Common sense Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 8000 people + Metrotown + Boxing Day. Anyone got pictures? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitronuts Posted December 27, 2008 Author Share Posted December 27, 2008 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuckyHermit Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 8,000 people were stuck waiting at Metrotown Station on Boxing Day....utterly amazing. Anyhow, the 48 new additional Mark II cars currently being manufactured and to be delivered 2009/2010 have a different interior configuration designed for improved passenger circulation, which may yield a slightly higher average passenger capacity. The current seating configuration in the Mark II's is terrible for passenger circulation, and there are not enough bars/poles to hold on to for the available standing space - it's out of proportion. Personally, I would love to have subway side seating (no more row seats) and a ton of bars for optimum usage of space. I completely agree with the bars/poles problem and the seating configuration. The Mark II configurations bug me too, but (as you may have predicted) from an accessibility standpoint. There aren't those single side-facing seats for people with mobility problems, and not everyone is aware of which seats are "courtesy seats" because they look the same as "regular seats." And they're really sucky if you need to use a scooter or wheelchair, partially due to that reason and also because it's a bit more difficult to get out from those spots than it is for Mark I trains. Side-facing flip-up seats would work beautifully instead (they are currently on the Mark I trains). There's a reason why, when I'm using my wheels, I prefer to get Mark I trains over Mark II. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuckyHermit Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 (edited) Holy geez... ------ Update: Dec 26, 2008 at 11:21 PM Coast Mountain Bus Co. -There are still numerous coaches stuck in all areas of the region and multiple motor vehicle accidents hindering service which is currently running -60 minutes at best on most lines. - North Van is still slow moving due to road conditions. #22 missing Mackenzie. Rerouting via 41st, Granville, King Edward #20 not going to Harrison Loop. Short turning at 54th. #16 no service along Arbutus. It is continuing down Granville Street to 63rd Ave #151 rerouting along Mariner #152 due to a tree falling on Rochester, omit Rochester and continues on Austin #99 UBC is going as far as Blanca (Univ. Blvd is not clear) -C3 and C4 are cancelled until further notice due to road conditions -C21 is not going on Hornby, but is staying on Beach Ave to Granville -C5/C6/C7 to stay on Rumble in both directions. -C24, C27, C29 routes are not in service until roads cleared. #116 service to use Rumble/Boundary in both directions #155 service to re-route via Richmond St, omit Hospital St - Buses which use Highway 91 are experiencing delays -Bowen Island Shuttle not operating due to slippery road conditions. Sky Train. Expect delays and trains may be stopped at stations for longer intervals than usual. Albion Ferry Due to ice buildup on the Fraser River the Albion Ferry has been discontinued until further notice. West Vancouver Transit -Due to the weather conditions, West Van Blue Bus has cancelled service above Marine Drive until further notice. That includes: 251 Queens 252 Inglewood 253 Caulfeild 254 British Properties 255 Lynnmour 256 Whitby Estates C12 Lions Bay / Caulfeild -250 Horseshoe Bay and 257 Horseshoe Bay Express are running, but with delays. 257 is operating along Marine Drive - neither bus is going all the way to the BC Ferry Terminal at this time Edited December 27, 2008 by BuckyHermit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitronuts Posted December 27, 2008 Author Share Posted December 27, 2008 (edited) I completely agree with the bars/poles problem and the seating configuration. The Mark II configurations bug me too, but (as you may have predicted) from an accessibility standpoint. There aren't those single side-facing seats for people with mobility problems, and not everyone is aware of which seats are "courtesy seats" because they look the same as "regular seats." And they're really sucky if you need to use a scooter or wheelchair, partially due to that reason and also because it's a bit more difficult to get out from those spots than it is for Mark I trains. Side-facing flip-up seats would work beautifully instead (they are currently on the Mark I trains). There's a reason why, when I'm using my wheels, I prefer to get Mark I trains over Mark II. Agreed completely. Something like the Hong Kong MTR subway seating and pole/bar arrangement is most ideal and proper: Not to mention that the bar handles are actually secured to the bar, unlike those pathetic strap handles that aren't secured on the New Flyer buses. Whoever thought up of that design should really be shot dead, it's absolutely moronic how they didn't think of a secured design. There's no point in holding on to those when you can go flying off when the bus stops. The bar handles on the Nova Bus are marginally better since they are secured, but they won't last long considering that what secures them to the metal bar is plastic - they won't last long (Star Trek Captain face palm). Personally, I