This is cool, but I can't help thinking that it's unambitious, for Google. Let's imagine: The product is not called 'Google Transit', but 'Google Teleport'. I

This is cool, but I can't help thinking that it's unambitious, for Google. Let's imagine: The product is not called 'Google Transit', but 'Google Teleport'. It is an auction-based system, like adwords. You click where you want to be, instantly a variety of costed journey options are listed, each of which can include segments using anything from walking to taxis to public transport to international flights. Google takes it seriously as a product, because it generates revenue. Over time, the system allows new, cheaper, faster, more energy-efficient transport options develop, such as minibus-taxis, which pick up and drop multiple passengers whose routes coincide. Well, it's nice to dream. I think that it will happen eventually, probably as an outgrowth of one of the taxi-based startups.