Car service startup Uber has produced some graphics showing the effect of the government shutdown on its ridership in the Washington, D.C., area. Certain routes, like between downtown and Capitol Hill, have shown a reduction that the company calls “significant.”
There’s evidence to suggest that traffic congestion is a side effect of strong city economies, a claim furthered by recent traffic-data analysis from INRIX. However, a decreased reliance on cars might mean clearer roads are more the result of alternative transit than of slow economic growth.
Companies such as Inrix are making their money helping commuters and commercial drivers find the fastest routes through traffic, but their reach could go much further. Creative organizations can apply the data in entirely new areas, and crowdsourcing means seeing how the world moves.
Pioneer’s new $599 AppRadio2, a smart, 7-inch capacitive touch display radio supports both iOS and Android phones. It includes an external GPS, rear-camera input, and of course, smartphones with compatible apps. Looks like a great way to get Pandora, Waze, or Rdio integrated with your car!
Location, location, location: it’s the time-honored mantra of real-estate agents and retailers, but could just as well be applied to Google…
