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Hi my name is Katie Dennis-Gunnerson and today I'm going to show you how to use Google Maps to plan your bus route.
At the end of this video you will be able to:
Use Google Maps to find the most convenient bus route for your trip
and use the tools within Google Maps to customize your bus route search results.
Google Maps can be used on a desktop or laptop computer
a tablet or on your smartphone.
You may have used Google Maps for driving directions...
but it is also helpful when using public transit.
You do not have to be signed into a Google account to use Google Maps.
Google Maps may recognize your general location based on your IP address or wireless network.
If you are signed into a Google account. Google Maps may recognize a more specific location
remember frequently searched addresses and if you've designated an address as your "home."
During this tutorial, I will remain signed out of my Google account.
Let's begin...
Let's begin on the Google homepage
by clicking the box in the right hand corner, next to the sign-in button.
we'll click that and then we'll select "Maps."
You can also just go to google.com/maps
From there we'll click the directions button in the upper left hand corner. It's the blue arrow
And then we'll select public transit, which is the icon in between the car and the person walking in the upper left hand corner.
Now let's do a search...
Let's do a search from an address in Madison (typing noise) and when I start typing it in, Google Maps recognizes it.
So we've entered our starting point...
and below we'll enter our destination...
Let's say we want to go to Meriter Hospital, on South Park, which Google Maps also recognizes.
So from here it will generate a list of bus route options.
and then let's refine our results.
So the first setting we need to change is "Leave now"
Say I'm planning a trip tomorrow from 2606 Ardsley to Meriter Hospital...
and I need to be at Meriter, tomorrow at 10 am...
so I'm going to change it from "Leave now" to "Arrive by" because I don't know what time I need to leave in order to get there by 10am.
So I've changed and then I will change the date by clicking on the arrow to the right of the date.
to Wednesday, November 9th.
and I'll change the time to 10am.
These times round up or down to the nearest half hour
So when I click on "Arrive by" and 10am, it generates some results below...
You'll see that there's a range of times you could arrive, between 9:44
even at 9:17 and 9:47, so it's actually between 9:00 and 10 o'clock.
based on the routes available in between the two addresses.
So I want to take the fastest route, which I can also change up here at "Options."
I can choose the best route, which is the fastest, fewer transfers or less walking.
I'll leave it at the best route. If you live in a city with multiple public transit options, you can select which one you prefer there on the left.
So I've selected "Best route" and I'll hit "Close."
So it looks like the best route is the fastest route is the first one, 31 minutes.
You can see more details here and I will click on "Details" to see even more details.
It looks like I'll need to leave 2606 Ardsley at 9:13
and I'll walk four minutes and click the arrow below walk to see the directions to the bus stop...
and I'll arrive at 9:17, the bus leaves south Beltline and Todd and 9:17
and if I click on the arrow below 18, the bus number, I can see each stop and what time it stops along the way.
If I want to see route information, I can click on Route Information here, I'll open it in a new tab...
and it goes to the City of Madison's Metro Transit website
and it shows me a page, specifically for that route...I'll exit out of that.
So it looks like we have to make a transfer at the North Transfer Point
and it says we're going to stay on the same vehicle, so this bus changes from 18 to 4.
and it's an 11 minute ride with 13 stops and it shows you every stop again.
and we'll arrive at South Mills and Mound at 9:41
and we'll walk three minutes and we'll reach Meriter hospital.
This ride will cost $2 dollars and there's more information at the bottom and a phone number...if your bus doesn't show up on time.
If you note the icons at the top, this icon will share this set of directions to your phone--and you do have to be signed into a Google account
This will give you a URL, the share link for you to copy and paste this specific set of directions or the print icon where you can print the directions...
Let's go back, by hitting the arrow in the left hand corner
and we'll see our other options again here. You can also see the bus routes on the map on the right hand side of the screen.
and if you select the route you're looking for, the one that's the fastest, 31 minutes...
you'll see it in more detail if you zoom in
so these blue dots are the part of the route you will have to walk...that's what those blue dots are...from the bus stop to the destination.
then we'll go back...and you'll see that you have other bus routes available and you can use
you can use the "Schedule Explorer"at the bottom to see every bus route available between those two addresses along a timeline throughout the day.
and I'm scrolling out with my mouse and you can go along the timeline. You can also refine your results here.
and I'll exit out of that. So I have selected the bus route I'm happy with.
and if you would like to go back, you can also reverse the starting point and destination
so you can also plan your bus route back.
and you can change the time here, you can say you'd like the last available bus or want to leave now or depart at a certain time.
and that is how you use Google Maps to plan your bus route.
Now, try it out for yourself...
In your web browser, go to google.com/maps. Click the "Directions" icon.
select the "Public Transit" icon, enter your "Starting point" and "Destination."
Use the "Options" function for route, select "leave now," "arrive by," "depart at," or "last available."
See the "Details" for the available routes.
Did you find a route that works for you?
Thanks for walking, now go catch your bus!