Warning: Grumpiness ahead.

This is cool and all, but do we really need another service catering to this demographic? I get that this sort of thing is hot right now, but I’m still disappointed; I wish I was reading about a company bringing some innovation to MUNI instead of cashing in on the area’s urban upper-middle-class.

Some of the stuff they’re doing would do wonders for the public transportation sector. Off the top of my head:

• Good GPS tracking would help customers plan their schedules more efficiently provide transit authorities with valuable data that can be used to create more efficient schedules and services.
• Bluetooth check-ins would help alleviate some of the headaches and time-consuming parts of the boarding process. Those with BT-enabled devices could simply walk onto the bus or train and take their seat, while others could use normal passes or cash.
• Knowing seat availability might help people plan their schedules more efficiently. Maybe the bus you usually take is crowded; the one 15 minutes later typically has more open seats, so you decide to take that one and have a more relaxed commute.
• We won’t be seeing vending machines on buses any time soon, but contracting with grocers placing vending machines stocked with WIC-approved items at a few stops might help lower-income individuals get food on the go.

tl;dr: Neat service. Keeping my fingers crossed that this eventually helps disrupt public transit and doesn't stop at providing Bay Area yuppies with another taxi service. I’d probably give it a shot if I was in SF.