Mobile Apps

Denver-Area Transit Users Can Use Smartphones to Pay Their Fare
The Regional Transportation District hopes that the ability to pay transit fares by smartphone will remove the frustration of waiting in line and searching for correct change.

Like Waze, But for Bikes
The mobile app LaneSpotter, described as a navigation app like Waze but for cyclists, has announced eight cities as the location for a pilot launch.
Transit Riders in Portland Can Pay Their Fare With Their Smartphones
Introducing the Hop Fastpass system.

Lyft Partnering With Amtrak for First-Last Mile Connections
Amtrak is partnering with Lyft to offer train passengers a discounted option for first and last mile needs. New Lyft riders qualify for a $5 savings on each of their first four rides.

Friday Eye Candy: A Mobile App That Provides a Historic Window Into New York
The Urban Archive app will be popular with anyone interested in the history of New York City. Hopefully the idea spreads to other cities soon.

Uber App to Share Transit Departure Times
Uber recently announced a feature that could appease transit advocates concerned about the encroachment of transportation network companies on transit ridership.

Pokémon Go to Expand its Reach in the Community
The makers of Pokémon Go, touted for its potential to activate sedentary Americans since its release last year, will take more initiative to participate in community-based events.

Academic Studies Find Plenty to Like About Pokémon Go
Nearly a year after Pokémon Go and its legion of devout fans hit the streets, researchers are starting to see societal benefits in augmented reality.

A Few Ideas for Planning and Governance in the Digital Age
The Guardian samples prominent examples of digital natives bringing new expectations for the use of technology to the public sector.

Google Can Now Predict Parking Difficulty
The way Google predicts parking difficulty could make it easier to develop "smart city" applications in the future.

Google Maps Update Opens New Access to Mobility and Culture
Google Maps and other navigation and mapping apps have done a lot to inspire and educate people to make the most of their surroundings. New changes to the Google Maps app will add new functionality for those purposes.

Portland Becomes a Testing Ground for App Based Transportation
German multinational Daimler is investing heavily in how people will get around in the future and using Portland, Oregon as a test bed for its plans

Checking in on Two of de Blasio's Big Transportation Promises
Mayor Bill de Blasio made a couple of promises about new the transportation technology that would be available to New Yorkers in 2016. The results of those promises reveal good news for drivers and some bad news for bus riders.

The Days of 'Uber-for-X' May Be Over
On-demand laundry service Washio is only the most recent "Uber-for-X" startup to shut down.

A Mobile Game that Brings Skyscrapers to Kid Level
CityLab reviews the "Skyscraper" mobile app game, from Tinybop, Inc.

Time to Try Pokémon Go: Augmented Reality Connecting People to Places
Planners across the globe have been exploring opportunities to use augmented reality to enhance the way the public engages with the city. Over the last few days Pokémon Go took off, and now people are wandering across cities to catch Pokémon.

6 Trends in Online Community Engagement: the Good and the Bad
With the constellation of civic technologies, like online community engagement platforms, growing quickly, it's important to recognize the positive and negative consequences of new practices in community engagement.

Changes to Google Maps Don't Necessarily Equal Good Cartography
Google Maps has changed a lot since its quick rise to ubiquity. An intrepid blogger digs into the nitty gritty of how the mapping platform has changed, and the consequences of Google's cartography for how the public perceives the world.
New Apps for Discovering Street Food
Apps that improve city living and quality of life in cities are coming to the market seemingly every day. That's fine: it would be impossible to have too many apps for exploring options in street food.
Top Priority for Federal Railroad Administration: Reducing Crossing Crashes
Vehicle crashes at grade crossings have emerged as a top priority for Sarah Feinberg, the new Federal Railroad Administrator. Fatalities at rail crossings in 2014 increased by 15 percent from 2013.
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