Start from the destination
You say where you're going, not which bus. Maps already knows the route, so it should also know which side of the road that route leaves from.
← Brain dump
Google Maps · redesign concept
What if Maps told you which side to board?
The same bus stops on both sides of the road, going opposite ways. Maps shows one pin and leaves you to guess. This redesign starts from where you want to go and tells you which side, which pole and which way the bus will drive.
🎓 Lappan → Universität
Same bus, same stop name, opposite directions.
Two sides, one pinLine 306 stops at Lappan on both sides of the street. One side goes to the university, the other goes away from it. The map shows a single dot.
Wrong side, wrong wayBoard on the wrong side and you ride ten minutes in the opposite direction before you notice. Nothing in the app warns you.
New in townLocals just know. Newcomers and international students don't, and this is exactly how they end up across town.
Pick where you want to go.
Pick a destination. The map shows the side and pole to board from, crosses out the wrong-way side, and draws your walk. Then switch to "Today" to see what Maps shows now.
min
…but which side goes to Uni? 🤷
Interactive prototype. Stop names, lines and times are illustrative.
Destination first, side second, pole third.
The wrong side, crossed out
The same line on the opposite side is marked "wrong way" with its direction arrow, so you never cross the road for the bus that takes you away.
Directions you can see
An arrow shows which way the bus drives, and the card says it in words, like "towards Hauptbahnhof", plus a landmark: "in front of the bakery".
A photo for the last 50 metres
A small picture of the actual stop with its sign means you recognise it from across the street. It's built for newcomers.
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