So there’s a new iPhone app in town, actually a couple.  Sure, iPhone apps have saturated the market, but these new apps, courtesy of Cambridge-based Nextransit, are something to pay attention to.  In recent years, cities such as San Francisco, New York, DC and Boston have granted mobile app designers access to real-time transit GPS data, enabling commuters and local patrons alike the ability to not only predict, but to pinpoint when the next bus, or subway, will arrive.  Say goodbye to waiting in the rain, or snow drifts as high as 10 feet — as with this past winter in Cambridge  — for the next bus.  Nextransit makes it a point to turn the typical bus ride into a calculated, visual, streamlined and, dare we say, even fun experience.

The Nextime app, which currently services Boston, DC, San Francisco, Oakland and Los Angeles, among other cities, has a unique and useful push notification tracking feature that allows users to be notified when they need to leave their home to catch the bus. No more guessing, missing or faltering through hard-to-navigate public transit maps; Nextime and it’s more Boston-centric Nexmap, are designed with the future in mind and are subsequently revolutionizing how people look at public transportation.  And if recent press hasn’t scared you enough, more and more articles are predicting increased traffic gridlock to the point of immobility by 2040 for many major metropolitan regions, including Boston.  Whatever your opinion about public transportation, ridership will dramatically increase in the coming years and services like Nextransit are going to be critical, as are increased subway, bus and high-speed rail infrustructure to accommodate this new demand.  For the moment however, enjoy being on the cutting edge with Nextransit technology and soon your friends will be relying on you when they next have to catch the T!