Apple’s iOS Maps leaves off transit lines
Jeremy Hobson: Apple’s new operating system for iPhones and iPads has drawn plenty of praise. But one group that is not so happy: Public Transit riders.
From the Transportation Nation desk at WNYC here in New York, Andrea Bernstein explains.
Andrea Bernstein: When Apple V.P. Scott Forstall unveiled the company’s new operating system last week, he was breathless with enthusiasm.
Scott Forestall: Next is Maps.
Not included: Transit directions. BART trains? Not there. Metro? Not there? The T? Not there.
Joshua Robin: I was, first off, kind of surprised.
Joshua Robin is innovation director for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.
Robin: For the last couple of years, it’s been a huge benefit to our riders to have transit as an option.
iPhones have been relying on Google Maps, which do include transit directions. But now that Apple is working on its own system, it dropped transit. Pro-transit groups started a petition to get Apple to reconsider.
Apple isn’t commenting, beyond what Forestall said at the announcement.
Forestall: Instead of trying to build those ourselves, we are going to integrate and feature and promote your apps for transit right within the Maps app in iOS 6.
So for a while at least, you’ll have to download them yourselves.
In New York, I’m Andrea Bernstein for Marketplace.
There’s a lot happening in the world. Through it all, Marketplace is here for you.
You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible.
Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.
