Tech & VC 18 Aug 2007 06:53 am
Subway Status App on Facebook
It looks like the MTA has comissioned a Facebook app: Subway Status. It’s an interesting idea, but in execution it looks like another example of why web 2.0 behaviors rarely crossover and achieve mainstream adoption.
On the Subway Status app users can:
- Choose their regular subway and network with other riders of the same line.
- Get up-to-date info on schedules / delays.
- Meet other people who take their line regularly
Unfortunately, when I chose the 3 line as my “regular” line, the only users I was given the option to social network with was a guy named “Homeless Tom”. He looks pretty scary… (see pic at end of post).
Also, the MTA has an excellent subway service advisories page at MTA.info, but instead of incorporating that information into the Facebook app, the MTA expects the delays section for each subway line to be filled in by the crowd. Crowdsourcing is clearly not the best way to keep people up-to-date on delays since all information about delays trickles down from the MTA to the public in the first place.
Overall, I think it’s an interesting idea, and I’m glad the MTA didn’t try to make their own social network from scratch… but this MTA Facebook app is really just a novelty. Which is too bad, because I actually think there’s an opportunity for a service like HopStop to do something interesting with the aggregate of their rider information and create an interesting social application.
Here’s the screenshot of my only 3 line friend, Homeless Tom, below:
3 Responses to “Subway Status App on Facebook”
on 19 Aug 2007 at 8:31 am 1.Tim Marman said …
The other issue they have with crowdsourcing is that the point where you would be most likely to write about the delay is when you’re on the platform… where there’s most likely no phone service. Even if you remember to do it when you get out of the subway, it will probably be too late anyway.
And yeah, I would definitely not be too keen on meet up with Homeless Tom :)
on 19 Aug 2007 at 8:32 am 2.Tim Marman said …
The other issue they have with crowdsourcing is that the point where you would be most likely to write about the delay is when you’re on the platform… where there’s most likely no phone service. Even if you remember to do it when you get out of the subway, it will probably be too late anyway.
And yeah, I would definitely not be too keen on meeting up with Homeless Tom :)
on 19 Aug 2007 at 11:35 am 3.michael galpert said …
the mta should create a twitter mashup for each subway line that would enable ppl to subscribe to mta info as well as have ppl twitter information. With texting ppl can type the message and have it be sent once they have service again.
i would have loved to have had something like this when there was the mta meltdown weeks ago