MyBus 2.0 for ACTION Buses Update!

patrick_keogh said :

shneyney123:

So in the light of your meeting with Simon Corbell reported here http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-08-09/corbell-bus-phone-app-meeting/2830772 do you still stand by your assertion that “…ACT Government’s 12.5 million dollar tender, most of which was set aside to do what we had offered for free a couple months ago to the TAMS”?

In other words with what you are offering for free they should only have to spend less than $6.25M to provide the rest? All the hardware? All the radio communications? Everything?

Or on the other hand were you mistaken about the scope of the project, with unrealistic expectations about what various components would cost?

For the record I never questioned your motive or even ascribed a motive to what you are doing. For the record I’m keen for you to proceed and I think it reasonably likely that you have only the loftiest of aspirations. It was your assertion about cost that I questioned. Idealism is good. Pie-eyed unrealistic idealism is more questionable.

Evidently, you didn’t read what I had to say. I clearly (or so I thought) stated “We offered more than just the app to begin with, but also working with TAMS and ACTION to help implement the system and data collation, which is what more than half the tender is aimed to solve.”
In case the meaning of what I said still eludes you, I will say it in a more direct fashion. We offered more than an app. We offered to help with the collation of data as well. Both for free. The collation of the data is what more than half the tender is going for, as per our conversations with TAMS.

The app is still not officially part of the tender, yet the advertisements for the new system state it is for mobile apps, hence our frustrations.

Skepticism is good. Cynicism isn’t.

shneyney123:

So in the light of your meeting with Simon Corbell reported here http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-08-09/corbell-bus-phone-app-meeting/2830772 do you still stand by your assertion that “…ACT Government’s 12.5 million dollar tender, most of which was set aside to do what we had offered for free a couple months ago to the TAMS”?

In other words with what you are offering for free they should only have to spend less than $6.25M to provide the rest? All the hardware? All the radio communications? Everything?

Or on the other hand were you mistaken about the scope of the project, with unrealistic expectations about what various components would cost?

For the record I never questioned your motive or even ascribed a motive to what you are doing. For the record I’m keen for you to proceed and I think it reasonably likely that you have only the loftiest of aspirations. It was your assertion about cost that I questioned. Idealism is good. Pie-eyed unrealistic idealism is more questionable.

RHCBRAU said :

Like many, I really hope that ACTION comes to the party with GPS data for this great app! Also reckon that it’s a waste of taxpayers money to develop a new Smartphone app when there’s a great app out there already. I’ve just completed ACTION’s “commuter survey” and mentioned (recommended) My-Bus 2.0 at every opportunity. If you too want the full functionality, why not complete the survey too:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QDVJW9N

Thanks for your ongoing support, it is much appreciated. Hope you enjoy our recently released update 🙂

patrick_keogh said :

Folks, I’m no fan of ACTION management, but I have to say that well meaning though this thread may be, it misses the mark somewhat. For the record I don’t work for ACTION, ACT Govt or anyone else in involved in the project. I have no family or financial interest in ACTION or the project.

1. The assertion that “the ACT Government’s 12.5 million dollar tender, most of which was set aside to do what we had offered for free a couple months ago to the TAMS” are either intentionally misleading or poorly informed. The $12.6M is intended to cover:

– installing the real-time telemetry (GPS, radio transmission etc.) on each bus to collect and communicate the GPS data that lots of us know is needed

– a facility to process this data (every bus on every route every 30 seconds is a fair bit of data) especially if all you want to know is “on average what percentage of Belconnen buses run on time”

– provision of the data via standard interfaces so that applications like MyBus 2.0 can display it

– provision of real-time signage at relevant places (interchanges etc.)

and then the bit that MyBus 2.0 does
– one or more applications to display the information in real time via the web, SMS etc.

Specifically related to the responses:
#1 The stop and timetable data is planned for release in the next couple of weeks. The release of the GPS data (which does not currently exist) is and intended outcome of the project. They can’t release it because they don’t have it.

#2 This will not be required after the implementation of the project. ACTION, you, me and everyone will be able to see which buses are late/no shows. Provision of this information to ACTION management is a key outcome of the project. The old adage “what you don’t measure you can’t manage” applies here, and I think it is clear to everyone that ACTION need this information to improve the service. 🙂

#3. Not needed. Even the non-GPS version that is coming to Google Transit one day soon will make this unnecessary. If you want to see how it works go to Google Maps and put a from: and to: address that are in Adelaide, and then click on the little bus icon.

#4, see #2

#5, see #1

#6, yes in the interim this can give a partial view for some stops/some routes. The intent of the project is to make this available for all stops, all routes, every time.

#7 It is not the stated intent of ACTION to “develop a new Smartphone app”. Indeed there are many excellent apps out there already, some far better (IMHO) than MyBus 2.0. Go have a look at the Chicago Transit Authority http://ctabustracker.com/bustime/home.jsp for one for example of what can be done. Since the data will be made publically available then the developers of MyBus 2.0 will be able to enhance their application and compete with any other available web and smartphone apps that may be provided by others.

