I, too, would love to have NextBus at every stop/shelter. But what I’d love more is a NextBus service that works. Instead, when we’re lucky enough to get a marquee, it works, but does so along the lines of “3 minutes … 1 minute … 24 minutes … 7 minutes … arriving … 10 minutes.”

I’ve found that the most reliable of all the NextBus options (text message, marquee, nextbus.com) is actually the “live map” option on nextbus.com, which shows what appear to be GPS-equipped images of exactly where buses or trains on your chosen route are, live. The problem, of course, is delivering that information. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have a web-enabled phone. Why the same, nearly totally accurate information from the live maps isn’t replicated on the marquee and everywhere else really is mystifying.

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I sadly find that even when I’m at a shelter with NextMuni, I still end up calling my man to ask if he can look up when the bus is coming. They can’t be trusted, those things (NextMuni, not men).

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I agree with Jeff’s comments. The NextBus system would work better if it was a bit better at “predicting” the next arrival. I know, it’s based on the GPS devices installed on the vehicles but sometimes it seems like the arrival times are programmed in using a timetable. Just like earlier tonight, while riding the N outbound to Ocean Beach, I passed up the sign on the Duboce & Noe stop displaying “N to Downtown – 3 min & 57 min”. WTF?? Little did I know that I’d soon find out why the train after the one arriving in 3 minutes would take nearly an hour to arrive…MUNI FAIL over at UCSF (a two-car N heading inbound separated while negotiating the turn in front of UCSF).

It’s too bad MUNI can’t swap those small LED signs with an LCD screen. A week earlier, I finally managed to catch the Connected Bus running on the 18-46th Avenue and discovered that the bus provided passengers with real-time info. NextBus live map showing the location and progress of the bus and arrival time predictions for those tranferring to other lines. I didn’t get to try out the WiFi though…=(

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@ Edmund. The “Connected Bus” series is pretty awesome. I think people are always amazed when I stand up and start tinkering with them. I never see anyone using them. Plus, there are some features on that screen that have YET to be deployed beyond a button that goes nowhere and does zero. Also, regarding the GPS signal and correlation with accuracy on the N outbound stop near Duboce Park — do you think its possible the GPS signal hadn’t had a chance to re-sync? Does the GPS work underground or does the ATCS system provide location while in auto mode, and then relays this back to a centralized real time data-base. I’m

I would say the txtMuni/NextBus SMS system is pretty dead on, and its absolutely hands down the fastest way to get the MUNI info. I’ve been using the SMS system (and web, and the 311 service) for quite some time now and I would say the accuracy rate of the txtMuni/NextBus system is at 90% with predictions solid and delivered quick. I will say I have gotten “no available info” before, or I get the returned SMS 10 mins later (thanks! big help now).

I have been waiting to see more of the beta test LCD’s that I have seen in the MUNI Embarcadero station. Has anyone else seen these? They are black, sleek like normal LCD’s not the behemoth ugly ass gray ones you see in the downtown stops. Plus this system has the MUNI rail map on the screen with prediction times for each of the 6 or 7 rail lines they have. But lately that screen is off and you have to rely on the very 8-bit barely legible parallel line thing they have going now. I mean, in the MUNI booths.. sometimes only seen inside, but often facing outwards, it’s the MUNI metro map, with the left hand column is outbound predictions, and the right hand is inbound. It’s perfect. quick to see your line and make moves. bam. so WTF! why isnt this in other spots?

Sorry for the long rant and I know that MUNI is in a budget shortfall – like every other municipal metro system. My cousin in NYC told me last night that they are looking at raising the rates to 2.50 each way; monthly cards are I believe around 80 – 90$.

look at it like this… can you imagine if this was the Montgomery station here?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogkW8JUg68o

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@ kapshure: Stupid me had stage fright the evening I was on the bus so I never got up to push the button and tinker around with it. I think I was too engrossed in fact that the 40′ Orion had 4 LCD screens installed (for those who haven’t seen it yet, there is one mounted directly behind the driver on what looks to be a vertical storage locker, one across from the first one on the right side and 2 more at the rear of the bus). The only thing I couldn’t figure out was how accurate the emission footprint meters were. Every time the demo cycled back to that screen, the needles never seemed to move.

I would think that the GPS signal emitted from the LRVs is syncronized with the database that displays each vehicle’s location; otherwise, as Jeff mentioned above, the live map would not be as reliable as it currently is. I dunno about the individual shelters equipped with the LED signs though. If they needed to re-sync with whatever server or database that provides it information, it might explain the wildly varying times you see on the signs. Come to think of it, I don’t know how those little signs get their information. Anyone care to venture a guess?

The beta test display is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better than the generic screen capture one they have at all stations (I’ve only seen the beta test one at the Embarcadero and Van Ness Stations). I wonder if it’s basically the live map on NextBus’s website but in a condensed and easier to read form. At least it signs the T correctly going outbound to Sunnydale, unlike the generic one that shows a “K” or even a blank letter.

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What is “Incorrect CAPTCHA. Please try again.” and why did it erase my comment?

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seven, sorry about the mishap! I don’t know what internet demons held our reCaptcha hostage but I’m reposting your comment as we speak!

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I only have one NextMuni shelter within a half mile of me (central Sunset). And all that NextMuni shows is the 71 Outbound… which is pretty useless unless you want to go to the beach. Total fail for NextMuni service out here.

So we just flood 311 with calls whenever we need to know when the N, 71, 48, 28, or 29 will show up.

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