Abstract
In response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, many transit agencies have embraced real-time crowding data as a rider communication strategy. These data allow riders to see the current level of crowding on individual transit vehicles in real time. Most operators share these data using GTFS Realtime, an extension to the General Transit Feed Specification that already powers trip-planning applications such as Transit App and Google Maps.Offering these real-time data helps riders make informed travel choices that allow them, for example, to avoid crowded transit vehicles. However, actual implementations vary widely and may not always provide useful information to transit riders or other interested parties. This policy brief summarizes the current state of real-time crowding data in September 2020, and provides recommendations for ongoing improvements.
