Timothy B. Jones often faces the same dilemma during the work day — determining whether to take a cab or the T from his office in Kendall Square to get to sales meetings in Boston. Now Twitter is making that decision easier. Jones, 43, checks a page, not run by the T, that tracks subway service updates. “The idea I can get real-time status on the T definitely affects how I do business,” he said.
Published 21:04, July the 19th, 2009
With Twitter, riders staying in the know
Timothy B. Jones often faces the same dilemma during the work day — determining whether to take a cab or the T from his office in Kendall Square to get to sales meetings in Boston. Now Twitter is making that decision easier. Jones, 43, checks a page, not run by the T, that tracks subway service updates. “The idea I can get real-time status on the T definitely affects how I do business,” he said.
When the Green Line lost power on Saturday, many steaming MBTA riders were left complaining about the annoying disruption. But the episode also highlighted how more and more riders are finding out about issues such as these via Twitter.
Not only were riders tweeting their frustrations (“Oh, Green Line! You are so reliably unreliable,” read one post), they were also spreading the word for other riders. “Apparently the green line is totally effed up. Avoid it if you can,” read another.
As Twitter grows in popularity, it is becoming more of a resource for information like this rather than simply a way to communicate. Not only are users spreading certain news between each other, but MBTA Transit and Boston police tweet are doing the same by tweeting about accidents, crimes and traffic.
MBTA Transit Police Lt. Commander Robert Lenehan, who runs transit police Twitter page, posted a message last Thursday for riders to expect large crowds at North station due to a TD Garden event. He hopes to continue to learn about what riders want to hear about.
“Most people that have Twitter accounts live and die by them. They are looking for these updates,” Lenehan said.