The bus tracker tool is now live on Google Maps (Picture: Getty/Metro)
The pesky wait for a bus could be a little less uncertain after Google Maps launched a new tracking feature.
If you have ever relied on a bus outside a city or town,you know how grinding the wait can be,with buses often being cancelled seemingly without a reason,one after another.
In London,the situation is not much better,with average bus speeds,routes and passenger numbers falling.
Now,bus travel is set to become less uncertain thanks to a new Google Maps live tracker option announced today.
It allows passengers to track every vehicle anywhere in England,including outside London.
The bus tracker will show the live buses on a selected route when you search a public transport journey between destinations on Google Maps (click to zoom) (Picture: Google)
The bus tracker works like those on ride-hailing or food delivery apps,allowing people to follow the bus’s journey in real time to see how close it is to the stop.
The tracker,which started today as part of a Department for Transport and Google initiative,is set to end ‘guessing’ when buses will turn up,Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said.
While the tracking option has been available on some other apps before,this is the first time Google Maps,which has millions of daily users in the UK,has brought it to its platform.
People reacted to the new feature on social media.
Mike said: ‘Not being funny but as Sheffielder who basically has to guess Bus times every Saturday – this is the greatest update and initiative the Government has ever done. I feel like a privileged Londoner. Love it.’
One person wrote: ‘Unironically and just unequivocally a good feature.’
Another user said: ‘Now do trains.’
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Meanwhile,the government has blocked bus companies from increasing their ticket prices until next year.
A £3 national bus fare cap will be in place on single fares in England outside London until March 2027,replacing the earlier £2 cap.
In London,bus fares are frozen until July 5,2026,with the pay as you go fare costing £1.75 for an adult,which allows unlimited bus journeys for one hour from the first tap.
How does the bus tracker help you? Let us know by emailing [email protected]
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