[PRCo] Re: Portland Green Line

Wed Sep 23 16:08:26 EDT 2009

Saves a lot of snoopervisors.

On Sep 23, 2009, at 3:37 PM, Ken and Tracie wrote:

> 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
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>> 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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>
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