Google Maps can now tell how crowded and delayed your bus or train will be

Google Maps has a new feature that allows users to monitor traffic delays for buses in real-time and it also announced Crowdedness predictions. So, you can see how crowded your train or bus will be based on past rides. Google Maps is rolling out these features in around 200 cities worldwide for Android and iOS users. Google Maps can predict the bus delays with Machine Learning. These new features on Google Maps can be quite helpful for the commuters in helping them make their everyday train or bus journeys safe and less stressful. 

"As the world's cities continue growing, commuters want to know when to expect delays, especially for bus rides, which are prone to getting held up by traffic," said Google's research scientist Alex Fabrikant.

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Earlier this month, Google Maps first launched this system in India where office commute via public transit is often a big hurdle especially in cities like Mumbai. In fact, TomTom research confirms that Mumbai's traffic flow is the worst in the world. Google Maps' prediction system uses a Machine Learning model to combine real-time vehicular traffic forecasts with data on bus routes. Despite the fact that it doesn't apply to trains, Google Maps has developed a Live train status checking tool with its 'Where is My Train' app. This way, Google Maps users get a fair idea about train delays.

"...We heard from surveyed users that they employed a clever workaround to roughly estimate bus delays: using Google Maps driving directions. But buses are not just large cars. They stop at bus stops; take longer to accelerate, slow down, and turn; and sometimes even have special road privileges, like bus-only lanes," said Fabrikant.

As a result, Google Maps users will now be able to see if your bus will be late or how long the delay will be. Users can also see exactly where the bus delays are on the map.