A relatively new app from Google aims to make commuting better for all riders in multiple United States cities.
Pigeon, a crowdsourced transit app that provides better real-time information for riders, was released in New York City on a limited basis in September. In early November, Google launched the app in five more cities: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.
The app is attempting to give commuters accurate transit data. It was founded by Google employees who felt if they commuters could share more information on their trips, they could enhance the commuting experience.
For example, in its first month, Pigeon helped New Yorkers make better transit decisions on hundreds of thousands of trips each month.
If you live in one of the six cities where Pidgeon is available, you can download Pigeon on iOS or sign up a wait list on Android.
Why Pigeon is different
Pigeon will allow users to have access to information like real-time crowds, unexpected incidents, more information about delays, and more. Other apps do not give this type of depth, which comes from crowdsourcing from users.
Users will get an alert when there is important information to share. Two examples include power outages and significant service changes. You can also get custom notifications before you leave your home or office to help you plan your route better.
If you have Pigeon, you can post about delays or other issues by using comments and images. They will be displayed on a map with a picture of the route and in a shared activity feed. Expect to hear from other drivers about train crowdedness, escalator outages, live entertainment, and dirty or unsafe conditions.
If you are a commuter, you should be getting commuter benefits through to help you defray the cost of your commute.
You can save up to $265 per month to use on the subway or other public transportation, rideshares, and qualified parking.
If you’d like more information on commuter benefits, download the 101 Guide below:
