Apple Maps Transit Directions Expand to Prague, Czech Republic

[MacRumors]

Apple continues to slowly expand the transit functionality of Apple Maps, today adding Prague, Czech Republic as the third city in Europe behind London and Berlin to be supported.

Apple Maps transit data in Prague includes the Prague Metro and Esko Prague commuter rail, as well as local trams and buses and even Czech Railways' seasonal Cyklohrácek "excursion train" targeting cyclists and families.

Prior to today's expansion to Prague, Apple last week added transit information for San Diego, California and areas of British Columbia, Canada including Vancouver and Victoria. Apple Maps transit data is now available in roughly two dozen metropolitan areas scattered around the world, with an additional concentration of cities in China visible to users only when in the country.

(Thanks, Ram!)

Article Link: Apple Maps Transit Directions Expand to Prague, Czech Republic

 

[slammer0]

I think this is the first city where you can get transit directions by app but not by Siri, at least not in the native language - Siri doesn't support Czech.

 

[mw360]

Let's give that European intern a great big round of applause.

 

[tomnavratil]

Wohoo, great! Thank you the either the European intern or the person who have visited Prague and liked it that much!

 

[Andy00m]

Awesome news, even though we already have had pretty good apps like idos do kapsy or jízdní řády IDOS and Google supports that as well for some time now. Now it would be great time to strike a deal with Czech Banks to brink Apple Pay, we have terminals ready for it.

 

[doelcm82]

I wish they'd had this when I visited Praha. None of the signage was in English. I ended up walking from one side of Prague to the other and then back on they day I was there.

On the plus side, everything was cheap. I changed a $20 travelers check and couldn't spend it all in one day.

This was 25 years ago. It's probably not like that anymore.

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

Czechia.

 

[Baby12]

Wow. But nothing in Poland or any estern countries. Shame

 

[John Mcgregor]

At this rate it will take 20 years.

 

[FieldingMellish]

While wonderful for Maps expansion, I'd still like to hear at that, while in NYC and searching for a common street name, that Apple maps does not first show me that common street name on another continent.

 

[Simche]

This is good news, I'm all for it.

Strange thing though, is that they've made it available in Czech Republic which doesn't have an Apple Retail presence & only 1 Flyover city (Prague ofc). YET they recieve this exclusivity, when for example Sweden (3 Apple Retail Store, 5 Flyover locations) has a need for it. People comute here regularely and local traffic in general is available everywhere for everyone, Transit would be a big welcome to have.

 

[palmerc]

At this rate it will take 20 years.

If you only knew what a **** show the job of public transit data can be. Each and every town can operate independently and with very little in the way of standards. Not to mention the fiefdoms and ownership issues.

Apples first choice to push the problem to the public transit authorities was the logical decision from a developer pain standpoint, unfortunately you can't rely on public transit agencies to have budget or even interest in a reasonable user experience

 

[John Mcgregor]

If you only knew what a **** show the job of public transit data can be. Each and every town can operate independently and with very little in the way of standards. Not to mention the fiefdoms and ownership issues.

Apples first choice to push the problem to the public transit authorities was the logical decision from a developer pain standpoint, unfortunately you can't rely on public transit agencies to have budget or even interest in a reasonable user experience

To me as a user it doesn't help.

 

[Schranke]

Glad to see one more european city joining
I do however not have any hopes of this coming to Denmark anytime soon. i think we have to many delays and work done within our public transport sector for this to ever make sense for a developer

 

[palmerc]

To me as a user it doesn't help.

I was responding to your statement that it would take 20 years, which while hyperbolic is not exactly inaccurate.

In my own personal experience as a developer for such apps, even seemingly well run public transit agencies have terrible IT Infrastructure, poorly conceived APIs and cobble together data from several systems - Realtime data, scheduled, GIS (walking directions), and some sort of deviation notification system.

In the end, you end up with a custom solution per town, and sometimes even by form of transit (for example bus company and light rail are two different entities). Hence, the slow pace of progress.

 

[IGI2]

At this rate it will take 20 years.

I was responding to your statement that it would take 20 years, which while hyperbolic is not exactly inaccurate.

