Google Maps Will Know How Crowded Your Bus Or Train Will Be

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Google Maps will soon be able to predict how crowded your bus or train will be, based off of ratings by other users.

Google has just added a cool new feature to Maps. It’s called the “crowdedness prediction” and it will now appear when you are using Maps to look up transit directions.

The feature is crowdsourced, which means it is based off of ratings by other users, but the app might also randomly ask you how crowded your transport is while you are riding it.

The new feature was announced in a blogpost:

“There’s nothing more uncomfortable than being packed like a can of sardines on a hot, sweaty train. We’re introducing transit crowdedness predictions so you can see how crowded your bus, train or subway is likely to be based on past rides. Now you can make an informed decision about whether or not you want to squeeze on, or wait a few more minutes for a vehicle where you’re more likely to snag a seat.”

The updated Google Maps also bring in live traffic delays that will tell you if the bus or train is running late, how much these delays are and accurate travel time estimates based on current traffic conditions.