Social Media in Transport - Evolution or Revolution?

Wikipedia currently gives the following definition of social media: "a group of Internet-based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of Web 2.0 and that allow the creation and exchange of user-generated content." Such media signal the potential now for transport users to communicate and share intelligence with each other as distinct from the traditional relationship of communication between transport system providers and end users. The pending flotation of Facebook signals that the social media bubble shows no signs of bursting. However, beyond the hype and twitter, to what extent might social media really impact on transport? Will they significantly improve the experience of transport for users and change user behaviours? Will they be transformative as the 'power of the crowd' is harnessed and applied or will they be incidental indulgences that, at best, may go as far as complementing the 'regime' of intelligent transport but fall far short of replacing it? This presentation looks at some examples of user innovations that have been made possible by Web 2.0 and reflect upon the prospects of evolution versus revolution.