[PRCo] Re: of weird headways, the high tech era, and the haves and have-nots

[Jim Holland]

Good Morning!!

> Derrick J Brashear wrote:

> .......I found this page:
> http://www.nextbus.com/predictor/publicMap.shtml?a=MUNI&r=N

> Basically on this site you can view either a "live" route map showing
> where the cars are now, *or* you can choose a stop and a line and it will
> estimate based on where stuff is now when the next car will be along. I
> don't know how well it estimates if there are (known) delays on the line.

> Yeah, yeah, you're saying "but I'm not going to dial in just to check when
> the next bus will be along" and here's where the high-tech era stuff comes
> in.

	The NextBus system is Not just for dialins  --  key stops along a route
will display this information as well.   This allows a person the
opportunity to look for alternatives if there Is a delay.

> And here's where it becomes local: note that that page is San
> Francisco-specific. Even if that system works, it's my perception that it
> won't work *here* for some time. The Bay Area is perceived as more
> tech-savvy, and as someone with some involvement in that sector, I think
> that's true, but isn't the entire problem.

	The Bay-Area  *may*  or may not be more tech savvy, but that doesn't
mean that Muni is more tech savvy!
	And our buses announce stops from a satellite as well  --  amazing how
nicely it works.   Gets a little ahead of itself downtown but we assume
it is the tall buildings and signals bouncing off them.
	When I was driving the ETI-Skoda test TC, we did extensive testing on
the Announcements.   We drove around at will changing from one line to
another.   We just keyed in the new route and the satellite picked it up
mid-route for the next stop and made the announcements!

> Also, Allegheny County has the 2nd "oldest" population of any county in
> the country, and at least circumstantially it appears that the older you
> are the less likely to be "tech-savvy" you are... taken broadly and for
> now, anyhow.

	Nothing personal, guys, but we-uns' here ain't exactly young  --  and a
number are retired gentlemen!!   And apparently quite computer literate
as well with all the information they provide!

> .......would a 55 minute
> headway on 52 Allentown then be acceptable? How about 28 minutes on
> 42L Library?

	Only if all other lines did the same and cars were able to meet for
transfers!   Harold said the clock works much better for that  -- 
easier for  *Everyone*  to remember 60-minutes whether  *connected*  or
not!!
	Like others, I still remember the interurban schedules from 40+years
ago because they were so simple - so did many others!   And my
42-Dormont left the wye inbound at 09, 24, 39, 54 past the hour mid-day!
	Public hones in on this and other characteristics as well.   Remember
standing downtown and grandma and granddaughter stepped onto the island,
nicely dressed, I might add - hats, gloves, etc!   Grandma said a good
way to recognize the trolleycar you need is the one with the light on
the roof!!

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James B. Holland

Holland  Electric  Railway  Operation.......
......"O"--Scale  St.-Petersburg Trams Company Trolleycars  AND......
............"O"--Scale  Parts  mailto:pghpcc at pacbell.net

............Pennsylvania Trolley Museum (PTM) http://www.pa-trolley.org/
......Pittsburgh  Railways  Company  (PRCo),   1930  --  1950
N.M.R.A.  Life member #2190; http://www.nmra.org

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