Open Data in Transit by Elizabeth Press on July 29, 2010 | 13,165 Plays
Ever find yourself waiting for the next bus, not knowing when it will arrive? Think it would be great if you could check a subway countdown clock from the sidewalk? Or get arrival times on your phone? Giving transit riders better information can make riding the bus or the train more convenient and appealing. And transit agencies are finding that the easiest and least expensive way to do it is by opening data about routes, schedules, and real-time locations to software developers, instead of guarding it like a proprietary secret.

I recently got the chance to dive into the topic of open data in transit with my colleagues at OpenPlans. We went up to Boston to see what transit riders got out of the transportation department's decision to open up its data. We also talked to New York MTA Chair Jay Walder, City Council Member Gale Brewer, Zipcar co-founder Robin Chase, and Transportation Alternatives director Paul Steely White to paint a full picture of what it would mean if cities shared their transit and transportation data. The information is there, waiting to be put to use to help people plan transit trips, waste less gas driving, or make their streets safer.

[somebody]

Got to agree with you on this one.

[SurfRail]

Also agreed wholeheartedly over here.

HASTUS is a scheduling tool, and as far as I am aware it is not open-source.

However, on an encouraging notie, Peter Strachan has said that it is a fundamental requirement of the "Customer First" trial in Logan that the data be made available to the public for exactly this reason.

We'll see...

[dwb]

Also agreed wholeheartedly over here.

HASTUS is a scheduling tool, and as far as I am aware it is not open-source.

However, on an encouraging notie, Peter Strachan has said that it is a fundamental requirement of the "Customer First" trial in Logan that the data be made available to the public for exactly this reason.

We'll see...

That is excellent news Surfrail, I hope they release it as a feed and in the right format with documentation!