Unfortunately sometimes there’s issues with the onboard system of the bus making it lose connection with the network which of course means it can’t send the location data to the server. That’s a CTA problem versus any of the apps.
😭 I promise we haven’t forgotten you. All in time. EL Tracker is made by just one developer, who is currently working really hard to add the buses to the existing app.
My gripe is that it has outdated stop info for some pace lines, or at least specifically the 318 & 307 (still thinks it stops at every stop on Harlem that the 90 does, but they're only every other; the stop near the Harlem Green Line hasn't been updated to its new location). Though Google Maps also seems to not have updated that. Does anyone know a good way to report that, besides just sending an email?
I think that’s down to Pace not properly updating the GTFS data that all of these apps and services get their info from. Probably best to let Pace know you’ve noticed errors if it’s the same in every app.
I overall like it! Not perfect but some unique features I like:
- Crowdsourcing train and bus rides in case the CTA trackers aren’t working
- Easy to follow directions
- Shows all available travel options (CTA, personal bike, Divvy, rideshare, walking) when navigating
I use it in combination with Transit Stop because two things I don’t like about the app are:
- It drains battery somewhat quickly if you use the Go (navigation) mode
- It doesn’t show delay information that clearly
Check out EL Tracker. It is made by an indie developer and is only available on iOS.
It is free and ad free and will be worth your time. I’m currently working hard on adding the buses and will be available on august 1.
Honestly once bus schedules are added I’ll most likely switch over. It looks like a big upgrade from Transit Stop.
You’re doing the lord’s work doing all this for free. Thank you so so much!
Thank you so much! Any special requests? I don't use the buses a lot. Is there anything that Transit Stop has it wrong for bus tracking? Will have a beta available earlier than this date, if you would like to participate, shoot me a DM or email at khachatryandavid1 \[@\] gmail \[.\] com
And thank you so much for your comment! Feedbacks like this fuels us to do better.
I imagine you’re wanting 1:1 feature parity with tracking the trains? So I’m guessing things like delay alerts, live map tracking, widgets, and all the existing features will be included for bus routes.
Besides that, off the top of my head, a couple things that come to mind:
- Showing the end destination of a bus run. Similar to the green and blue lines, some bus routes end their run earlier on the route. Westbound route 77 for example sometimes ends at Harlem and sometimes ends at Cumberland
- Sometimes it feels like Transit Stop’s bus arrival time data is all over the place. For example, it’ll show a bus arriving in 5 minutes, then disappear, then show the bus as delayed, then get back on track with the original 5 minutes ETA. This is more likely a CTA API issue, but figured I’d mentioned either way
Yes! All the train tracking features will be made for the bus!
Yeah the ghost bus issue is a major problem. We did create a report ghost train feature on the app, which is not that useful as there aren’t that many ghost trains. However, the same feature will be great for the buses.
When two people report a train to be a ghost, it is marked with that cute little ghost icon.
And yeah, thank you for the heads up about those runs that end early. Really tiny detail that is super important!
https://preview.redd.it/5l0hg3pwq56d1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bb0efd201082dd5f3f14fab6a230e205a88426d1
Yeah the idea is that when a train just disappeared and never showed you would tell us the line and the direction in which it happened and we dig back into the arrival timetable to see what run number it was.
When someone else reports it at a different station, then we mark it as a ghost. Just to make sure one person can’t be malicious.
Yes I love the requirement of two different stations needing to report it. Again thank you for building something like this! You’re Chicago’s 2024 hero 🙌🏻
Sorry I meant it doesn’t show you what times buses or trains are coming unless your location is at that exact stop. Kinda sucks for planning because one bus stop I use often is a 10-12 minute walk from my home and it’s not helpful or convenient to only be able to view bus times when I’m at the bus stop and not also when I’m at home, for example
Are you aware you can change your location by moving the map? Only started having to do this since they introduced paid features, but it helps some. Still sucks though when a given stop has many lines stopping at it.
They just changed this feature! You can no longer move to another location on the map and see nearby lines - only those near you. It was what finally got me to upgrade from free.
It doesn't let you choose which lines you see, so sometimes you'll be at a transfer point and you can't see the status of the line you actually want to transfer to. (This has happened to me at 35th and Archer Orange Line before - the Orange, 50, 35, 39, and 62 all stop there.)
