Bus Info

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**Note: Bus Times is the new & improved version of this skill**

** Introduction **

The Bus Info skill gives you real-time departure for your local bus stop(s) anywhere in the UK. Once Alexa knows your local bus stops (see below), you just have to say:

--- "Alexa, open Bus Info" or "Alexa, ask Bus Info for my next buses"

to get the times and destinations of the next two buses departing from each bus stop. If a bus is running late, Alexa will tell you by how many minutes and the expected departure time.


** Things you can say **

-- "Alexa, open Bus Info" (gets next 2 buses for each of your saved bus stops)

-- "Alexa, ask Bus Info when is my next bus due" (gets next 2 buses for each of your saved bus stops)

-- "Alexa, ask Bus Info for my next 3 buses" (gets next 3 buses for each of your saved bus stops)

-- "Alexa, ask Bus Info for my next buses from bus stop 2" (gets next 2 buses for the 2nd of your saved bus stops)

-- "Alexa, ask Bus Info for bus stop 1" (gets next 2 buses for the 1st of your saved bus stops)

-- "Alexa, ask Bus Info to add a new bus stop" (starts a dialog to add a new bus stop)

-- "Alexa, ask Bus Info to quickly add a new bus stop" (starts dialog but doesn't give detailed instructions if you've heard them before)

-- "Alexa, ask Bus Info to read bus data" (reads out any saved bus stops)

-- "Alexa, ask Bus Info to delete bus data" (clears any saved bus stops)


** Initial one-time set-up **

Before running the Bus Info skill for the first time, you'll need to know the identifier codes for your local bus stop(s). These are the codes that allow Alexa to find out the real-time departure information.

Each bus stop has a unique identifier / code which is normally between 8 and 12 characters and can be a mix of numbers and letters. You can find your local bus stop codes from http://findthestop.co.uk. In this website, enter the city or town where you live and you'll be presented with a map and a list of bus stops. Find the bus stops which are nearest to where you live and click on the bus stop name to get the code.

For example, here is a bus stop in Southend and the bus stop code is 15800506:

http://findthestop.co.uk/stops/view/88176

You may have two local bus stops - on opposite sides of the road for buses going in different directions. You can give each bus stop code to Alexa and she will save them for future use. You only have to do this once.

When you first run the skill, Alexa will ask you to set up a new bus stop. She will give some instructions and then ask you to speak the bus stop code. Since the bus stop code can be a mixture of up to 12 numbers and letters, Alexa might need a few attempts to correctly understand what you've said.

You can say the numbers and letters individually - Alexa will continue to prompt you. Say "I'm finished" when you're done. Or you can say the numbers in groups, eg. "1580" (pause) "0506". For letters, say "a", "b" or "c" or use the NATO phonetic alphabet "Alpha", "Bravo", "Charlie" etc and Alexa will take the first letter. You might need to experiment to find what Alexa understands best in your case. Again, say "I'm finished" when you're done.

Examples of how to say code 15800506:

-- "15800506" or "15" (pause) "80" (pause) "05" (pause) "06" or "1580" (pause) "0506"

Examples of how to say code 490009290N:

-- "4900" (pause) "092" (pause) "90" (pause) "N" or "490" (pause) "009" (pause) "290" (pause) "November"

After you've finished saying the code, Alexa will slowly read it back to you. If she heard the code correctly say "Save" to store the bus stop or otherwise say "Discard". If you make a mistake at any stage you can just say "Cancel". Then say "Alexa, ask Bus Info to add a new bus stop" to try again.

Once your bus stops are stored, you are ready to use the skill for example by saying "Alexa, open Bus Info".


** Acknowledgement **

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v1.0.