SeatSignal

SeatSignal is a mobile + web app that predicts real-time crowding and seat availability on buses and trains, so riders can choose the least packed option or adjust departure time. It combines official GTFS-Realtime feeds (when available) with anonymous, opt-in phone sensor signals (accelerometer movement patterns, dwell time, and coarse location) and quick one-tap rider reports to estimate load by vehicle and by car where agencies provide car-level data. The app focuses on practical decisions: which route variant to take, which car to board, and whether waiting 5–10 minutes meaningfully improves comfort. It also provides accessibility-aware guidance (elevators/escalators outages if feeds exist) and “comfort alerts” for consistently overcrowded segments. This is realistic only in cities with decent live transit data; in weaker-data regions, it will be more of a probabilistic guide than a guarantee.