As their buses and trains range about the city, transit agencies often know where their vehicles are. But not much more. How crowded are the vehicles? Are they clean? Was the stop accessible to folks in wheelchairs? Are riders happy with their driver? Is there a more optimal route for the bus to follow?

Transit agencies crave these kinds of insights because they make it clear which lines and stops need the most help, and what needs to be done to make riders happier with their transit service. But those data cravings are hard to satisfy… historically, it’s taken a platoon of pencils and clipboards to gather up. However, thanks to millions of Transit riders providing feedback while they ride, transit agencies can see all this data — in real-time — from the comfort of their swivel chairs. No clipboard required.

The operative word there is can . We’re sitting pretty on a goldmine-of-goldmines of transit ridership data. Planning departments would summit mountain...