Comments on: Transit Authority Rejects Openness, Thumbs Nose at Web http://technosailor.com/2008/12/22/transit-authority-rejects-openness-thumbs-nose-at-web/ Business and Technology with Common Sense Thu, 24 May 2012 21:21:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4-beta4-20883 By: Kenya http://technosailor.com/2008/12/22/transit-authority-rejects-openness-thumbs-nose-at-web/comment-page-1/#comment-46724 Kenya Tue, 23 Dec 2008 21:25:37 +0000 http://technosailor.com/?p=7144#comment-46724 I read that story in DCist in disbelief. WMATA should pay Google to help them get a hold of and organize all of the untapped information instead of the other way around. Working with Google might initially increase costs but they will realize a cost savings in no longer have to support the antiquated system they are currently running. Then they could concentrate on their core mission and dare I say, build a system based on how people want to use Metro instead of just bringing people in from the suburbs to work downtown which was the initial intention in the 60s. BTW, I don't think you need to sponsor the sit in protest at Metro Center. That station as well as the entire system is already going to be mobbed during Inauguration week. I read that story in DCist in disbelief. WMATA should pay Google to help them get a hold of and organize all of the untapped information instead of the other way around. Working with Google might initially increase costs but they will realize a cost savings in no longer have to support the antiquated system they are currently running. Then they could concentrate on their core mission and dare I say, build a system based on how people want to use Metro instead of just bringing people in from the suburbs to work downtown which was the initial intention in the 60s.

BTW, I don’t think you need to sponsor the sit in protest at Metro Center. That station as well as the entire system is already going to be mobbed during Inauguration week.

]]> By: Rob Chant http://technosailor.com/2008/12/22/transit-authority-rejects-openness-thumbs-nose-at-web/comment-page-1/#comment-46723 Rob Chant Tue, 23 Dec 2008 14:21:13 +0000 http://technosailor.com/?p=7144#comment-46723 All I know about the DC metro system, I learned in the Capital Wasteland... (now the London Underground, that I do happen to know a fair bit about). All I know about the DC metro system, I learned in the Capital Wasteland… (now the London Underground, that I do happen to know a fair bit about).

]]> By: Stuart Lander http://technosailor.com/2008/12/22/transit-authority-rejects-openness-thumbs-nose-at-web/comment-page-1/#comment-46722 Stuart Lander Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:48:15 +0000 http://technosailor.com/?p=7144#comment-46722 It's a terrible shame that some parts of government still operate and act in this way. The single most important project that government IT departments should be focusing (outside of normal operations) is opening up their data so that the developer community can innovate. The benefits to the public could be immense if they did and the benefits to government internally could be even bigger. Shame on WMATA. I have read that the blame on not opening up is on a lack of funding. This is no excuse. I am sure that cost reductions in other areas could easily be found if the desire was there. My fear is that the desire is not there. It’s a terrible shame that some parts of government still operate and act in this way. The single most important project that government IT departments should be focusing (outside of normal operations) is opening up their data so that the developer community can innovate. The benefits to the public could be immense if they did and the benefits to government internally could be even bigger. Shame on WMATA. I have read that the blame on not opening up is on a lack of funding. This is no excuse. I am sure that cost reductions in other areas could easily be found if the desire was there. My fear is that the desire is not there.

]]> By: Carol http://technosailor.com/2008/12/22/transit-authority-rejects-openness-thumbs-nose-at-web/comment-page-1/#comment-46721 Carol Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:39:16 +0000 http://technosailor.com/?p=7144#comment-46721 Even the Maryland MTA uses Google Maps for scheduling, although the performance could be a little better....(saved searches, anyone?) I'm really surprised that the DC Metro system still shuts down so early -- nice way to make sure you have an exodus of drunk people on the highways after the bars close. Even the Maryland MTA uses Google Maps for scheduling, although the performance could be a little better….(saved searches, anyone?) I’m really surprised that the DC Metro system still shuts down so early — nice way to make sure you have an exodus of drunk people on the highways after the bars close.

]]> By: Jeremy Bicha http://technosailor.com/2008/12/22/transit-authority-rejects-openness-thumbs-nose-at-web/comment-page-1/#comment-46720 Jeremy Bicha Mon, 22 Dec 2008 23:32:44 +0000 http://technosailor.com/?p=7144#comment-46720 I agree with you that it sounds like the DC metro system is being mismanaged. Obviously, lots of people use Google Maps to get around. Trying to make money off Google (or other) ads (at the expense of licensing the data to Google) or worse trying to sell basic schedule data to customers just makes it harder for tourists (& locals) to be customers of your subway! I agree with you that it sounds like the DC metro system is being mismanaged. Obviously, lots of people use Google Maps to get around. Trying to make money off Google (or other) ads (at the expense of licensing the data to Google) or worse trying to sell basic schedule data to customers just makes it harder for tourists (& locals) to be customers of your subway!

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