Thursday, January 2, 2014

TriMet's vehicle location data isn't always real

Compare the times and locations in the three screenshots below. The bus had temporary broken down on SE Cesar Chavez near Woodstock and was told to deadhead after it was working again.

I observed what was presumably schedule-based data being given (see here), as well as the location bouncing back and forth on the interactive map.

The operator not making stops and opening the doors (which I've heard is when the system recalibrates) may also play a part.

The "ON TIME" is actually the system not being able to correlate the bus's position with the schedule and calculate lateness.  Note the lack of a destination at the same time.

Lastly, the first screenshot shows the bus at SE Belmont but says it's between Stop ID 7521 - NE 42nd & Knott Northbound and Stop ID 7497 - NE 41st & Alameda Northbound



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