Comments on: iPhone, why do you hate public transportation?

Question: iPhone, why do you hate public transportation?

2bucksplus — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 12:14:18 -0800

I did something stupid today and 'updated' my iPhone 4 to iOS 6.0. The new Maps app doesn't include public transportation options (as Google Maps did previously) which I use extensively here in San Francisco. What are my options? Will anything be as seamless as the Google Maps app was?

By: Tomorrowful

Tomorrowful — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 12:17:30 -0800

Though nothing's been officially announced, it's widely expected that Google will be releasing a standalone Maps app that will work more-or-less like the old one did. Also, you can currently get pretty much the same functionality (including transit directions) by heading to maps.google.com in Mobile Safari.

By: supercres

supercres — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 12:17:59 -0800

You can restore your phone from its most recent backup. (You backed up before upgrading, right?) You can also wait until Google releases an app store-available Maps app, as they are widely expected to do shortly.

By: griphus

griphus — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 12:19:37 -0800

I can't speak to SF specifically, but in NYC, HopStop is a more reliable/accurate public transit info service than Google Maps (although I'm still avoiding upgrading for this very reason.) It looks like it has info for SF, so try giving that a shot until Google throws their hat in the ring.

By: theodolite

theodolite — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 12:19:55 -0800

See previously. It seems like your best bet is to use maps.google.com in Safari and install it as a web app by selecting "Add to Home Screen" from the bookmark menu.

By: alms

alms — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 12:25:48 -0800

You can restore your phone from its most recent backup.

Wrong. You can restore user contents and apps, but you can't downgrade to a previous version of iOS. Once you've updated an iOS device there is no going back.

By: griphus

griphus — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 12:31:52 -0800

You can downgrade from iOS 6 if you meet a specific set of requirements, but it involves jailbreaking and mucking around with firmware which is probably more trouble than its worth.

By: grapesaresour

grapesaresour — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 12:32:59 -0800

The Transporter app is great for SF public transportation stuff. I use it pretty much exclusively even with google maps.

By: kendrak

kendrak — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 13:35:36 -0800

OpenPlans had a Kickstarter campaign for their transit app, which was funded last month. No idea when Open Trip Planner will be ready for prime time.

By: Ookseer

Ookseer — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 14:29:05 -0800

Seconding Transporter app. After I downloaded it I rarely touched Google's Maps again. (At least in SF.) Doesn't just give routes and schedules but finds your nearest station/stop and live time of MUNI and BART trains.

By: rockindata

rockindata — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 14:33:07 -0800

When I lived in the Bay Area (Oakland/SF) I loved iCommute SF. It wasn't really a trip planner though- you just kept track of your favorite routes and stops, and it would figure out the nearby stops. If you take public transit regularly though- that's generally all you need.

By: raisingsand

raisingsand — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 14:39:30 -0800

I've used Hopstop in SF and NYC. It works great in both cities.

By: oneirodynia

oneirodynia — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 14:54:16 -0800

511.org has a comprehensive list of third party apps on their site (also their own).

By: xil

xil — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 17:17:15 -0800

Transporter is consistently crashing when I try it. iCommute has been pretty reliable for me, and it has essentially the same feature set.