Navigating Change: Google Maps, Real-Time Information, and Transit Ridership

Widespread adoption of smartphone applications has fundamentally changed how individuals navigate complex, information-rich environments. This paper examines how a key innovation in a ubiquitous smart phone app — Google Maps — has influenced travel behavior. Using a new dataset on the availability of real-time transit tracking within Google Maps across 128 transit systems, we show that ridership per capita was 14% greater three years after the staggered roll-out. Survey data on commutes confirms this pattern and shows that commuters substituted away from car trips. We see suggestive evidence that air quality improved. Google’s impact was largest in highly complex transit systems, and real-time tracking in alternative navigation applications had much smaller effects. Our findings highlight that cognitive costs are a crucial, but overlooked, determinant of urban travel.