Ride-On directions from Rockville to Silver Spring.

Montgomery County’s Ride-On bus service has joined Google Transit.

That means someone searching for an address or business in Montgomery County using Google Maps can now get directions by public transit with one click. Mobile phone users using Google tools can also now plan Ride-On trips. Ride-On is still part of the regular Metro trip planner as well.

Unfortunately, Ride-On doesn’t cover the entire bus network in Montgomery County. Many buses, especially on major routes, are Metro’s. Many Ride-On routes are feeders to Metro’s buses and rail. That means for some trips including longer-distance ones, the trip planner will recommend multiple Ride-On routes when a more direct Metrobus route could do, or recommend longer waits than necessary. For example, the trip from Rockville to Silver Spring requires two Ride-On buses, but the Q2 connects the two with a single seat ride.

That situation will resolve itself once Metro joins Google Transit, assuming they were serious when they said they were moving forward with a deal.

Thanks to reader Andy Gilbert for the tip.