This morning, I visited VICROADS new real time traffic information map, hoping to see something half way useful. I was disappointed! So, I sent them some feedback:
Congratulations on the release of your new traffic info service. What an utterly wasted opportunity it represents!
Why didn’t you develop a tool using Google’s Map API? Then you wouldn’t have excluded Mac users or the growing percentage of Windows users who have discarded the buggy, fault-ridden, default browser.
Through the Google maps interface, you could have accepted user submissions that hilighted local traffic problems instead of just concentrating on the freeways.
I have no doubt you could also have cut your development times dramatically – not having to develop a navigational interface, but that’s alright – you’ve got my taxes and fees to pay for all that!
It’s good enough for dozens of government and semi government organisations to use in the US and UK for traffic information, so why not here?
And what is it with this pathetic 2 line comments box! You want to discourage people from saying too much?
Was that too ranty?
If you wonder what I’m going on about – check out these examples:
- British Traffic Info
- Philadelphia: Traffic and Weather
- UK Traffic Info [2]
- Toronto Transit Commission
Toronto must have some nice data for people to play with. Here’s another excellent Toronto traffic mashup.