9623 replies to this topic

[Mike K.]

Just an aside, I if a driver is, well, a bad driver and drives too erratically or hits the breaks too hard, should you say something to the driver or complain to BCT?

[Holden West]

^I'd complain to BCT but only if it's reckless. Sometimes someone cuts off the driver and he has no choice but to slam on the brakes and send everyone off balance.

 

On the pull over and announce plan: if I were a blind person on the bus I'd be humiliated if the driver stopped the bus to announce the next stop. I'd know every pair of eyes would be glaring at me even if I couldn't see them. I'd hope that people realized this was merely management/union buffoonery.

[Mike K.]

Yeah, but this was just bad driving through no fault of other vehicles on the road. When you come to a stop and each time standing passengers are barely able to keep their balance then maybe you shouldn't be behind the wheel.

[James Bay walker]

Just an aside, I if a driver is, well, a bad driver and drives too erratically or hits the breaks too hard, should you say something to the driver or complain to BCT?

Dangerous to say something to the driver while on duty imo as they might take it personal and worsen already bad driving, (many other possibilities come to mind -- what if he/she had a gun?  or was given to doling out mean looks?  or cried?  best to leave it to the authorities). 

 

I suggest:  promptly report (while still en route?) and include day/time along with the vehicle's permanent 'number' (not merely the 'route' number), location, direction of travel and nature of problem.  Supplying a video might at times prove very useful.

 

jbw

[VicHockeyFan]

Just an aside, I if a driver is, well, a bad driver and drives too erratically or hits the breaks too hard, should you say something to the driver or complain to BCT?

 

I'd talk to the driver and ask what the issue is.

[sdwright.vic]

...and get thrown off the bus!

[sdwright.vic]

...and get thrown off the bus!

[sebberry]

I've removed a couple of posts.  Please keep it civil and on topic.  Thanks  

[Mike K.]

Last night I took the bus home and the driver was calling out every stop along the route. He wasn't using his radio.

It was actually sort of neat.

[Bingo]

Perhaps part of a drivers training should be at Town Crier yellow bus school.

 

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=wkCwymz-RI0

 

[talldude123]

Okay. 

 

Regarding the call-outs, BC Transit has been contradicting themselves. They stated that back in May 2012 they had a plan to call out ALL stops. If you watched the video "Call-outs" on Youtube, they stated the drivers would only call out major stops (timing points) along the route. If that is the plan, it wouldn't be an issue because 95% of the time, the bus stops at the timing point, to keep its timing and/or to let passengers on and off. 

 

 

The operators were given a large ~300 page booklet with all the routes and the stops for the routes. 1500 stops total on all the routes. For example, 77 stops on the Route 11 each direction. 

 

BC Transit states that it only takes 8 seconds to call out a stop; little do they know, the microphones on the buses aren't really placed in an accessible place for the driver. Plus the community shuttles don't have microphones at all. 

 

 

Should be an interesting test on Tuesday. Since BC Transits phone lines were tied on Thursday and they wont' answer my emails; I am going to head office 9:30am Tuesday morning. I have two buses to catch; 56 to Langford Exchange and 50 to Douglas and Burnside, and walk to head office. I'll have to see how late buses are running with the call-outs. Will drivers use the microphone or yell out stops? Also that booklet has gotta be distracting. 

[Mike K.]

The driver yelling out the stop names was heard throughout the bus. I don't think there's a need for the radio at all.

[talldude123]

The driver yelling out the stop names was heard throughout the bus. I don't think there's a need for the radio at all.

 

 

I suppose some drivers will use the mic some won't. I'm sure transit will have alot of book-offs due to sore throats

[larrobb]

BC Transit has backed off on the demands, will be up to drivers to use their own discretion when calling out stops.  Ben Williams on CFAX right now.

[VicHockeyFan]

BC Transit has backed off on the demands, will be up to drivers to use their own discretion when calling out stops.  Ben Williams on CFAX right now.

 

Another botched job by management at BCT.

[Mike K.]

Where's the transit board in all of this?

[sebberry]

BC Transit has backed off on the demands, will be up to drivers to use their own discretion when calling out stops.  Ben Williams on CFAX right now.

 

Great.  If you need a stop called out, ask the driver.  No sense in yelling out every single stop. 

[Mike K.]

Why we don't have GPS on our buses:

 

- Furthermore, any technological solution that may be implemented will require training and
established processes in the event the technology fails – at which point the operator would be
required to call out the stop manually

 

- It is estimated that it could cost up to $15,000 per bus to install the hardware for an automated

system. Software and back-end programming would be an additional cost. With a fleet of 300
buses in Victoria this could easily add up to more than $5 million.

 

- BC Transit prides itself on its efficient and effective operations. Before BC Transit considers
approaching the taxpayers for a significant investment in technology, it is prudent to leverage
the existing infrastructure while ensuring a high level of customer service.

 

- Again, BC Transit will seek the input of operators to explore different hands-free solutions for

technology which could include headsets, toggle switches or clip on mics.

 

- Feedback from customers since the re-instatement of call outs in 2012 indicate that this practice

is an appreciated improvement to the service.

 

 

http://www.bctransit...-alert-4906.pdf

 

 

Does $15,000 per bus sound reasonable? With fleet tracking services available for the cost of an iPhone and the fleet tracking app you'd think each bus could be setup with a state-of-the-art solution for well under $1,000, not 15x that price!

[sebberry]

Does $15,000 per bus sound reasonable?

 

It does when you acquire the technology from companies that are used to fleecing public sector organizations.

[Greg]

Does $15,000 per bus sound reasonable?

Not even a little bit. I can track individual runners in loads of road races from their bib chips and timing mats. I can let anyone follow my bike ride in real time on the internet. I can find my iPhone and wipe its memory from my desktop. This is routine technology that is readily available. The whole thing could easily be done for 10% of that cost I would bet.