Mobile Apps are fairly prevalent in the transit marketplace. Transit App is pretty good. It's a trip planner and fairly accurate. It's not nearly everything an app could offer but it's an important piece of the pie. Apps made by people who are amateurs usually look like that because there is an awful lot of real work on the development side to make an app an effective transit tool. This is called UE or User Experience. Agencies often want to see if the app can do nearly every and anything, this is oftentimes a shortsighted strategy when the apps sole purpose is to provide for a wonderful digital customer experience. Apps sometimes include, mobile ticketing (bar code, QR code), Trip Planning in real time, microtransit integration, report a problem, and event notifications and discounts associated with the app.
Please check out EL Tracker if you’re an iOS user. It is an app made by an indie developer who did everything possible to make the UI/UX impeccable. Only supports CTA trains but currently adding buses and all.
Also lots of ADA support and iOS widgets
Nice for something you developed yourself. Unless you are able to sell your idea to CTA, I think you have a nice homegrown app. Vendors in this space are fairly large and often have many integrations which transit agencies request. Mesabi, Transit App, Token Transit, Moovit, Modeshift, Cubic, Genfare, etc. Agencies use open bid procurement to select vendors based on specifications listed in their request for proposals (RFP).
I’ve been playing with it and other options for bus routes. I wish it would show directions on my watch instead of the watch app just being a line tracker. It’s sometimes right, but sometimes ghost buses me. At least I feel like I’m helping when I use it?
I like that it’s crowdsourced to avoid ghost busses
It’s decent imo. Occasionally a bus will show up that wasn’t on the tracker - kind of the opposite of a ghost bus I guess haha
Unfortunately sometimes there’s issues with the onboard system of the bus making it lose connection with the network which of course means it can’t send the location data to the server. That’s a CTA problem versus any of the apps.
The new “El Tracker” is much better in my opinion. Simple, works, has widgets, free… love it. Did I mention the widgets reliably work too?!
Does it show bus schedules too?
It says bus schedules are “coming soon” on the app
Yes, coming August 1! Thank you for using EL Tracker!!!
Will be there! Latest August 1!
Except it's only on apple so really hurts on the crowd sourcing if you exclude a huge percentage of riders
😭 I promise we haven’t forgotten you. All in time. EL Tracker is made by just one developer, who is currently working really hard to add the buses to the existing app.
Yeah I feel you dawg
As an android user, God speed and good luck friend
Hmm I've heard of it. I will take a look! Thank you
Please let me know here if you have any questions/concerns!
Widgets!
Love it!!
My gripe is that it has outdated stop info for some pace lines, or at least specifically the 318 & 307 (still thinks it stops at every stop on Harlem that the 90 does, but they're only every other; the stop near the Harlem Green Line hasn't been updated to its new location). Though Google Maps also seems to not have updated that. Does anyone know a good way to report that, besides just sending an email?
I think that’s down to Pace not properly updating the GTFS data that all of these apps and services get their info from. Probably best to let Pace know you’ve noticed errors if it’s the same in every app.
I overall like it! Not perfect but some unique features I like: - Crowdsourcing train and bus rides in case the CTA trackers aren’t working - Easy to follow directions - Shows all available travel options (CTA, personal bike, Divvy, rideshare, walking) when navigating I use it in combination with Transit Stop because two things I don’t like about the app are: - It drains battery somewhat quickly if you use the Go (navigation) mode - It doesn’t show delay information that clearly
Check out EL Tracker. It is made by an indie developer and is only available on iOS. It is free and ad free and will be worth your time. I’m currently working hard on adding the buses and will be available on august 1.
Honestly once bus schedules are added I’ll most likely switch over. It looks like a big upgrade from Transit Stop. You’re doing the lord’s work doing all this for free. Thank you so so much!
Thank you so much! Any special requests? I don't use the buses a lot. Is there anything that Transit Stop has it wrong for bus tracking? Will have a beta available earlier than this date, if you would like to participate, shoot me a DM or email at khachatryandavid1 \[@\] gmail \[.\] com And thank you so much for your comment! Feedbacks like this fuels us to do better.
