Learning CityMapper for London

Yes, when you are at the location of your walk / bus / whatever, and push GO, you get detailed directions. I think Google Maps is a little easier to use, but I love Citymapper for the additional detail it gives, like what part of the train to sit in, or what exit to use at the tube station.

GoogleMaps is a bit easier in this regard as you can see the route and directions at home. Try it there Phil.

My wife and I will be traveling next week to the UK along with 3 full days in London. I just was introduced to CityMapper about one month ago and I find it the answer to my transportation needs. I found it to be easy and convenient, and it tells me exactly where, when and what tube to catch and/or walk. I think it will work better when we are actually in London.
I am not computer savey, and I really dont understand smart phones all that much. But using my smart phone with CityMapper, it was easy to use, I would suggest playing with it more.
It looks like when you are in London, you will get a map with the route displayed telling you which way to walk. At least it comes up for me when I enter a practice designation here at home, and of course, it can not track me walking, since I am not in London yet.
I think Googe Maps is great too, I'd try that as well and use which ever you like or think is easier for you.

bostonphil7, as I suggested in one of your other emails, try using Citymapper at home to get a better feel of how it works.

I believe you live in Austin. Go to settings and change the city to Austin. Select a destination nearby. When you choose GO you'll be live in Austin and you'll see the route with the street names.

It will all make more sense if your "live" in Austin and you the the street names, bus routes, etc...

I've tried CityMapper before but still prefer Google maps.
Regardless, glad to know you are practicing it for your trip.

I'm glad everything is coming together for your trip and you are getting comfortable with CityMapper. I know in other posts you mentioned you are used to using Google Maps. I will just say that I live here, and I use Google maps for everything. It's more than sufficient for you to get around easily, including on transport. So if you're not feeling comfortable learning a new app, the one you are already familiar with works here perfectly as well. I hope all goes well with your cataract recovery!

Thank you everyone.

Besides CityMapper, I also have Google Maps and TFL downloaded and installed.

I am pretty comfortable with Google Maps and TFL so I am trying to learn City Mapper because so many people on this forum rave about it or at least love it.

I am recovering so well from cataract surgery that I now see how gucky my shoes are and am in the process of washing them.

Seriously colors are now so rich and vibrant. I can not wait to go to the British Museum and try out my improved vision. And of course, I hope to visit St James Park as well.

jeanm

You did say something about practicing at home but I thought that you were referring to my practicing London while at home.

I see what you are saying. Problem is that i had problems changing from Austin to London. That is why I was leaving it on London,

But I understand what you are saying now. I need to practice Austin.

I am pretty comfortable with Google Maps and TFL so I am trying to learn City Mapper because so many people on this forum rave about it or at least love it.

I think if you're comfortable using GoogleMaps then you don't need to over complicate things with City Mapper. I exclusively use Google Maps and it works well. I'm not sure what, if any, value City Mapper has over Google Maps. I think it's just a preference thing.

Now TFL was very helpful for the tube, of course, especially with reporting closures in real time.

Congrats on the new eyes!

It's pretty easy to change your city in Citymapper.

• Open the Citymapper app on your iPhone
• Tap the settings icon
• Tap "City" and type in Austin

Now you're live in Austin. Choose a nearby place your familiar with, maybe a Starbucks or a Walgreens. And see the directions from your door to your destination.

Play with it a bit in Austin. If you are taking a bus anywhere in the next few weeks, use the app so you can follow the instructions on your phone. You'll see how the app tracks you and alerts you to your stop.

When you're ready to change back to London, just ask for help here if you need it.

Good luck!

Congrats on the cataract surgery! I had mine several years ago and was shocked by how bright and vibrant colors were! So surprising how very gradual and sneaky that aspect of vision loss is....

I use both. What I find annoying about Google maps is twofold. Sometimes what has been defined as a town is well beyond it so you have to fuss a bit to get it to route you to the actual town. I'm defaulting for asking for train stations now. Secondly, it seems to frequently not include or provide info on all forms of transit. In particular, for me, it likes to ignore buses. It's forced me to create weird routes to get someplace that in reality are not difficult. It is faster, though. It's where I start my planning.

Things I like about CityMapper (I pay for the $10/ subscription) are that you can get it to show you the actual full individual transit lines. It sometimes also has a full static transit map. I also like that you can get it to tell you when the next transit will appear even without a specified route. It's a bit of a fuss to get Google to reliably give up that info.
If you're used to Google, it does have a different methodology behind it. There is a learning curve. I tend to use Citymapper more once I'm local to a place if I really want to undertstand the transit system.

Ordinary Rebecca

I so agree with you. Had no idea how my vision had faded. Like you said, colors are so rich and vibrant.

and to everyone else

Thank you for your guidance.

Today I think I am going to experiment some more with Citymapper.

I am leaving in just over three weeks and do not feel as prepared as I usually do.

practiced Citymapper on my iPad. Changed city to Austin but I realize that I only have wi fi on my iPad so I have to practice using my iPhone when I go places.

Will be doing that this week

That is so lovely to hear about your improved vision! And you will appreciate the city even more. Good luck testing CityMapper.

Have used City Mapper (or whatever it is called) but MUCH prefer the TFL app. It shows all the intermediate stops, gives clear and accurate directions for transfers, and has live updated arrival times. I think it is clearly superior.

Cat VH and Volva

I like TFL and I like Google Maps also. But so many persons on this forum recommended Citymapper that I wanted to learn it.

I enjoy getting the opinions from forum about these three apps.

And yes, Cat VH, I am so enjoying seeing colors so vibrant and richer. I am looking forward to testing my improved eyes out at museums and parks.

Okay forum members. I know you all want to be helpful and encourage BostonPhil. That is wonderful! However, constantly suggesting additional apps is not necessarily helpful in practice. Of course, those other apps do work and some of you may prefer them. Great! However, if Boston Phil becomes proficient in using one app it will be wonderful.

CityMapper gives an advantage of being useful all around the world. Our BostonPhil is not about to stop traveling. This app will help her in both London and Reykjavik as well as any other major city she visits. Let her focus on it and build her confidence.

Carol N R

Yes, you are right Citymapper will be helpful in Reykjavik and other places around the world. That is a plus. It is a universal app.

But so is google maps, maybe?

And I am betting that almost everywhere I go will have their own transportation app similar to TFL.

But I do enjoy getting opinions as to why one person prefers such and such over such and such. I am like that with everything.

Going to London in just over three weeks. I am excited and feeling good about the trip.