ENN Website of the week
Website of the week: JustRoutes.com Friday, August 11 2006
Website of the week: JustRoutes.com
Friday, August 11 2006
by Ralph Averbuch
http://justroutes.com/
JustRoutes.com is an online travel planner created through imaginative use of existing services – otherwise known in some circles as a mashup. It’s all about making better use of public transport. At the moment it’s Dublin focused with 251 Bus, Luas, Dart and train routes to help you get where you’re going. But according to Vincent Glennon and Dave Rooney who set up the service, JustRoutes will eventually cover every public transport route for Ireland.
Dublin commuters confused by the city’s public transport system are now being catered for by a new website - JustRoutes.com.
The online travel planner has been developed by Irish entrepreneurs Vincent Glennon and Dave Rooney as a means to help people make better use of public transportation around Dublin.
The web-based service features a map of Dublin outlining 251 bus, Luas, and train routes with each stop individually marked to help people to get to their destination with minimum fuss.
“The end result for the user is that with three simple mouse clicks on our map, they can find all the routes from their starting point to their destination for free. If there is no direct route between their locations, JustRoutes will tell people how to get there using connections among all the different types of transport,” said co-designer Vincent Glennon.
Developing the site requires Rooney and Glennon to visit each of the city’s public transport spots with a GPS system — a requirement that’s seen the pair visit over 3,600 bus stops to date.
“This [site] started out as a frustration at the transport system. The way we see it: what there is, we can make it a little better. I am getting around the city much more efficiently as a result,” Rooney told ENN.
The three-month old site is generating a lot of positive feedback. The Green Party has expressed an interest while in October Glennon and Rooney were invited to present JustRoutes.com at the Future of Web Apps show, in London. The pair envision the service eventually encompassing every public transport route for the entire island of Ireland.
“The eventual aim for Ireland is that you can start in Ballsbridge in Dublin and if you want to get to Cork Opera House it will give you details on how you can get there,” Rooney explained.
There is also a mobile version of JustRoutes in the works. “It is on two strands. There is one which is WAP, which is more text based. For example you text ‘O’Connell Street to Ballsbridge’ and it will text you back the routes and how to get there. The other strand is a version of the website that will work on smaller devices. It is more designed for people who will be browsing over Wi-Fi-enabled devices such as mobile phones,” said Rooney
The green aspect to the site is more than just a label, according to Rooney. “I don’t drive. I am a big believer in public transport. If we are eliminating a couple of cars off the road in one week, it is a plus for us. For ourselves, we feel it is easier all round if people are using public transport.”
By Bryan Collins