In the early 2000s, King County Metro, with the University of Washington, launched a program called “Mybus on the Internet” which let people use cellphones and PDAs to check the arrival time of Metro buses. The buses had already been equipped with sensors that count how many times the wheels turn and transmit location information to dispatcher and the MyBus program made this information available to the public. Another program, “Bus View,” available on desktop computers, showed where buses were on their routes in real time, allowing riders to adjust their trip. As of 2025, there are several applications to help riders plan and track their Metro trips, such as Trip Planner and OneBusAway.
In this image, Mark Hallenback checks his cell phone to track a bus that will take him from his office in the University District to his Eastside home.
Caption information source: "You can track your bus on the internet: Metro programs give riders a heads-up" by Kery Murakami, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, February 1, 2003, p. A1
Additional Information: Metadata created as part of a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the Library Services and Technology Act, through the Washington State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State.
Credit: MOHAI, Seattle Post-Intelligencer Collection, 2000.107.20030128.CD05.001, photo by Scott Eklund
