Best Free Apps for UCSF Commuters

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Most UCSF commuters would agree that getting around San Francisco is far from an exact science. Whether you bike to Parnassus, shuttle to Mission Bay, or bus to Laurel Heights, you’ve likely experienced some unwelcome delays in your day-to-day commute.
Fortunately, there are a variety of free apps to help combat this problem. I’ve listed some popular choices below.

All-in-One Transit Tools

BayTripper (for iPhone) offers a real-time transit trip planner, bicycle route mapping, and schedule information for BART, Muni, Caltrain, and the ferry system. This comprehensive app even includes a directory of taxi companies! A must-have for iPhone users.

Screenshots of BayTripper app

511 Mobile (bookmark m.511.org) provides on-the-go access to 511′s most popular features. Visit this mobile site to plan a trip via public transit, look up real-time bus and train departures, and check current traffic conditions.

Screenshots of m.511.orgFor UCSF Shuttle Riders

UCSF Mobile (for iPhone and Android) offers a trip planner, system map, and schedules for the UCSF shuttle system. If you don’t have an Android or iPhone, you can access the same information at m.ucsf.edu.

screenshots from UCSF Mobile appFor Muni Riders

DroidMuni (for Android) provides a convenient interface to the San Francisco NextMuni bus prediction database. Simply choose a Muni route, and the app will scroll to the closest stop.

Screenshots from DroidMuni app interface for AndroidFor BART Riders

Smiling Ride BART (for Android) is a well designed app for BART commuters, complete with real-time predictions, a trip planner, and a fare calculator. I appreciate its clean, easy-to-use interface.

screenshots from Smiling Ride BART app for AndroidiBART (for iPhone and Android) offers similar features — an interactive system map, real-time predictions, and advisory notices. A notable plus: the trip planner works without an internet connection.

Screenshots from IBART app for iPhone and AndroidFor Cyclists

iBike (for iPhone) provides bike maps and live route information. It also measures your speed, cadence, heart rate, and elevation while you ride.

screenshots of iBike app for iPhoneEndomondo Sports Tracker (for iPhone, Android, Blackberry, and Windows 7) turns your smartphone into a free personal trainer and competitive fitness game. This app offers real-time GPS tracking of time, distance, speed & calories, as well as route mapping and audio updates on your cycling progress.

Screenshots from Endomondo app

Now it’s your turn. Have you tried any of the above? Did I neglect to mention a great, free app for UCSF commuters?


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