Comments on: Toronto’s Google Transit embarrassment http://www.christindal.ca/2009/02/18/torontos-google-transit-embarrassment/ Shooting my mouth off since 2006 Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:05:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Andy Zuckergruber http://www.christindal.ca/2009/02/18/torontos-google-transit-embarrassment/comment-page-1/#comment-85610 Andy Zuckergruber Mon, 23 Aug 2010 14:54:24 +0000 http://www.christindal.ca/?p=759#comment-85610 As I read this informative article - more than a year later - I notice that in August 2010 we still don't have a working transit google on googlemaps. Only months away as you had hoped - fizzled out like every other TTC project. Shame. They tax us to death. Raise the rates. But when you want to access a route using Google maps on your swanky iPhone 4 you are bogged down by TTC politics and a hamstringed city council. As I read this informative article – more than a year later – I notice that in August 2010 we still don’t have a working transit google on googlemaps. Only months away as you had hoped – fizzled out like every other TTC project. Shame. They tax us to death. Raise the rates. But when you want to access a route using Google maps on your swanky iPhone 4 you are bogged down by TTC politics and a hamstringed city council.

]]> By: Paul Schreiber http://www.christindal.ca/2009/02/18/torontos-google-transit-embarrassment/comment-page-1/#comment-73334 Paul Schreiber Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:54:20 +0000 http://www.christindal.ca/?p=759#comment-73334 <blockquote>Interim Chief General Manager Gary Webster wrote to say that “the TTC considers the development of its information and communication resources to be a very important item” (try saying that three times fast) and that they had “participated…in some preliminary information gathering sessions with Google Transit project leaders.” Finally, he added that since “TTC staff are involved” he would “respectfully decline” volunteer help.</blockquote> This was similar to the experience we had with the University of Waterloo. We wanted to build them a new open source co-op system. Instead, they ended up with some multimillion dollar Oracle/PeopleSoft monstrosity (which I hear is terrible).

Interim Chief General Manager Gary Webster wrote to say that “the TTC considers the development of its information and communication resources to be a very important item” (try saying that three times fast) and that they had “participated…in some preliminary information gathering sessions with Google Transit project leaders.” Finally, he added that since “TTC staff are involved” he would “respectfully decline” volunteer help.

This was similar to the experience we had with the University of Waterloo. We wanted to build them a new open source co-op system. Instead, they ended up with some multimillion dollar Oracle/PeopleSoft monstrosity (which I hear is terrible).

]]> By: Toronto’s Flaws #1 at electric relaxation http://www.christindal.ca/2009/02/18/torontos-google-transit-embarrassment/comment-page-1/#comment-73201 Toronto’s Flaws #1 at electric relaxation Tue, 08 Dec 2009 23:08:11 +0000 http://www.christindal.ca/?p=759#comment-73201 [...] Public Transit doesn’t work. Seriously, what the shit? In my mind’s little fantasy world, this city is supposed to be much better run than San [...] [...] Public Transit doesn’t work. Seriously, what the shit? In my mind’s little fantasy world, this city is supposed to be much better run than San [...]

]]> By: Simonyyz http://www.christindal.ca/2009/02/18/torontos-google-transit-embarrassment/comment-page-1/#comment-53453 Simonyyz Thu, 05 Mar 2009 19:07:21 +0000 http://www.christindal.ca/?p=759#comment-53453 Thanks for the breakdown - it sent me off to the ttc site in search of that orphaned reference you mentioned - I'd never noticed! I did a search on their site, and search for "trip planner" and "trip planning" returned some interesting documents, that spell out some more of the history of the TTC's grappling with this issue. Although it in no way exonerates their lack of action on this - it does paint a depressingly familiar (to anyone who works in a larg-ish government-funded institution) picture of long steering committee meetings, existing legacy projects, due diligence reports etc. e.g.: http://www.ttc.ca/postings/gso-comrpt/documents/report/f2727/_conv.htm http://www.ttc.ca/postings/gso-comrpt/documents/report/f3450/Procurement_Authorization_-_Internet_Trip_Planning_Application.pdf http://www.ttc.ca/postings/gso-comrpt/documents/report/f2790/_conv.htm Thanks for the breakdown – it sent me off to the ttc site in search of that orphaned reference you mentioned – I’d never noticed! I did a search on their site, and search for “trip planner” and “trip planning” returned some interesting documents, that spell out some more of the history of the TTC’s grappling with this issue. Although it in no way exonerates their lack of action on this – it does paint a depressingly familiar (to anyone who works in a larg-ish government-funded institution) picture of long steering committee meetings, existing legacy projects, due diligence reports etc. e.g.:

http://www.ttc.ca/postings/gso-comrpt/documents/report/f2727/_conv.htm
http://www.ttc.ca/postings/gso-comrpt/documents/report/f3450/Procurement_Authorization_-_Internet_Trip_Planning_Application.pdf
http://www.ttc.ca/postings/gso-comrpt/documents/report/f2790/_conv.htm

]]> By: Andrew http://www.christindal.ca/2009/02/18/torontos-google-transit-embarrassment/comment-page-1/#comment-52149 Andrew Wed, 18 Feb 2009 22:25:58 +0000 http://www.christindal.ca/?p=759#comment-52149 This is insane. Way to break it down. I've said it before - my buddy's dad worked at the TTC as a consultant, left for seven years, stepped back into his old job like he'd been on a two week trip. That place is so committed to its archaic practices and bloated infrastructures they'll still be hiking fares when we're all flying around in our Jetsons-style cars.... ahh the future... This is insane. Way to break it down. I’ve said it before – my buddy’s dad worked at the TTC as a consultant, left for seven years, stepped back into his old job like he’d been on a two week trip. That place is so committed to its archaic practices and bloated infrastructures they’ll still be hiking fares when we’re all flying around in our Jetsons-style cars…. ahh the future…

]]> By: Dan http://www.christindal.ca/2009/02/18/torontos-google-transit-embarrassment/comment-page-1/#comment-52139 Dan Wed, 18 Feb 2009 19:54:55 +0000 http://www.christindal.ca/?p=759#comment-52139 Is it me or is the TTC actively hostile towards any third party offering to act as a guide to their system? They've also given the cold shoulder to user-generated ride guides. Is it me or is the TTC actively hostile towards any third party offering to act as a guide to their system? They’ve also given the cold shoulder to user-generated ride guides.

]]> By: Ian http://www.christindal.ca/2009/02/18/torontos-google-transit-embarrassment/comment-page-1/#comment-52137 Ian Wed, 18 Feb 2009 18:52:53 +0000 http://www.christindal.ca/?p=759#comment-52137 Edmonton signed on the day after Calgary too (not to rub salt in Toronto's wounds). Edmonton signed on the day after Calgary too (not to rub salt in Toronto’s wounds).

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