think ALL seats in both buses and SkyTrain should be reserved for the elderly and children. I mean, once those "courtesy" seats on buses are all taken by the elderly and wheelchairs and children and whatnot there should be an overflow. And seats on SkyTrain should be reserved for the elderly and children first. Because of the row arrangement, there are hardly any people willing to stand in that standing space between the rows as people are unwilling to move. Open it up, the current seating arrangement on the Mark II's is simply retarded. And the same goes with the Canada Line vehicles (and apparently their excuse was that people simply want to sit and like the rows ). Here's the Canada Line interior, and even in these trains there are far few bars and poles in proportion to the standing space and yet these are the same model of trains used by the Hong Kong MTR built by Rotem: Just look at how much more capacity there could be if there were only side seating (and of note in this picture, why the hell are there virtually NO BARS in the standing/luggage/wheelchair section???): Maybe we could have something for the homeless too: Edited December 27, 2008 by nitronuts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuckyHermit Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 ^ It looks like the wheelchair/scooter bays are a bit more spacious though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitronuts Posted December 27, 2008 Author Share Posted December 27, 2008 (edited) ^ It looks like the wheelchair/scooter bays are a bit more spacious though. ....but with virtually no bars. We really do have retards designing our transit system. It's actually also luggage and bike space. Supposedly, they will be installing some sort of floor bike clip thingamajig so that you can secure your bike onto the train. Edited December 27, 2008 by nitronuts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Common sense Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 Beautiful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitronuts Posted December 27, 2008 Author Share Posted December 27, 2008 Beautiful. It's like a third world country. :D This is the next thing we gotta do: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuckyHermit Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 ....but with virtually no bars. We really do have retards designing our transit system. It's actually also luggage and bike space. Supposedly, they will be installing some sort of floor bike clip thingamajig so that you can secure your bike onto the train. True... Sometimes I actually do wish that they'd try their technology (ie. try using bikes with their bike racks, or get wheelchair users to try their new vehicles, etc.) before installing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trek Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 Agreed completely. Something like the Hong Kong MTR subway seating and pole/bar arrangement is most ideal and proper: The first thing that came to mind when looking at that pic was: "do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do". lol [/offtopic] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitronuts Posted December 27, 2008 Author Share Posted December 27, 2008 (edited) True... Sometimes I actually do wish that they'd try their technology (ie. try using bikes with their bike racks, or get wheelchair users to try their new vehicles, etc.) before installing it. Well not really, the technology and the proven examples already exist. Just look at the Hong Kong MRT and London Underground for example: their train interior configuration, fare gates, smart cards, electronic displays, etc. All they have to do is to open their eyes and look for examples. I mean, even I can do it! And much of it is common sense, which this country and city seems to increasingly lack! It's common sense that for such a large standing space, you'd need more bars/poles! Anyhow, to continue on with my rant: one thing that really bugs me is the inefficiency of the loading/unloading of wheelchairs and baby strollers on the buses. It really can add quite a few minutes to a trip and cause buses to be really late. First, people have to make way for the space. Then the ramp has to go down, the wheels get into the bus, the driver needs to secure the wheelchair onto the bus with straps and they often have difficulty doing that which can take quite awhile, then the ramp needs to be lowered, and all the other boarding passengers need to be dealt with. I should also mention that the Canada Line seats are far from being vandal resistant unlike the fibre optic fuzzy fabric seats on the Mark II's and the newer buses. On the Canada Line seats, one could easily use a knife and slash the seats or use a marker and write on them (just like the fake leather/plastic seats on the older buses and Mark I vehicles): Edited December 27, 2008 by nitronuts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuckyHermit Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 (edited) Anyhow, to continue on with my rant: one thing that really bugs me is the inefficiency of the loading/unloading of wheelchairs and baby strollers on the buses. It really can add quite a few minutes to a trip and cause buses to be really late. First, people have to make way for the space. Then the ramp has to go down, the wheels get into the