Comments on: TripFinder Back for Limited Time On Metrostlouis.org

By: Bob

Bob — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 11:10:37 +0000

I just typed in From: Manchester & Brentwood St. Louis MO To: Manchester & Lindbergh St. Louis MO and got a map for Manchester England … from the Metro Site.

By: Julie

Julie — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:15:13 +0000

The only problem I have with Google Transit is that it doesn’t give me the options I want.

When I type in UMSL to my home address, I am basically just trying to get an estimate in the time I should head out for it, but instead it gives me an entirely different route with a different bus than the one I use, and I am set in my ways and don’t want to test out different routes.

Is there anyway to get more bus options besides just the 3 offered?

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:27:48 +0000

Bob,

Are you planning your itinerary from the widget on our home page or are you going directly to the basic Google Transit page? Please post back and let me know so I can troubleshoot.

By: Courtney

Courtney — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:16:11 +0000

Bob,

The decision to introduce Google Transit was based largely on rider feedback, people calling in and asking for Google Transit. Both trip planners have pros and cons, but both provide good, fast trip planning. The widget that we provide on http://www.metrostlouis.org is keyed to the St. Louis area. You do not have to enter zip code data there to enter start and end destinations. If you go to the regular Google Transit site you will have to enter the zip code or city info because like Google Maps, it covers pretty much the entire world. We know that people are having problems getting used to the features in Google Transit (you can switch destinations easily, and find earlier or later routes), and we are working on a tutorial that will explain all of its features. We do think it is a great service, but we also want people to feel comfortable trying to use it.

By: Bob

Bob — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:59:27 +0000

I wonder if any of the people that decided to switch from Tripfinder to Google transit even use the Metro (train and buses) regularly.

Things I love about trip finder:

1) fast
2) can switch destinations easily
3) can find earlier or later routes in seconds
4) only provides data for the St. Louis region (as I said above)

I wonder how much money google is providing for the switch.
I’m sure there is some kind of contract that requires Metro
to get rid of Tripfinder.

By: Bob

Bob — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:51:14 +0000

If Tripfinder or something very similar goes away so will my support for the Metro. I can get my route in minutes with Tripfinder and quickly get variations on routes. With the Google thing it takes forever to figure out a route. If you put in an address it should only provide results for the St. Louis area. I really don’t think I can take the 49 bus to another state. Google transit is awful, awful, awful. And not all of us have I-phones or ever want to own one. I have actually contemplated giving up on the Metro completely and getting a car because of the frustration of Google transit. Takes me twice as long to map out a trip than it would to drive it.

By: Mike Baldwin

Mike Baldwin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:55:01 +0000

I would be lost without Google Maps/transit information. I am constantly helping others at bus stops and on the bus with figuring out the best route for them from my Iphone. Real time info would help make the service better, so you don’t stand around wondering if the bus is really coming or you just missed it because it was early.

Great work.

By: David Shane

David Shane — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:05:32 +0000

One of the nice thing about Tripfinder that I miss – less typing. On Metro’s website, if I just put in my street number and name and click “Go,” Google asks me whether I meant the address in St. Louis or the one in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. Needless to say this never happened with Tripfinder! Maybe the form could be programmed to automatically append a “St. Louis, MO” to every address. I suspect that would work from Google’s perspective, if it’s possible.