Essex Bus Network

Some trips have stop times whose distances along the route go backwards.

Apps can show buses jumping backwards or mis-order stops.

Fix: Re-generate shape distances in your export; flag to your vendor if it persists. (Usually an export-tool fix, not hand editing.)

Validator rule: decreasing_or_equal_stop_time_distance · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)

Invalid url (flagged by the MobilityData validator).

See the linked rule for what this affects.

Fix: Review the rule documentation for 'invalid_url' at https://gtfs-validator.mobilitydata.org/rules.html and check the flagged rows in your feed. (Varies.)

Validator rule: invalid_url · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)

22906 of 22906 trips don't say whether the vehicle is wheelchair accessible.

Even with accessible stops, riders need to know the bus itself can take them.

Fix: Set wheelchair_accessible on every trip. If every vehicle is accessible, this may be one default; otherwise use the value for each trip. (A default or per-trip field in your export.)

Validator rule: scorecard_wheelchair_accessible_unknown · Read the fix guide · See GTFS Schedule reference (opens the GTFS Schedule reference on an external site)

9805 of 9814 stops don't say whether a wheelchair user can board there.

Riders who use wheelchairs can't plan a trip when accessibility is marked 'unknown'; apps show no information at all.

Fix: Set wheelchair_boarding to 1 (accessible) or 2 (not accessible) for every stop. A field survey can start with the busiest stops. (A column in stops.txt; your scheduling software likely has it.)

Validator rule: scorecard_wheelchair_boarding_unknown · Read the fix guide · See GTFS Schedule reference (opens the GTFS Schedule reference on an external site)

Some service calendars have no days of the week switched on.

Trips tied to these calendars never run; they are dead data that can mask real schedule problems.

Fix: Delete the empty calendars or set their service days. (A few minutes in your scheduling software.)

Validator rule: service_has_no_active_day_of_the_week · Read the fix guide · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)

Some service calendars in the feed have already ended.

Expired calendars are dead weight and can hide real schedule problems from your staff and vendors.

Fix: Remove past service periods the next time you export the feed. (One setting in most export tools.)

Validator rule: expired_calendar · Read the fix guide · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)

Some scheduled trips move faster between stops than a bus can.

Usually a typo'd stop time; riders get arrival times no bus can meet.

Fix: Check the flagged stop times for transposed minutes. (A few minutes per flagged trip.)

Validator rule: fast_travel_between_consecutive_stops · Read the fix guide · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)

The feed contains route shapes no trip uses.

Harmless to riders, but it bloats the feed and suggests stale export data.

Fix: Turn on 'remove unused shapes' (or the like) in your export tool. (One setting.)

Validator rule: unused_shape · Read the fix guide · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)

Some rider-facing names are in ALL CAPS or all lowercase.

ALL-CAPS stop and headsign names are harder to read in apps and are read awkwardly by screen readers.

Fix: Use mixed case for stop names and headsigns (e.g. 'Main St & 2nd Ave', not 'MAIN ST & 2ND AVE'). (Often a bulk fix in your scheduling software.)

Validator rule: mixed_case_recommended_field · Read the fix guide · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)

The feed contains no fare information.

Riders see 'fare unknown' in trip planners and can't budget their trip; visitors are most affected.

Fix: Add fare_attributes.txt (or Fares v2 files) with your fare structure. If your service is fare-free, ask to have it marked fare-free instead. (A small file for most flat-fare systems.)

Validator rule: scorecard_no_fare_data · Read the fix guide · See GTFS Best Practices (opens GTFS Best Practices on an external site)

1 of 22906 trips have no headsign.

Riders at the stop can't tell which direction a bus is going.

Fix: Populate trip_headsign to match what the bus displays. (Usually a bulk edit in your scheduling software.)

Validator rule: scorecard_missing_headsigns · Read the fix guide · See GTFS Best Practices (opens GTFS Best Practices on an external site)

The feed has a stretch of two weeks or more with no service running.

A long gap can mean dates were left out of the calendar. Apps then show no trips on those days.

Fix: Check whether the gap is real, like a seasonal break; if not, add the missing dates to the calendar. (A review of your calendar dates.)

Validator rule: big_gap_in_service · Read the fix guide · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)

Some trip headsigns name a stop along the way, not the final destination.

The sign should tell riders where the bus ends up, so a midpoint name can send them the wrong way.

Fix: Set trip_headsign to the trip's last stop or its overall destination. (Usually a bulk edit in your scheduling software.)

Validator rule: trip_headsign_matches_intermediate_stop · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)

Some files contain columns that are not part of the GTFS spec.

Harmless to riders, but apps ignore these columns and they can hide typos in real column names.

Fix: Check the flagged column names for misspellings of standard GTFS fields; remove them if they are vendor extras. (A quick look at the flagged files.)

Validator rule: unknown_column · Read the fix guide · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)

feed_info.txt has no technical contact (feed_contact_email or feed_contact_url).

Trip-planning apps and regional data coordinators have nobody to email when they spot a problem with your feed, so problems linger.

Fix: Add feed_contact_email to feed_info.txt. (One field.)

Validator rule: scorecard_no_feed_contact · Read the fix guide · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)