You raise many interesting points, but what I fail to understand is where exactly people are getting these “facts”. We recently spoke with TAMS and are also scheduled to speak with Simon Corbell, the transport minister, and our main qualm is nothing like what you seem to think we are all about. At the end of the day, our aim is and always will be the same. We are trying to help Canberra, and as un-genuine and generic as that may sound, it is the honest-to-god truth. We do not wish to compete, nor do we claim or believe our product is the best. Rather, we think it is a VERY useful thing to promote, and ESPECIALLY because we offered it for free. If we can save if only 1$ of tax payers hard earned money, than our mission would be accomplished.
Long story short, two points I think you are missing, despite your valid and objective insights.
1) We offered more than just the app to begin with, but also working with TAMS and ACTION to help implement the system and data collation, which is what more than half the tender is aimed to solve.
2) Read the media release regarding the tender. It very clearly states the usage of the real time tracking on mobile phones (with the rather precise adage of “touchscreen displays”) will be part of what the government is to provide, in addition to the displays at bus stops and within buses.

We really appreciate all advice, and we thank everyone who commented and provided thoughts and suggestions, we most certainly will take them into account.

Folks, I’m no fan of ACTION management, but I have to say that well meaning though this thread may be, it misses the mark somewhat. For the record I don’t work for ACTION, ACT Govt or anyone else in involved in the project. I have no family or financial interest in ACTION or the project.

1. The assertion that “the ACT Government’s 12.5 million dollar tender, most of which was set aside to do what we had offered for free a couple months ago to the TAMS” are either intentionally misleading or poorly informed. The $12.6M is intended to cover:

– installing the real-time telemetry (GPS, radio transmission etc.) on each bus to collect and communicate the GPS data that lots of us know is needed

– a facility to process this data (every bus on every route every 30 seconds is a fair bit of data) especially if all you want to know is “on average what percentage of Belconnen buses run on time”

– provision of the data via standard interfaces so that applications like MyBus 2.0 can display it

– provision of real-time signage at relevant places (interchanges etc.)

and then the bit that MyBus 2.0 does
– one or more applications to display the information in real time via the web, SMS etc.

Specifically related to the responses:
#1 The stop and timetable data is planned for release in the next couple of weeks. The release of the GPS data (which does not currently exist) is and intended outcome of the project. They can’t release it because they don’t have it.

#2 This will not be required after the implementation of the project. ACTION, you, me and everyone will be able to see which buses are late/no shows. Provision of this information to ACTION management is a key outcome of the project. The old adage “what you don’t measure you can’t manage” applies here, and I think it is clear to everyone that ACTION need this information to improve the service. 🙂

#3. Not needed. Even the non-GPS version that is coming to Google Transit one day soon will make this unnecessary. If you want to see how it works go to Google Maps and put a from: and to: address that are in Adelaide, and then click on the little bus icon.

#4, see #2

#5, see #1

#6, yes in the interim this can give a partial view for some stops/some routes. The intent of the project is to make this available for all stops, all routes, every time.

#7 It is not the stated intent of ACTION to “develop a new Smartphone app”. Indeed there are many excellent apps out there already, some far better (IMHO) than MyBus 2.0. Go have a look at the Chicago Transit Authority http://ctabustracker.com/bustime/home.jsp for one for example of what can be done. Since the data will be made publically available then the developers of MyBus 2.0 will be able to enhance their application and compete with any other available web and smartphone apps that may be provided by others.

Like many, I really hope that ACTION comes to the party with GPS data for this great app! Also reckon that it’s a waste of taxpayers money to develop a new Smartphone app when there’s a great app out there already. I’ve just completed ACTION’s “commuter survey” and mentioned (recommended) My-Bus 2.0 at every opportunity. If you too want the full functionality, why not complete the survey too:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QDVJW9N

Aenveigh said :

krasny said :

Aenveigh said :

You should include a button in the app, “send a message to TAMS/ the ACT govt that you’re a MyBus user, and would like all stop, timetable and GPS data released in an open-source format”

You should include a button in the app that reports back to ACTION/other MyBus users when buses are late/no-shows.

Yes, especially given unlike most other pulbic tranpsort companies, ACTION don’t publicly release their performance data…

However, you could just get people to share their MyWay tag on/off history. I’ve been doing it with my mates and it’s pretty enlightening; up to +/-10 minutes difference from the timetable around 4pm.

It works great. If only the Government would let go of its pride and allow these students to access the GPS data. Surely there are no privacy concerns.

In the hands of the ACT Public Service, it will take years to get a working app up and running.

krasny said :

Aenveigh said :

You should include a button in the app, “send a message to TAMS/ the ACT govt that you’re a MyBus user, and would like all stop, timetable and GPS data released in an open-source format”

You should include a button in the app that reports back to ACTION/other MyBus users when buses are late/no-shows.

Yes, especially given unlike most other pulbic tranpsort companies, ACTION don’t publicly release their performance data…

My suggestion would be to code into the app information in this table to assist users to find what route number they need to service a particular suburb or venue.

Currently I get around this by having the Busmap PDF loaded onto my phone so I check it to find the route closest to where I want to go, then go back to Mybus to find the timetable.

Aenveigh said :

You should include a button in the app, “send a message to TAMS/ the ACT govt that you’re a MyBus user, and would like all stop, timetable and GPS data released in an open-source format”

You should include a button in the app that reports back to ACTION/other MyBus users when buses are late/no-shows.