In my own personal experience as a developer for such apps, even seemingly well run public transit agencies have terrible IT Infrastructure, poorly conceived APIs and cobble together data from several systems - Realtime data, scheduled, GIS (walking directions), and some sort of deviation notification system.

In the end, you end up with a custom solution per town, and sometimes even by form of transit (for example bus company and light rail are two different entities). Hence, the slow pace of progress.

Sorry man, the truth is he was TOO optimistic. It will take about 70 years to get to the Poland, a country which is four times bigger than Czech Republic.

 

[rbrian]

I

I was responding to your statement that it would take 20 years, which while hyperbolic is not exactly inaccurate.

In my own personal experience as a developer for such apps, even seemingly well run public transit agencies have terrible IT Infrastructure, poorly conceived APIs and cobble together data from several systems - Realtime data, scheduled, GIS (walking directions), and some sort of deviation notification system.

In the end, you end up with a custom solution per town, and sometimes even by form of transit (for example bus company and light rail are two different entities). Hence, the slow pace of progress.

I was about to ask why it was taking so long... Thanks for answering so quickly!

 

[John Mcgregor]

I was responding to your statement that it would take 20 years, which while hyperbolic is not exactly inaccurate.

In my own personal experience as a developer for such apps, even seemingly well run public transit agencies have terrible IT Infrastructure, poorly conceived APIs and cobble together data from several systems - Realtime data, scheduled, GIS (walking directions), and some sort of deviation notification system.

In the end, you end up with a custom solution per town, and sometimes even by form of transit (for example bus company and light rail are two different entities). Hence, the slow pace of progress.

Maybe Apple can learn from them - http://www.trafi.com
[doublepost=1470058905][/doublepost]

Sorry man, the truth is he was TOO optimistic. It will take about 70 years to get to the Poland, a country which is four times bigger than Czech Republic.

Yeah i kinda was optimistic in my gestimate

 

[Creek0512]

This is good news, I'm all for it.

Strange thing though, is that they've made it available in Czech Republic which doesn't have an Apple Retail presence & only 1 Flyover city (Prague ofc). YET they recieve this exclusivity, when for example Sweden (3 Apple Retail Store, 5 Flyover locations) has a need for it. People comute here regularely and local traffic in general is available everywhere for everyone, Transit would be a big welcome to have.

But does Sweden have an Apple Museum?

 

[Baby12]

In Poland Apple maps are totally useless! Most of features do not work. I mean nearby feature, FlyOver, transit, Siri. In Poland we love contactless payments but Apple Pay seems to be far dream.

Google maps offers more options
Firstly transit
Secondly fantastic navigation with line suggestions
Thirdly street view

And so much more!
In Poland for 16GB iPhone 6S we have to pay around 800€ and we get 1/2 of iPhone. That's true. I hope Apple will notice central and eatern Europe.

 

[truthertech]

I


I was about to ask why it was taking so long... Thanks for answering so quickly!

Facts- While over two hundred million people are now in areas covered by Apple Transit, along with a thousand cities, here's why Apple declined to simply throw the switch and turn them all one at once, ala Google.

-http://appleinsider.com/articles/16/07/07/why-apples-transit-maps-are-rolling-out-so-slowly

 

[IGI2]

In Poland Apple maps are totally useless! Most of features do not work. I mean nearby feature, FlyOver, transit, Siri. In Poland we love contactless payments but Apple Pay seems to be far dream.

Google maps offers more options
Firstly transit
Secondly fantastic navigation with line suggestions
Thirdly street view

And so much more!
In Poland for 16GB iPhone 6S we have to pay around 800€ and we get 1/2 of iPhone. That's true. I hope Apple will notice central and eatern Europe.

Amen.

Great post man, so true.

I'm glad I didn't have to write it.

100% true.

 

[Gasu E.]

Facts- While over two hundred million people are now in areas covered by Apple Transit, along with a thousand cities, here's why Apple declined to simply throw the switch and turn them all one at once, ala Google.

-http://appleinsider.com/articles/16/07/07/why-apples-transit-maps-are-rolling-out-so-slowly

Thank you. Great article!

 

[gnasher729]

Prague Transit on Maps has a particular problem: There are tram stations and metro stations with the same name, and Maps will guide you to whichever one is nearer to you - even when you can save 20 minutes travel time by walking another 100 meters.