For millions of Londoners, the words “tube strike” mean one thing – a very long, tiring journey to work. During Tube strikes, unable to access their normal transport into work, many London commuters turn to mobile tech and transport apps to help limit the disruption to their journeys.
Here is a list of mobile apps that will be useful for commuters looking for an alternative route to work :
Cab:App
cab:app offers passengers a range of services to meet different needs and budgets. Hail Now if you’re in a hurry and the app displays how long it takes to get a cab. For those that like to plan ahead Pre-book to make sure you don’t miss that important meeting or flight. If you need to know the cost in advance for longer journeys, the app will tell you if your fare qualifies for a Fixed Price. When it comes to paying, cab:app’s partnership with Datacash, a Mastercard Company, provides a secure mobile payment solution for all major debit and credit cards.
Nike + Running
If you fancy using the strikes as a much-needed motivation to get your running shoes out, look no further than this app to keep you inspired. Measuring speed, distance and time, and allowing you to save and share your runs, Nike has created a gamified workout experience where you don’t just challenge yourself but your friends too.
City Mapper
If you fancy using the strikes as a much-needed motivation to get your running shoes out, look no further than this app to keep you inspired. Measuring speed, distance and time, and allowing you to save and share your runs, Nike has created a gamified workout experience where you don’t just challenge yourself but your friends too.
Google Maps
The king of navigation apps, Google Maps is a must-have for any smartphone owner. It’s still a quick, slick way to find your way across London, including public transport directions that can be tweaked to choose tube alternatives as your preferred mode of travel during a strike.
Just Park
If you are considering driving into London you’re going to need to find a spot to park. Just Park lets you pre-book a spot near where you need to be. Now they’ve put together a Tube map that let’s you find, and book, the spots closest to the Tube station you usually get off at.
Waze
Crowdsourcing information from its large community of drivers, Waze is able to give you real-time data on traffic conditions. Pointing out roads that are jammed and suggesting less congested routes, it’s a really useful tool for car commuters and will save you time, stress and fuel costs.
Lift Share
Save time and meet new people with Liftshare – a new app that allows you to connect with drivers in your area. You pay your driver per ride via the app, it works out cheaper than a taxi and you’ll might make some new friends along the way.
Santander Cycles
There are a number of apps helping you see where there are free London cycles (“Boris bikes”) nearby. This is the official app, though, and comes with one advantage: it will send the code needed to unlock the bike you’ve just hired directly to your phone. It’ll also help you plan your journey with a built-in map.
London Bus Live Countdown
London Bus Live Countdown he tells you when your next bus will arrive at any bus stop in London using data directly from Transport For London. Alongside this, it also finds your nearest bus stop and allows you to sync your Oyster card to view your balance.
Walk It
It calculates your journey time, calorie burn, step count and carbon saving between any two points. It’s quick, free, green and a feel-good way to bust the strike stress.
Moovit
This public transport app gives you access to real-time travel info, based on crowdsourced and transport agency data, meaning you know which places are becoming crowded and where to avoid. It tells you about incidents and gives you notifications from operators about your route, and can even tell you if there are available seats.
London Bus checker
Providing real-time info on arrivals at every one of London’s 20,000 bus stops, and giving you a heads-up on any route disruption, Bus Checker is an invaluable resource – especially when the tube is down. However, bear in mind that thousands of other would-be tube commuters will be using bus services, so expect it to be busy.
Transit App
It shows upcoming departure times for all nearby transit lines, displayed in big text and bright colors. You can plan your trip, set reminders, and get notified about disruptions. You can easily request an Uber, book a car2go.
Uber
Uber lets you order a private hire car to your location, track your driver’s progress and pay for it through the app. However, during high demand periods – such as a tube strike – Uber’s ‘surge pricing’ policy means it can be rather pricey, so be sure to check this beforehand.
