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Comment by anguswithgusto | Hacker News Reader

Cool initiative. I've yet to find a reason to switch from Transit to Citymapper in NYC, but it's always exciting to see pure tech companies (like Snapchat) try their hand at physical products.

The Citymapper folks are obviously very smart and I am stoked to see how this pilot project works out!

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I like Citymapper's hybrid/multi-mode directions, such as taking the train to Citibike -- I like its Citibike support in general, it has a good real-time overlay. Citymapper also does a good job with nights/weekend subway closures.

I don't just use Citymapper, though. I also have Google Maps and Transit installed. I prefer Google Maps' subway overlay/general map. I only use Transit for nearby train/bus schedules.

Interesting comment regarding Transit - as a Londoner who went to NYC for the first time last year I didn't even contemplate looking up another app; I just opened up CityMapper and it said "It looks like you're in New York. Switch City?", so it's pretty seamless.

A few years ago I'd definitely have trawled the App Store and I'm sure I'd have found Transit, but it just goes to show the power of a good, reliable interface and considered rollout to ensure you're always the go-to product if someone is aware of you.

This is my favourite thing about Citymapper. I use it everyday (multiple times) in London. Went to Milan for the weekend and was able to continue using the same app. It made figuring out another transit system incredibly simple. It's becoming like Uber for me in the sense that when I go somewhere Uber doesn't support getting around becomes something that takes quite a lot of figuring out.

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