NO MATTER HOW you commute – be it by bus, train, Dart or Luas – there are always aspects of the journey that can get you down.
But did you know that your smartphone can help*? There are apps out there that can make the whole commuting experience much better. You just have to find the right ones.
(*Of course, it goes without saying that if you drive to work, then you shouldn’t be using your phone at all!)
1. Clearing your head
Source: Sleep Cycle
Get your day started right. Sleep Cycle is an app that will get your commute off to the right start by waking you with a clear head. It uses the accelerometer in your iPhone to monitor your movement and assess what period of sleep phase you’re in – when it wakes you at your sleep cycle’s lightest point, it feels like waking up without an alarm clock. Magic.
Details: €1.79, iPhone only
2. Making the most of your time
If you’re always rushing out the door to catch your bus or train, Real Time Ireland is what you need. It’s the only app to integrate all real-time updates for the whole of Ireland. That includes Dublin Bus, Luas, Iarnród Éireann, Dart and Bus Éireann. Handy.
Details: FREE, iPhone and Android
3. Checking the weather
Source: AccuWeather
One of the worst parts of a commute can be having dressed inappropriately – there’s nothing worse than shivering on the train, or being locked in a sweaty hell on the bus with too many layers.
AccuWeather can let you know what the day’s weather is shaping up like, which can also be a good indication of traffic levels or how busy public transport will be… And so you can leave that second jumper at home.
Details: FREE, iPhone and Android
4. Listening to music
Source: TuneIn
If you like listening to music on your way to work, then TuneIn Radio is for you. It enables you to listen to the world’s radio stations – over 70,000 of them, at least – at the touch of a button.
With that many stations, there’s SURE to be something you like, right?
Details: FREE and paid versions available, iPhone and Android
5. Something to read
Source: Pocket
Often want to read but can never really find the time? Your commute is the PERFECT time to get around to long-form articles you would never otherwise read. You can use Pocket to save these articles for later – and even read them offline, if WiFi is a problem during your daily schlepp.
Details: FREE, iPhone and Android
6. Planning your route
If your commute is a little longer than one bus, or you’re planning a bigger trek, look no further than the National Journey Planner app. It shows all public transport as one integrated network, rather than a fragmented bunch of different operators – making it easy to plan journeys using multiple modes of public transportation.
(PS -For all the cyclists out there, a specialised Cycle Planner is in the works, so keep your eyes peeled.)
Details: FREE, iPhone and Android
Do you have any apps that make your commute easier? Let your fellow commuters know in the comments – sharing is caring, after all. We’re all in this together!
And if you want to make your own journey a lot easier, now you can with Transport for Ireland’s free apps – from a real time service, route planner to a taxi driver checker. Download the apps today and make your commute a lot easier with a few clicks.
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