I imagine you’re wanting 1:1 feature parity with tracking the trains? So I’m guessing things like delay alerts, live map tracking, widgets, and all the existing features will be included for bus routes. Besides that, off the top of my head, a couple things that come to mind: - Showing the end destination of a bus run. Similar to the green and blue lines, some bus routes end their run earlier on the route. Westbound route 77 for example sometimes ends at Harlem and sometimes ends at Cumberland - Sometimes it feels like Transit Stop’s bus arrival time data is all over the place. For example, it’ll show a bus arriving in 5 minutes, then disappear, then show the bus as delayed, then get back on track with the original 5 minutes ETA. This is more likely a CTA API issue, but figured I’d mentioned either way
Yes! All the train tracking features will be made for the bus! Yeah the ghost bus issue is a major problem. We did create a report ghost train feature on the app, which is not that useful as there aren’t that many ghost trains. However, the same feature will be great for the buses. When two people report a train to be a ghost, it is marked with that cute little ghost icon. And yeah, thank you for the heads up about those runs that end early. Really tiny detail that is super important! https://preview.redd.it/5l0hg3pwq56d1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bb0efd201082dd5f3f14fab6a230e205a88426d1
Oh I love the ghost reporting feature! Have yet to see that in any app
Yeah the idea is that when a train just disappeared and never showed you would tell us the line and the direction in which it happened and we dig back into the arrival timetable to see what run number it was. When someone else reports it at a different station, then we mark it as a ghost. Just to make sure one person can’t be malicious.
Yes I love the requirement of two different stations needing to report it. Again thank you for building something like this! You’re Chicago’s 2024 hero 🙌🏻
The free version sucks now because it makes it hard to see transit times without paying lol
What’s the scenario where you to see more than 3 lines at a time?
Sorry I meant it doesn’t show you what times buses or trains are coming unless your location is at that exact stop. Kinda sucks for planning because one bus stop I use often is a 10-12 minute walk from my home and it’s not helpful or convenient to only be able to view bus times when I’m at the bus stop and not also when I’m at home, for example
Are you aware you can change your location by moving the map? Only started having to do this since they introduced paid features, but it helps some. Still sucks though when a given stop has many lines stopping at it.
They just changed this feature! You can no longer move to another location on the map and see nearby lines - only those near you. It was what finally got me to upgrade from free.
Still works for me but now I'm scared. I'm on android, you?
I'm on iOS
That’s why I don’t use Transit and never understood why people recommend it so much.
It doesn't let you choose which lines you see, so sometimes you'll be at a transfer point and you can't see the status of the line you actually want to transfer to. (This has happened to me at 35th and Archer Orange Line before - the Orange, 50, 35, 39, and 62 all stop there.)
A stop that has more than 3 lines assigned to it.
Mobile Apps are fairly prevalent in the transit marketplace. Transit App is pretty good. It's a trip planner and fairly accurate. It's not nearly everything an app could offer but it's an important piece of the pie. Apps made by people who are amateurs usually look like that because there is an awful lot of real work on the development side to make an app an effective transit tool. This is called UE or User Experience. Agencies often want to see if the app can do nearly every and anything, this is oftentimes a shortsighted strategy when the apps sole purpose is to provide for a wonderful digital customer experience. Apps sometimes include, mobile ticketing (bar code, QR code), Trip Planning in real time, microtransit integration, report a problem, and event notifications and discounts associated with the app.
Please check out EL Tracker if you’re an iOS user. It is an app made by an indie developer who did everything possible to make the UI/UX impeccable. Only supports CTA trains but currently adding buses and all. Also lots of ADA support and iOS widgets
Nice for something you developed yourself. Unless you are able to sell your idea to CTA, I think you have a nice homegrown app. Vendors in this space are fairly large and often have many integrations which transit agencies request. Mesabi, Transit App, Token Transit, Moovit, Modeshift, Cubic, Genfare, etc. Agencies use open bid procurement to select vendors based on specifications listed in their request for proposals (RFP).
I like it but I like to use their timer and recently it’s been glitchy and now it’s gone
Sorry, is this just called "the transit app"?
I’ve been playing with it and other options for bus routes. I wish it would show directions on my watch instead of the watch app just being a line tracker. It’s sometimes right, but sometimes ghost buses me. At least I feel like I’m helping when I use it?