Tuesday, April 15, 2008

How can I find public transportation routes on Google Maps?

To get started, just follow these steps:
Click "Get directions" underneath the search box.
Enter your desired start and end addresses.
Click the "Get Directions button." Google Maps will find driving directions between the two locations.
Click "Take Public Transit" at the top of the left panel to find public transportation routes. (This link will only appear when Google has public transit information for that area.) Google Maps will suggest up to four trips for you to take, which may contain different modes of transportation. For example, one trip may use the train while another uses the bus. Click each trip to see the route displayed on the map. To customize your search:
Click "Options."
Enter the date and departure or arrival time.
Click "Update."

What cities provide transit information?

To see a list of cities where public transit information is currently available, please visit http://www.google.com/transit We're working on expanding this service to other parts of the world.

How do you estimate the cost of driving in the US?

Cost of driving is based on the average mileage for the shortest route between your start and end addresses, multiplied by the cost per mile that the IRS allows businesses to deduct.
According to the IRS, these rates "are based on an annual study of the fixed and variable costs of operating an automobile." Runzheimer International, an independent contractor, conducted the study for the IRS. However, this is only an estimate and doesn't consider tolls, parking fees, or variations in gas mileage for different types of cars.

Google Transit

Plan a trip using public transportation


Use Google Maps to:
Get step-by-step transit directions
Find transit stops in your area
View station information & schedules


New! Learn about transit on Google Maps

Google Transit arrives in Chicago

Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at 9:57 AM Posted by Ron Huberman, President, Chicago Transit AuthorityToday, I had the pleasure of announcing that the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is partnering with Google to bring schedule and station data for our 8 rail lines and 154 bus routes to Google Maps. Having CTA's information available on Google Maps allows us to reach a broader audience; by including our station/stop icons in maps, we can seamlessly introduce people to public transportation options as they look up locations or search for directions, and encourage alternatives to driving.As the second-largest transit agency in the United States, the CTA serves an average of 1.6 million riders per weekday and nearly 500 million rides a year, so being able to provide this new service to our vast ridership and all of the 45 million tourists who visit this great city every year is a great stride in promoting the use and convenience of public transportation.You can find more information about Google Transit in Chicago by visiting http://maps.google.com/chicago,

How do you estimate the cost of driving in the US?

The cost of driving is based on the average mileage for the shortest route between your start and end addresses, multiplied by the cost per mile that the IRS allows businesses to deduct.
According to the IRS, these rates "are based on an annual study of the fixed and variable costs of operating an automobile." Runzheimer International, an independent contractor, conducted the study for the IRS. However, this number is only an estimate and doesn't consider tolls, parking fees, or variations in gas mileage for different types of cars.