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MBTA Transit
by
David Larrabee
· GitHub ↗
· v1.0.1
· MIT-0
148
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0
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Active Installs
2
Versions
Install in OpenClaw
/install mbta-transit
Description
Provides real-time MBTA transit info including next departures, service alerts, live vehicle locations, stop searches, and route listings for Boston-area tra...
Usage Guidance
This skill appears to be what it says: a simple MBTA API client. Before installing, confirm the skill package is complete (the provided script was truncated in the review copy — verify the full script shipped with the skill), and inspect the end of the Python file for any unexpected network calls or writes. If you use an MBTA_API_KEY, store it securely (as an environment variable) and be aware of rate limits. The only minor issue is a documentation mismatch about filter[name]; functionally the CLI queries the official MBTA API and does not request unrelated credentials or external endpoints.
Capability Analysis
Type: OpenClaw Skill
Name: mbta-transit
Version: 1.0.1
The MBTA Transit Skill is a legitimate tool for querying real-time transit data from the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) V3 API. The Python script `scripts/mbta.py` uses standard libraries to perform GET requests to the official API endpoint (api-v3.mbta.com), and the instructions in `SKILL.md` are well-aligned with the stated functionality without any signs of prompt injection or malicious intent.
Capability Assessment
Purpose & Capability
Name/description (real-time MBTA data) aligns with the included code and README: the script calls https://api-v3.mbta.com endpoints to list stops, departures, alerts, vehicles, and routes. No unrelated services, binaries, or credentials are requested.
Instruction Scope
SKILL.md instructs the agent to run the included Python CLI and to optionally use MBTA_API_KEY for higher rate limits. The instructions do not ask the agent to read arbitrary files or send data to third-party endpoints. Minor inconsistency: SKILL.md claims the MBTA API "doesn't support filter[name]" and the script fetches parent stations and filters client-side, while references/API.md lists filter[name] as an endpoint parameter — this is a documentation mismatch but not a security issue.
Install Mechanism
No install spec; it's an instruction-only skill with a bundled Python script. Nothing is downloaded from arbitrary URLs and no archives are extracted. The script uses only standard Python libraries (urllib, json, datetime).
Credentials
Only an optional MBTA_API_KEY is referenced (for higher rate limits). No other secrets, tokens, or config paths are requested. The script reads only that env var and nothing else.
Persistence & Privilege
Skill does not request permanent presence (always:false). It does not modify other skills or system configs. Autonomous invocation is allowed by default (not flagged by itself), which is reasonable for an informational CLI skill.
How to Use
- Make sure OpenClaw is installed (local or Docker)
- Run the install command in chat:
/install mbta-transit - After installation, invoke the skill by name or use
/mbta-transit - Provide required inputs per the skill's parameter spec and get structured output
Version History
v1.0.1
Fix: fall back to scheduled departures when no real-time predictions available
v1.0.0
Initial release: departures, alerts, vehicles, stop search
Metadata
Frequently Asked Questions
What is MBTA Transit?
Provides real-time MBTA transit info including next departures, service alerts, live vehicle locations, stop searches, and route listings for Boston-area tra... It is an AI Agent Skill for Claude Code / OpenClaw, with 148 downloads so far.
How do I install MBTA Transit?
Run "/install mbta-transit" in the OpenClaw or Claude Code chat to install it in one step — no extra setup required.
Is MBTA Transit free?
Yes, MBTA Transit is completely free, licensed under MIT-0. You can download, install and use it at no cost.
Which platforms does MBTA Transit support?
MBTA Transit is cross-platform and runs anywhere OpenClaw / Claude Code is available (cross-platform).
Who created MBTA Transit?
It is built and maintained by David Larrabee (@squidpunch); the current version is v1.0.1.
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