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    1. Technology

    Wheels, Google Transit Promote Customer Friendly Trip Planning

    Sept. 11, 2015
    Related To: Livermore-Amador Valley Transit Authority (Wheels)

    The Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority (LAVTA) announced that Wheels’ bus schedules are now available in Google Maps. Google Transit, a feature of Google Maps, is a web-based application that allows users to plan a trip using public transportation. The service calculates the route, transit time, transfers needed, and any necessary walking directions. Tri-Valley residents and visitors will now have a convenient mechanism for planning trips on public transportation.

    This on-line feature provides directions using the transit option on Google Maps, and provides public transit itineraries as an alternative when a user search for directions in Google Maps. Google provides transit information for many major cities across the United States and elsewhere around the world.

    “People who are familiar with Google, but not necessarily transit, will love this new tool,” said Don Biddle, LAVTA chair. “Riders don’t have to sort through timetables to plan a trip, just enter your desired trip locations and times and Google takes care of the rest. Wheels bus information will also be connected to other transit systems in the Bay Area, such as BART and ACE, allowing users to plan regional transit trips on Google.”

    Ryan Poscharsky, strategic partner manager at Google stated, "We are pleased to welcome LAVTA to Google Maps. This partnership shows LAVTA’s commitment to innovating, as well as serving and attracting new riders. Together we can provide useful and accurate information to help people quickly get to where they want to go."

    Google Maps features a “zoom-in” satellite view, a 3-D Earth view, and a street view of bus stops and the surrounding area for those passengers that may be unfamiliar with their destination or the area. Google Maps provide maps, written directions and automatically creates transfers between other public transit agencies as well as the ability to search by landmarks, businesses and other locations.

    Google Maps will now automatically show Wheels itineraries as an alternative to driving directions, when available. It also provides a link to Wheels website, where riders can find scheduling information, customized planning tools and fare information.