[Carry_Okie]

To replace, say, LA transit, with Googlebus will similarly require a phone screen and a five-hour interview just to get the rider badge, and then regular productivity reviews.

Google knows a lot more about you than you think they do. With intelligent agents, and your permission, they could do the equivalent with software. As it is, they soon will anyway, which is the down side.

[annalex]

That they know a lot about me I don’t dispute.

The point is that Google solves a different problem that LA transit:

Google: How can we retain employees? Answer: Among other perks, make their commute easy.

Mass transit: How can we get anyone with three bucks between any two given stations in the coverage area?

Different economics entirely. Also, a company does not have to be into information technology at all to run buses; all it needs is enough profit and an employee sign-up sheet.