Google Maps Meets GRTC!
June 12th, 2009
Unless you drive a Prius clown car packed tight with 12 big-shoed circus employees, you’re bound to get judged for the size of your carbon footprint.
We’re made to feel guilty if we don’t carpool with strangers or walk down West Broad Street for several miles, sweating through our business casual attire while passersby toss quarters into our Starbucks cups.
But thanks to GRTC and Google Transit, you’re jam-crammed guilt trip just got a bit more leg room.
Here is why: I was checking out directions to get to a party this past weekend on Google Maps, and I noticed in the dropdown box that not only could I retrieve driving and walking directions, but now I could learn how to get there via public transit.
It’s called Google Transit, and the functionality is intuitive and pretty sweet, especially for someone who failed reading the GRTC maps correctly in my one previous attempt at riding the bus. To use it, simply enter Point A and Point B in the Google Maps’ online interface, and you get detailed steps complete with bus numbers, pick-up/drop-off spots, times and even links to GRTC.
The Google Labs creation has actually been running in Portland, Oregon since 2005, and grew from there to now cover more than 400 cities worldwide, including the RIC.
Now we all have one less excuse for not taking the bus. And no, Swine Flu doesn’t count anymore, either.
Thanks to Richmond.com for posting this!
