TfL launches live bus information site

Not every bus stop is equipped with an automatic countdown, and it can be maddening waiting without information on when the next one is likely to show up. So if your local bus stop is still stuck in the dark ages, you may want to check out a new online tracking tool from TfL.

The countdown micro-site is a real-time display that shows exactly where the buses are on a given route. All you need do is type in the bus route, or postcode of where you are going, select your stop and the site will tell you how far away your next bus is.

At time of writing, for example, there's a 43 due at Angel Islington in 3 minutes' time heading towards Friern Barnet.  TfL have already created an iPhone ap for the tool, and will be creating mobile versions for more operating systems soon: good thinking since the vast majority of users will access the site from their phones.

Could this new tool finally put an end to the 'magic' bus stop cigarette?