How about whether or not the A/C is working?

Actually NextBus already does do this if the vehicles have automatic passenger counters installed AND the particular transit agency wants the public to view how full the buses are. Most agencys who have NextBus passenger counters DO NOT want the public to see how full their buses are - it makes them look bad because they are often overcrowded.

Apologies! Perhaps I should have written "putting most implementations of NextBus" to shame :-)

This is really a comment about the value of investing in these kinds of systems as a way to drive ridership and satisfaction, not a dig against any technology provider.

How about whether or not the A/C is working?
Or, if the vehicle has AC at all?! It seems like a good idea, before every bus met ADA specifications, transit schedules used to designate which trips were serviced by accessible buses.
Even though TriMet doesn't use NextBus (and please note the following example and route number used in the example are used for illustrative purposes only and the example is not directly based on any particular temperature or day of service), imagine...

*tones* TriMet® – For TransitTracker™ arrival times or schedules, press 1...
*BEEP*
If you know your Stop ID, enter it now...
*BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP*
SE Harold and 72nd – 10-Harold to Portland – Un-air-conditioned bus arriving in 11 minutes and scheduled at 5:32 AM tomorrow.

If Neil McFarlane's vision he outlined in the interview pans out, all of this may become a moot point. That would be nice.

If you use TriMet's own interactive map, it does show which exact vehicle is coming (select a route on the right side and then click "Buses" at the top). Then it just requires knowledge about which buses have air conditioning (or low floors, etc).

it makes them look bad because they are often overcrowded

Either that or underutilized. Though I do think that agencies which can invest in NextBus might tend to have crowding problems more.

If you use TriMet's own interactive map, it does show which exact vehicle is coming (select a route on the right side and then click "Buses" at the top).
Is there a way I can get the interactive map via the 503-238-RIDE phone tree?! :) That's what I was referring to in my post.

Though I do think that agencies which can invest in NextBus might tend to have crowding problems more.
Correlating spending money on technology as not spending money on increased operations? Sounds like reality to me.

spending money on technology as not spending money on increased operations

What I meant was that bigger agencies tend to have more crowding problems might also tend to have the money to invest in NextBus.

If you use TriMet's own interactive map, it does show which exact vehicle is coming (select a route on the right side and then click "Buses" at the top). Then it just requires knowledge about which buses have air conditioning (or low floors, etc).

Is this on ride.trimet.org, or another site? I'm having trouble finding it.

Is this on ride.trimet.org

Yes. When you click on a bus route under "TriMet Routes", there should be a "Buses" link at the top next to "Clear" and "Measure".

That is way cool! I didn't know that TriMet had that capability...what are the odds that this technology makes it onto an iPhone app? Do they make this information available to app developers?

In Honolulu, it's HEA (Honolulu Estimated Arrival) system shows the route, vehicle number, and arrival time on its website...it's super handy if you're a bus freak like me :-)

this technology makes it onto an iPhone app

TriMet's apps page sounds like some iPhone ones do show a map. And my TransitMapper does show vehicle positions, though I can't get vehicle numbers.

That's pretty awesome. A few times I've "watched" the bus I hear outside my windows go by on the map. I guess I could just open the blinds, but that's just cool.