Biking, walking part of new trip planner

Sure life is a journey, but sometimes you want to know exactly what to expect on your trip from A to B.

The Regional Transit Authority (RTA), which encompasses CTA, Metra and Pace, unveiled last month its new, online trip planner Goroo (a combination of go and kangaroo).

Soon it will provide biking and walking routes. The biking routes will include bike lanes and trails where available. The recommended bike routes will not be on streets with speed limits over 35 mph.

Goroo has some pretty impressive features. Test it out and let us know what you think on our blog.

The basics:

· English and Spanish formats
· Choose by quickest, cheapest, least walking, fewest transfers
· Side-by-side comparisons of mode options: car, train, bus, drive to transit
· Choose arrival or departure times

Can a trip planner do that? Yes!

· Current weather at origin and destination
· Local attractions
· Real-time bus/train arrivals
· Calculates your trip’s carbon emission
· Calculates your trip’s total cost and time
· E-mail your directions to a friend