Where are the numbers, TriMet?
I have the bus schedules down pretty well by memory for the stops near my house, and I always use Transit Tracker to check the stop schedule just before I leave. But I’ve been traveling to a few locations lately where it’d be great to get some information - anything at all - about when the next bus is scheduled to arrive.
Often times, there are shelters - but no schedules posted. And none of the stop signs I’ve seen lately bother to list the Stop ID number.
What’s a Stop ID number? It’s a four digit identifier for the stop that lets you access up to the minute bus arrival times. This, from the TriMet website:
You can use the Stop ID to get real-time bus and MAX arrivals from Transit Tracker‚Ñ¢ on the web, from a touch-tone phone or from a web-enabled cell phone or handheld/PDA.
But you know, when you’re out and about, none of those newfangled devices work so well if you don’t have the Stop ID number in the first place. And here’s what I’d suggest to TriMet- why don’t we start with the basics. Why not get one of those old-fashioned sticker thingies, grab a Sharpie and just put the number on the sign or shelter already?
I, for one, would appreciate it.
I can see it now… TriMet fares will go up on 8/1 to cover the cost of Sharpies.
Or, you could call 5032387433 (ride) and use their phone system to navigate to the precise stop you’re at and hear the phone.
Betsy, they did implement it correctly. You just never called the number they *did* put on the sign.
Wrong on both counts, sir.
1. Some stops *do* have the four-digit Stop ID posted.
2. The three stops I recall seeing in the last few days did NOT have the phone number listed on the sign (believe me, my wait was long enough - I’d have bothered to navigate through the painful voice menus to find out when the bus was eventually going to show up.)
Have you tried those voice menus when you don’t have the Stop ID? I’ve yet to have them work correctly.
Well, I’ve never tried to navigate the voice menus, but if you have an internet-enabled phone, you can go to http://www.trimet.org/wap and navigate the internet menus to find the stop. I do that all the time… it’s the only thing I use my phone’s internet features for. It works really well!