[PRCo] Re: Portland Green Line

[Ken and Tracie]

I've noted this before, but where I live, the private operator for the RTC 
does not allow buses to pull away from the curb until ALL passengers are 
seated. I wonder what they do when there is a load of "standees"?

Mid route times are a mere suggestion. The only enforced time on the 
schedule is when the bus leaves the terminal points at either end of the 
line.

K.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Swindler" <j_swindler at hotmail.com>
To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
Sent: Sunday, September 20, 2009 8:05 PM
Subject: [PRCo] Re: Portland Green Line


>
>
>
>
> I drove buses in Chicago and quickly learned to get the front door as 
> close to curb as possible so that passengers would not step down from curb 
> and then have to climb first step into the bus.  That can make the 
> difference between making or losing a traffic light cycle, which is 
> critical with short headways.  But most cities dont' operate 2-3 minute 
> headways.
>
>
>
> Anything that can be done to get the passengers aboard the vehicle quicker 
> is a plus.
>
>
>
> Same thing can be observed at PTM.  Having to help the elderly struggling 
> with steps on 66, trying to get people to use both front doors on a PCC 
> during county fair, trying to get people to use the center door.  Likewise 
> comparing the speed of loading at the low platform stations vs. the high 
> platform stations on PAT's LRT system.
>
>
>
> Another step is to penalize people for using cash.  Day cards and passes 
> are the way to go.  Discourage people from stalling flow of passengers 
> boarding a vehicle while they try to put a couple paper dollar bills into 
> a farebox.  SEPTA charges a 30% penalty for cash fares.
>
>
>
> Also a correction - I would have preferred a PCC in Ghent, but ended up 
> riding a low floor car.  Just as well as if provided an opportunity to 
> observe stop dwell time.
>
>
>
> J
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>
>> Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 08:45:21 -0700
>> From: pcc_sr at yahoo.com
>> Subject: [PRCo] Re: Portland Green Line
>> To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
>>
>>
>>
>> ________________________________
>> From: John Swindler <j_swindler at hotmail.com>
>> To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
>> Sent: Saturday, September 19, 2009 11:34:37 AM
>> Subject: [PRCo] Re: Portland Green Line
>>
>> Suggest taking a ride on the new electric mass transit
>> vehicles assigned to 66, 59 and 75 in Philadelphia.
>> Driver can pull up to a curb, passengers can walk
>> straight onto the trackless trolley and to a seat without
>> having to climb any steps. And then compare with
>> boarding a light rail vehicle in Philadelphia.
>>
>> First encountered a low floor car in Ghent. Would
>> have preferred a LRV, but had to admit that the
>> low floor car was easier and quicker to board.
>> From a safety island, there is no need for ramps
>> or lifts to handle wheelchairs.
>>
>> To link back to Pittsburgh, just compare a high floor
>> steps with a low floor car.
>> PTM has 4145 and 4398 for this purpose.
>>
>> Cheers
>>
>> John
>>
>> ________________________________
>>
>> Mr.Swindler;
>>
>> I don't live under a rock; I live in the real world.
>> Philadelphia must be way behind the curve; I have
>> often ridden low-floor buses here in the west. I know
>> the concept. Is it really 'quicker?' Schedules are
>> the same. Yes, it is 'easier,' but how hard is it to climb
>> 3-stairs? The majority of those who complain are making
>> a mountain out of a mole hill. Additionally, those who
>> vociferously complain are the most capable and able bodied;
>> those who really need such service are generally very
>> quiet while working with what is available. Again, those who
>> vociferously complain about 3-stairs are often doing so
>> for the sake of complaining. There is a very fine line between
>> ease and laziness isn't there.
>>
>> I have not paid attention to details inside the bus but there
>> appears to be much less room. Because the floor is low
>> front seats over the wheel wells are missing; other seats may
>> be missing as well. People themselves don't move any
>> faster; they often queue and move very slowly. Some have
>> to stand and assess conditions in the whole bus before
>> clearing and allowing others to move. I submit there is a
>> much bigger problem with people being unprepared and
>> unwilling more than being unable.
>>
>> The subject line says Portland; on the Lrvs a ramp deploys
>> to the island for wheelchairs. If a wheelchair passenger
>> onboard does not alert the operator to the desired stop
>> in advance then the operator must recycle the doors to
>> deploy the ramp.
>>
>>
>> Phil
>> Without a 'coast' but not a 'cause.'
>>
>>
>> ________________________________
>> > From: John Swindler <j_swindler at hotmail.com>
>> > To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
>> > Sent: Friday, September 18, 2009 7:38:45 PM
>> > Subject: [PRCo] Re: Portland Green Line
>> >
>> > Low floor is the way to go. Gets rid of ramps, lifts, and people 
>> > climbing steps.
>> > ________________________________
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 08:58:49 -0700
>> > From: pcc_sr at yahoo.com
>> > Subject: [PRCo] Re: Portland Green Line
>> > To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
>> >
>> >
>> > Mr.Swindler;
>> >
>> >
>> > Getting rid of people does get rid of most safety concerns.
>> > Your comments have been made as frequently as I have stated:
>> >
>> > "The point I made which hasn't been addressed is the
>> > side impact issue isn't it. After such a collision there
>> > shall be more people come under the ADA law won't
>> > there."
>> >
>> > Is this another of many examples of history repeating?
>> > We rave about one feature while openly ignoring obvious
>> > concerns. We 'jump on board' feeling 100% safe, even 110%.
>> > Then the accident happens; we rant: 'why didn't 'they' see
>> > this problem?'
>> >
>> > Yes; these low cars eliminate ramps and lifts but at what cost
>> > in both $$$ and $afety?
>> >
>> >
>> > Phil
>> > Without a 'coast' but not a 'cause.'
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
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