GareValier

While Google Maps provides comprehensive route planning with multiple transportation options, GareValier focuses specifically on comparing different modes of transportation for station-to-destination journeys. Our tool emphasizes the complete door-to-door time and cost comparison, and provides a unique "value score" that helps you evaluate the cost-effectiveness of time savings between options.

The value score is calculated as cost per minute saved compared to the slowest option. We take the difference in total cost between two options and divide it by the difference in total time. This gives you a dollar amount that represents how much extra you're paying for each minute saved (or how much you're saving for each extra minute spent). Lower scores indicate better value.

Yes, for the most accurate comparison, you should include any expected waiting time in your total journey time. For example, if you typically wait 10 minutes for your train after arriving at the station, add that to the train's journey time. The same applies to bus schedules or ride-share pickup times.

Currently, our tool supports comparing up to three options at once (train, bus, and ride-share/taxi). However, you can run multiple comparisons if you have more options to evaluate. We recommend focusing on your most likely options first to simplify your decision-making process.

The accuracy of results depends entirely on the accuracy of the inputs you provide. We recommend using your typical or expected times and costs based on your experience. For ride-shares, you might want to check current fare estimates in your app before entering them into our tool.

Our tool doesn't automatically account for real-time traffic conditions. You should adjust your estimated journey times based on typical conditions for your trip. For example, if you're planning a rush hour commute, use times that reflect rush hour traffic rather than off-peak times.

Currently, GareValier doesn't have a save feature as we don't require user accounts. However, you can bookmark the page with your inputs in the URL (coming in a future update) or simply note down your typical inputs for regular trips. Many users find that after a few uses, they remember the optimal options for their common routes.

We focus on motorized transportation options where there are meaningful time and cost trade-offs to consider. For walking or cycling, the cost is typically $0 and the time is whatever your walking/cycling speed allows. You could theoretically include walking as a "ride-share" option with $0 cost if you want to compare it to other options.

If you're driving to a train station and parking, add the parking cost to the "Ticket Cost" field for the train option. Similarly, include the time to park and walk to the station in the "Time to/from Stations" field. This gives you a complete picture of that option's total cost and time.

Yes! We're planning to add features like saving comparisons, sharing results, more transportation options, and possibly integration with transit APIs for automatic time/cost data. Sign up for our newsletter (coming soon) to stay updated on new features.