Usually only a nobody walks in L.A., but the greater Los Angeles will be turned into a wasteland of nobodies when 10-mile stretch of the 405 Freeway closes July 15-17.
The locals are braced for “carmageddon,” the gridlock of all gridlocks as the most traveled freeway in the U.S. shuts down.
Some are predicting that it may also be a test of iPhone apps, mainly those designed to re-route drivers based on traffic conditions.
Waze is banking on being the app that gets people through it. The free app, which helps drivers track traffic and find alternate routes comes equipped with the now-inevitable “social” component, has launched a Beat Carmageddon site and a partnership with the local ABC station to track what its estimated 180,000 users in the area get up to over the weekend.
Anyone foolhardy enough to drive that stretch of freeway can help leaving the app and “passively contribute traffic and other road data” that Waze (“ways”) uses to update the live map.
If you want to actively contribute (or let’s hope there is someone bored riding shotgun to do this) you can share info on accidents, police traps and other driving conditions or hazards.
The app also integrates tweets, Foursquare check-ins, Facebook friends, etc.
User reviews for the app released in late May have been largely positive, though one user nicknamed llkikkiney called it “glitchy” — saying that on multiple occasions that the app said to get off the interstate only to immediately get back on. It’s also told me to pull into a driveway then continue in the same direction…Oh well. I guess I will try MapQuest.”
You have been forewarned.
Source: LA Weekly