bus, the driver needs to secure the wheelchair onto the bus with straps and they often have difficulty doing that which can take quite awhile, then the ramp needs to be lowered, and all the other boarding passengers need to be dealt with. That's why the new Novas rock. The front doors are so wide and you don't need straps if you're the first set of wheels on the bus, using those rear-facing bays. (The latter is true for trolleys too, but their front doors are narrower.) I can actually secure the belts quicker than the drivers, most of the time. haha Edited December 27, 2008 by BuckyHermit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitronuts Posted December 27, 2008 Author Share Posted December 27, 2008 That's why the new Novas rock. The front doors are so wide and you don't need straps if you're the first set of wheels on the bus, using those rear-facing bays. (The latter is true for trolleys too, but their front doors are narrower.) I can actually secure the belts quicker than the drivers, most of the time. haha The Novas are indeed awesome. Now if only Translink will ditch New Flyer for the diesels/natural gas.....the New Flyer trolleys are alright. Something I really don't understand about the crappy New Flyer's is how there could be so much rattling and loose screws in a 6-month old diesel bus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuckyHermit Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 (edited) My only gripe about the Novas is that they accelerate/decelerate too abruptly. I've lost count of how many times people have fallen over or tripped due to this. Edited December 27, 2008 by BuckyHermit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buggernut Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 My only gripe about the Novas is that they accelerate/decelerate too abruptly. I've lost count of how many times people have fallen over or tripped due to this. Mechanical flaw or driver error? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Common sense Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 It's like a third world country. :D This is the next thing we gotta do: That'll be our equivalent of the RAV Line, 'cept without the blue background and add lots of rain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuckyHermit Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 Mechanical flaw or driver error? Either it's a mechanical flaw, or there are a lot of drivers out there having too much fun with the Novas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurtzfan Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 That'll be our equivalent of the RAV Line, 'cept without the blue background and add lots of rain. last time, nitronuts told us that the RAV line can fit for 400 people. That is only half of the 800 Metrotown shoppers . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuckyHermit Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 (edited) Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee... ------- Update: Dec 27, 2008 at 11:45 AM Coast Mountain Bus Co. standing water in all service areas could lead to spot re-routes throughout Metro Vancouver, particularly in Vancouver, Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam. Vancouver: Dunbar Street is extremely icy, especially between 10th and 16th. The #7 is terminating at Highbury. The #84 will route via Blanca until conditions improve on Chancellor Blvd. The #100 will omit Trapp Avenue in New Westminster North Vancouver: The # 211, #212, #215 and the C15 will re-route via Mount Seymour Parkway to Parkgate Village and turnaround there The #210 Southbound will run on Underwood, Coleman, Ogden, Lynn Valley and Mountain Highway The #229 will run only to 15th and Lonsdale then R/15th, L/Grand Blvd to Lynn Valley rd continue regular route and the same in reverse. The #230 will run only to Lonsdale and 23rd Coquitlam: The 152 service routing via Austin omitting Rochester The 151 service routing via Como Lake to Mariner both directions Bowen Island Shuttle not operating due to slippery road conditions. SkyTrain SkyTrain continues to operate the Millennium and Expo Lines separately while technicians check sensor loops in the Columbia Tunnel. While this work is underway, the Millennium Line will run from VCC-Clark to Sapperton Station only. Millennium Line passengers wishing to transfer to the Expo Line should travel to the Broadway Commercial Station, as connections are not available between Sapperton and Columbia. Trains from Scott Road to Columbia are being manually operated and are running every 10 minutes.SkyTrain will continue to run longer trains (6 car Mark I’s and 4 car Mark II’s) with SkyTrain Attendants onboard to monitor the guideway Albion Ferry Due to ice buildup on the Fraser River the Albion Ferry has been discontinued until further notice. West Vancouver Transit The #253 Caulfeild is on a snow route. Buses run along Marine Drive - up 31st to Westmound Exit 7 - along Highway #1 to Exit 4 where passengers are picked up at the shopping Centre - then back along Highway #1 to 15th - down 15th to Mathers - along Mathers to 25th - then down 25th to Marine Drive where it continues eastbound. The #251 Queens Ave is on a snow route. Edited December 27, 2008 by BuckyHermit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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