How I get around Singapore
Ever since Google released a version of their map application that includes public transits in Singapore, my life has been PURE BLISS. Why, you ask? because Singapore has a comprehensive bus and train system that is just impossible to memorize unless you’ve lived here all your life, and I happen to use the said system every single day.
Thankfully with Google maps and my blackberry I can pretty much map up my route from and to anywhere in the island. Of course this is doable in other smartphones as well that supports Google maps, including but not limited to iPhones and any phone with android OS.
without you my life would be so much harder…
Anyway, it surprises me how so many people are not aware of google maps for their phones yet. So I took a few screenshots the other day when I was bored. Mapping your way is very easy with the map application, just like their web Google maps.
Use their “get direction” option and fill in a start point and end point like usual. Don’t forget to change your “travel by” option to Public transit.
Google will then give you a few options to choose from and estimated travel time. keep in mind they will also take into account rush hour traffic so you can change the date and time option to get the closest travel time estimate.
It will also give you a step by step guide on how to get to your destination. They are ridiculously accurate most of the time, but of course take their walking direction with a grain of salt. don’t be like that woman who got hit by a car because she listened to google’s suggestion to cross the road without proper crossing place.
If you click “show on maps”, it will draw you the route. Singaporeans can probably guess where this is =P
One of the feature i LOVE the most is their real time GPS, which again is ridiculously accurate most of the time (unless your network is messing up and you get slow connection). From there you could see where you are and the direction you are traveling to. I find this useful when I travel to a place I’ve never been to and I don’t know when to get off the bus! It also works when you’re walking, so I never get lost!
Also if you hover any bus stop icon on the map…
A little pop up will come up and tell you the name of that stop. You can then click on it to view more info and select transits that are available in that stop:
Like so! It will even tell you the approximate time each line will get to that very stop. HOW AMAZING IS THAT!
THANK YOU for making my life so much easier, Google!!