Google Streetview is alive and well in Johannesburg... even on cellphones!

Almost everyone has heard about Google Streetview by now - and if you haven't, it is Google's way of peeping into backyards all over the world :)

Basically Google sent out a whole lot of Google vehicles with special 360-degree roof-mounted cameras, to take photos of roads and highways in various areas of the world. 

As far as I know they started off in the USA of course, and then moved onto Europe.

More recently, and in time for the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup, Google invaded South Africa with the result that most of Johannesburg is now available to view using Google Maps.

I tried out the Google Maps mobile app, and the results were spectacular. 

No matter which road I chose in JHB, whether a major highway or a tiny back road, Streetview popped up in all it's glory, revealing Johannesburgers going about their daily lives while Google stealthily went about their way, imaging every piece of road in the city that they could access.

Interestingly, all vehicle number plates are blurred out, as is all vehicle branding, as far I could see anyway.

In the spirit of the World Cup, I took these cellphone screenshots of Google spying on Soccer City...

...and these near OR Tambo International Airport (that's the new Gautrain track overhead).

Did you notice the shadow in the last pic? It clearly shows the upright camera atop the Google vehicle.

Can you imagine the amount of work / logistics / effort that went into this? 

Google just continues to amaze... what's next I wonder?

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Gautrain gets going from tomorrow!!

Along with the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup, the Gautrain too, is finally here.

After many years of construction, highway diversions, roadworks, traffic disruptions but most of all, blood, sweat and tears, the Gautrain is about to become a reality in the lives of those who commute in and around Johannesburg and Pretoria.

As of tomorrow morning, you can catch a ride on the Gautrain from OR Tambo International Airport to Sandton, for R100... now is that affordable?

Actually, I cannot really say - there are more than enough other blogs, sites and news sites that seem to think that this is an OUTRAGEOUS price to pay and that London's tube fare is cheaper and blah blah blah fishpaste whatever...

So I won't lengthen that debate here, but rather I will say WELL DONE to all the men and women who have made this awesome project a reality.

Doom-mongers, pessimists, death-predictors and negative-heads, you can all say whatever you like about the Gautrain - a lot of people seemed to suddenly develop a lot of very important opinions around the Gautrain in recent weeks and months.

Say what you like - it's still an amazing feat that has been achieved here, and in years to come the Gautrain will become a huge asset for Johannesburg and Pretoria.

It is way overdue and I don't think I am alone in believing that it's benefits will far outweigh anything that the critics can throw at it.

I can't wait to catch a ride on it!!

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JHB gets some proper Public Transport... finally!

Take a drive through central JHB these days, and as you head down Commissioner Street you will notice that new bus stations have popped up everywhere along the road.
They look something like this:

Joubert Park Station

While this prototype station (Joubert Park) was launched in 2008, I have personally been out of date with the new BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) system, so I was rather surprised when I first saw a Rea Vaya station on Commissioner Street.

I am hopeful that this will be a huge step forward in bringing Johannesburg up to speed with other major cities in the world, in terms of transportation - coupled to the Gautrain this should be a winning formula, especially with the Fifa Soccer World cup only a few months away...!!

A Rea Vaya Bus taking a breather

Get more info on Rea Vaya, routes, stations etc. at their official website here.

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