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Don’t Miss the Bus, Gus: 7 Public Transit Apps (And One Workaround) for iOS 6

The new iOS 6 Maps app lacks public transportation directions. For all you bus and subway riders who depended on iOS Maps, here are some great alternatives to get around.
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The moment I tapped the Maps app on my iPhone was the moment I regretted upgrading to iOS 6. When you use the new Maps tool that comes with the latest version of Apple’s mobile operating system, you realize it’s not an upgrade at all; it’s actually a huge step backward. Beyond the frequent (and frequently funny) factual errors, Apple’s new Maps app lacks a feature for finding directions via public transit -- something many city-dwellers among us are heavily dependent on, and something we’ve had for years inside Google’s map app that was, until this week, the default choice on the iPhone. Google’s map engine gave you driving, walking and public transit directions to your destination. As someone who gets from point A to point B mainly by riding San Francisco Muni lines (a notoriously complicated and unpredictable system), I used that last feature almost daily. The app would even offer a few routes to choose from, so if one failed, there would be another option. With iOS 6, Apple has literally left the public transit riders on the curb. When you tap the “bus” icon in the new Maps, it just directs you to a list of third-party apps that list public-transit info. It’s a messy alternative, especially if you’re unprepared and you get stuck having to download an app over a cell connection. Still downloading ... and you just missed your train. Your best bet is to fortify your iPhone with several transit apps ahead of time. Here are a few solid options (and one great Google Maps workaround) for your newly updated iOS 6 device that will make sure you don’t end up walking home.

HopStop

This expansive app helps you navigate public transportation systems in more than 60 cities in the U.S., Canada and Europe. (You can find a full list here.) And unlike the usual bare-bones Google Maps directions, HopStop will help orient you by giving step-by-step details on which stops you’ll pass in order to get to your destination – very helpful if you’re trying to navigate an unfamiliar city. For human-powered commuting, HopStop also offers efficient walking and biking directions. (The latter is limited to NYC, D.C., S.F. and Chicago.) The app even offers useful and fun facts like departure time, travel length, calories burned, and CO2 saved. The maps are easy to read, and you get offline access to available transit maps. But as comprehensive as it is, the app sometimes won’t recognize when you enter landmark destinations like a museum; you’ll need to enter a specific address. Another minor annoyance: A persistent banner ad lines the bottom of the app. App Store; Free