What it does
Transit is a comprehensive urban mobility app designed to simplify public transportation. It aggregates real-time data for buses, subways, and other transit options into a single, map-centric interface. The app provides trip planning, live vehicle tracking, and integrates with third-party services like ride-sharing and bike rentals to offer a complete, multimodal view of how to get around the city.
Where it shines
Transit excels by making complex urban transit systems feel intuitive and accessible. The primary map view (01:01) is a powerful hub, layering subway lines, real-time bus locations, and even nearby Citi Bike stations without feeling cluttered. Another highlight is the detailed route view (01:46), which provides a clear, step-by-step visual timeline of a journey, including walking portions and transfers. Finally, the app’s personality comes through in small, delightful details, like the crowdsourced 'rat ranking' for subway stations (05:06), which adds a layer of fun, local knowledge to the experience.
UX highlights
- Map as the UI: The app defaults to a map, allowing users to explore their surroundings and tap directly on lines or stations to get more information, rather than navigating complex menus.
- Multi-Modal Options: The trip planner seamlessly integrates various modes of transport. At (01:25), it presents options that combine subway and bus travel, while also showing Uber and Bike routes as alternatives.
- Live Vehicle Tracking: Users can see the actual location of an approaching train or bus on the map (04:41), providing a strong sense of confidence and reducing wait-time anxiety.
- Deep Customization: The settings menu offers granular control. Users can customize everything from walking and biking speeds (03:16) to their preferred transit systems and even the app's icon and color theme (08:31).
- Human-Friendly Data: Instead of just schedules, the app presents user ratings and on-time performance percentages for transit lines (05:03), helping users make more informed decisions.
- Saved Locations: The ability to save 'Home' and 'Work' addresses (06:31) streamlines the process of planning frequent trips.
Monetization & growth
Monetization is introduced early in the user journey. After a brief, engaging quiz, the app presents a paywall for its 'Transit Royale' subscription at (00:19). The offer is for a single annual plan that unlocks advanced features like expanded trip planning options and cosmetic customizations. A 1-week free trial is offered to lower the barrier to entry. The app later prompts for an App Store rating (04:32) after the user has engaged with core features, which is a standard practice for driving positive reviews.
Who it’s for
This app is clearly designed for daily commuters and residents in major metropolitan areas who rely on public transportation. It caters to users who need reliable, real-time information to navigate their city efficiently. The inclusion of bike-sharing and ride-sharing data also makes it valuable for flexible commuters who mix and match different modes of transport. Power users will appreciate the deep customization and detailed line information.
Notes & opportunities
While the app is powerful, the sheer amount of information can sometimes be overwhelming. The main screen at (04:04) displays many different lines and icons, which might be confusing for a first-time user in a dense area. The app's notice about being in an 'unsupported region' at (00:41) could be handled more gracefully, perhaps with clearer guidance on how to select a supported city. Finally, the process of finding and setting service alerts for a specific line (05:32) involves several taps and could be made more prominent for users who want to be notified of disruptions on their daily commute.