{"id":1272,"slug":"gtfs-open-transit-standard-2005","title":"GTFS — open transit data standard created Google + TriMet 2005; 10,000+ operators, 100+ countries; MobilityData stewardship","kind":"reference","scope":"business","status":"current","audiences":["kevin","smb-owner","candid-team"],"topics":["open-data","open-data-licensing"],"reference_body":"**Claim:** **GTFS (General Transit Feed Specification)** is the de facto open standard for transit data. Created by Google + TriMet (Portland) in 2005; now used by **over 10,000 transit operators in 100+ countries**. Split into **GTFS Schedule** (static timetables/stops) and **GTFS Realtime** (arrivals, alerts, vehicle positions). Maintained as an open standard by **MobilityData**.\n\n**Source:** https://gtfs.org ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GTFS\n\n**Confidence:** Verified.\n\n**Why this matters for Candid:** Any \"trip-planning,\" \"near-transit,\" or accessibility feature on an SMB site can be built off GTFS without licensing a commercial transit data feed. The pattern (open standard backed by an industry steward) is also illustrative for Candid's broader open-data position.","rationale_body":null,"metadata":null,"links":{"outgoing":[],"incoming":[{"slug":"research-brief-data-driven-tools-smb-june-2026","title":"Research brief: live data and data-driven tools for SMBs — when it's an edge, when it's overkill (June 2026)","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"relates-to"},{"slug":"rule-rent-or-use-free-for-data-about-the-world","title":"R1 — Rent (or use free) for data ABOUT THE OUTSIDE WORLD; you will never out-collect the Census Bureau","kind":"rule","scope":"business","link_type":"depends-on"}]},"created_at":"2026-06-20T16:57:38.855Z","updated_at":"2026-06-20T16:57:38.855Z"}