In addition to transit and bike+transit directions, I’ve become totally obsessed with .using just biking directions on @transit.app. The stress level indicators on routing are great. And you can customize walking and riding speeds. Why did I mess with Google maps for so long? - ThreadSky

nondriver.bsky.social • 15 days ago

In addition to transit and bike+transit directions, I’ve become totally obsessed with .using just biking directions on @transit.app. The stress level indicators on routing are great. And you can customize walking and riding speeds. Why did I mess with Google maps for so long?

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sv-rub-a-dub.bsky.social•15 days ago

While I agree that TransitApp has the best bike routing hands-down, their businesses practices are insanely shady. Until a short time ago, the app was completely free to use. Then, without warning, they announced that looking at all bus schedules would cost money.

sv-rub-a-dub.bsky.social•15 days ago

They would choose a random arbitrary set of buses at busier locations that free users could view schedules for, but otherwise, pay up or you don't get to know where your bus is. But they were REALLY smart about it.

sv-rub-a-dub.bsky.social•15 days ago

They started what I can only describe as a protection racket for transit agencies: rope them into being official partners, get their ridership hooked on a great app, and then tell the transit agencies that if they want their riders to be able to keep using it, they have to pay a mountain of cash.

sv-rub-a-dub.bsky.social•15 days ago

Unfortunately services like BC Transit figured that out too late. As of, if I recall correctly, today, we in VC no longer have access to the TransitApp "Royale" (ie premium) subscription and have to pay an obscene $24.99 a year for it. That would be so bad if it was something special...

sv-rub-a-dub.bsky.social•15 days ago

...But it's based on public data. The bike data is pulled from OSM. The bus data is is from GTFS feeds, many of which are accessible to the public.

I have deleted TransitApp off my phone because of this. And as a GTFS feed developer, I am more and more uncomfortable sending my data to them.

transit.app•10 days ago

(1/) Thanks for sharing your thoughts. We understand it can be frustrating that we’re asking people to subscribe for certain features. Royale helps support our work for the long haul. Even without it, our core features remain free. You can learn more here: https://transitapp.com/royale

froyndlich.bsky.social•14 days ago

The variety of the friendly #HumanHybridMobility could made more famous😍so that the people in the country also know alternatives to the StinkyRoaringCars🤩📢 https://bsky.app/profile/froyndlich.bsky.social/post/3llmbhjwdp22x #HealthyMobility #FutureMobility 😊..more↓+ #IngenieurTalent🥰 #Velomobil #MobilityForFuture🥰

reneeautumn.bsky.social•15 days ago

Please say there’s a gay speed option

reneeautumn.bsky.social•15 days ago

W H A T

reneeautumn.bsky.social•15 days ago

I was going to say, how did I not know this exists, but I think it’s because for a long time transit app didn’t support Sarasota, and frankly everywhere I want to go is faster by bike than by bus

mb-z.bsky.social•15 days ago

I just recently discovered @transit.app app and love this part of it.

sv-rub-a-dub.bsky.social•15 days ago

Please reconsider using it. See my thread on how they operate what amounts to a protection racket against transit agencies. The bike routing data is pulled from OSM.

nondriver.bsky.social•15 days ago

What routing app do you use for bike directions instead?

sv-rub-a-dub.bsky.social•15 days ago

Visual planning using CyclOSM, since it contains literally the same data. BRouter can also work but it's a bit glitchy.

I don't for a second think TransitApp is a bad bike planner. It's hands-down the best. It just has ethical issues I can't reconcile as someone who does transit data consulting.

nondriver.bsky.social•15 days ago

I guess I’m willing to pay for an app I use for multiple hours a day. (I know I’m paying in other ways for using Google. ) when I’ve tried biking directions on OSMAnd it routes on too high speed roads, roads that I would never bike on.

sv-rub-a-dub.bsky.social•15 days ago

That's fair. Like I said, they have hands down the best bike planning platform.

mb-z.bsky.social•15 days ago

If I’m understanding correctly, the issue is that they tier out some of their app features & functionality to a paid option of $25/year using public data from the transit agencies? Does the agency somehow give Transit exclusive rights to the data or agree not to develop their own competing service?

sv-rub-a-dub.bsky.social•15 days ago

Nope. But the problem is one that is "invisible." People get used to using the app, and then when the agency no longer can afford whatever their extortionate agency-wide fee is (because some agencies misguidedly pay for Royale for anyone riding their buses), people are stuck paying for it themself.

mb-z.bsky.social•15 days ago

I think I’m not understanding the fee and racket part. Agencies pay the developer to use their data and display it in the Transit app in addition to just providing them the data or more closely working together?

And then when you say pay for it themselves are you referring to the $25/year?

sv-rub-a-dub.bsky.social•15 days ago

1) TransitApp gets everyone - individuals and agencies - hooked on their free app.
2) TransitApp suddenly paywalls all their good features but tells transit agencies they can give them to riders for free as long as the agency pays a huge fee. Public doesn't notice.
3) TransitApp jacks up the fee.

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