Get Subway and Bus Directions on Your Phone with HopStop

You already know you can get driving directions via Google SMS, but what if you're on foot in a big city and want to get around via public transportation? Enter HopStop, a free service that lets you access subway and bus directions using only your cell phone.

Here's how it works. If you're a smartphone user, point your browser to hopstop.com/pda to get maps and directions. If you have a regular phone, send a text message to HSTOP (47867) with your starting point and destination; HopStop will send the directions back to you via SMS. Alternately, you can dial 888-2-HOPSTOP and request directions by voice (much like getting driving directions from Dial Directions or GOOG-411); the directions will again arrive via SMS.

Currently, HotStop's service is available for New York, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, and Washington DC. If you're traveling to any of those fair cities, make sure to add HopStop to your address book so you have an easier time getting around.