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The VBB Telegram Bot can work with location data to help you plan journeys to anywhere in the Berlin-Brandenburg area. You can share any location in Telegram to get journey options to that destination.

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How geolocation works

When you share a location with the bot:
  1. The bot receives the GPS coordinates (latitude/longitude)
  2. It resolves these coordinates to a street address
  3. You can then use this location as a journey destination
  4. The bot finds nearby public transport stops and plans your route
Geolocation features work with any location shared in Telegram - your current location, a dropped pin on the map, or a location from contacts and places.

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Sharing your location

1

Open location sharing

In your Telegram chat with the VBB Bot, tap the attachment icon and select “Location”.
2

Choose location type

Select either:
  • Send My Current Location: Share where you are right now
  • Share Live Location: Share real-time location updates
  • Choose Location on Map: Pick any location by dropping a pin
3

Send to bot

Confirm the location to send it to the bot.
4

Review resolved address

The bot displays the address it resolved from the coordinates, including:
  • Street name and number
  • Postal code and city
  • Coordinates

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Getting journeys to a location

After sharing a location:
1

Confirm location

Review the resolved address shown by the bot to ensure it’s correct.
2

Select action

Tap “Get journeys to this location” to plan your route.
3

View journey options

The bot displays journey options from your home address to the shared location.
4

Navigate options

Browse through different journey options using Previous/Next buttons.
Location-based journeys use your current preferences (walking speed, transport types, etc.) just like regular journeys.

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Finding nearby stops

The bot can find public transport stops near your home address, which is useful for:
  • Seeing what stops are within walking distance
  • Checking departure times from nearby stops
  • Understanding your local transport options

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Nearby stops feature

The nearby stops feature:
  • Searches within 500 meters of your home address by default
  • Lists all public transport stops within range
  • Shows upcoming departures from each stop
  • Includes information about available transport lines
1

Access nearby stops

From the main menu, select the option to view nearby stops.
2

View stop information

Each stop displays:
  • Stop name and location
  • Distance from your home address
  • Available transport lines
  • Next departures with times
3

Navigate between stops

Use the pagination buttons to browse through all nearby stops.

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Location data details

When working with locations, the bot processes:

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Coordinates

  • Latitude: North-south position
  • Longitude: East-west position
  • Precision: GPS coordinates are typically accurate within a few meters

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Resolved address

The bot uses the VBB transport API to convert coordinates into:
  • Street name
  • House number
  • Postal code
  • City name
Address resolution is automatic but may not always be perfectly accurate, especially for locations without nearby street addresses (parks, open areas, etc.).

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Use cases for geolocation

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Meeting someone at a new location

When meeting at an unfamiliar place:
  1. Have the other person share their location with you
  2. Forward that location to the VBB Bot
  3. Get journey options to reach them

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Exploring the city

When you see an interesting place on the map:
  1. Drop a pin on that location in Telegram
  2. Share it with the bot
  3. See how to get there from home

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Finding transport from your current position

If you’re away from home:
  1. Share your current location
  2. The bot can show nearby stops and departures
  3. Plan your next journey from where you are
Currently, the bot primarily supports journeys starting from your saved home address. Using your current location as a journey starting point is supported through the location resolution system.

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Temporary vs. saved locations

Important distinctions:
  • Temporary: Locations shared via Telegram are used for immediate journey planning only
  • Saved: Only addresses saved through the address management system persist for future use
  • No automatic saving: Shared locations don’t automatically become saved addresses
If you frequently travel to a location, add it as a saved address through the address management feature rather than sharing the location each time.

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Location privacy

The bot handles your location data responsibly:
  • Location data is used only for journey planning
  • Shared locations are not permanently stored (only saved addresses persist)
  • The bot processes coordinates through the VBB API for address resolution
  • No location history is maintained beyond saved addresses

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Search radius for nearby stops

The default search radius is 500 meters, which typically includes:
  • 2-8 stops depending on the density of the area
  • Major stops like S-Bahn and U-Bahn stations
  • Bus stops on nearby streets
  • Tram stops within walking distance
The search radius is configured in the system and ensures you see stops that are realistically within walking distance.

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Best practices

When dropping a pin on the map, zoom in close to ensure you’re selecting the exact spot you want to reach. This ensures accurate journey planning.
Always check the address shown by the bot after sharing a location. If it doesn’t look right, try adjusting the pin position slightly.
Convert locations you use regularly into saved addresses through the address management system for quicker access.
Before leaving for an unfamiliar area, check what stops are nearby to understand your transport options upon arrival.

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