Mobile phone users can now see how likely their bus, train or tube is to be overcrowded thanks to a new Google Maps feature launching in London and 17 other UK towns and cities today.
In a blog post, Google says the feature uses data from past rides to calculate the likely crowdedness of a given service, allowing passengers to decide whether to “squeeze on, or wait a few more minutes for a vehicle where you’re more likely to snag a seat.”
The Maps app is also gaining a second new feature which uses real-time information to alert bus passengers to delays along their route.
Google says: “Unfortunately, transit schedules don’t always reflect real-time traffic conditions that impact your ride, which can cause a lot of unnecessary stress when you end up arriving later than you thought you would.”
However, thanks to its update “you’ll now be able to see if your bus will be late, how long the delay will be, and more accurate travel times based on live traffic conditions along your route.
“You’ll also see exactly where the delays are on the map so you know what to expect before you even hop on your bus.”
