BC Transit (Victoria Regional Transit System) news and issues
#3341
Posted 17 April 2014 - 07:13 AM
Know it all.
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#3342
Posted 17 April 2014 - 07:17 AM
^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.
- sebberry likes this
-City of Victoria website, 2009
#3343
Posted 17 April 2014 - 07:35 AM
Know it all.
Citified.ca is Victoria's most comprehensive research resource for new-build homes and commercial spaces.
#3344
Posted 17 April 2014 - 07:59 AM
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
#3345
Posted 17 April 2014 - 08:08 AM
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.
#3346
Posted 17 April 2014 - 11:08 AM
#3347
Posted 17 April 2014 - 11:08 AM
#3348
Posted 17 April 2014 - 11:32 AM
I've removed a couple of posts. Please keep it civil and on topic. Thanks
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#3349
Posted 19 April 2014 - 07:34 AM
It was actually sort of neat.
Know it all.
Citified.ca is Victoria's most comprehensive research resource for new-build homes and commercial spaces.
#3350
Posted 19 April 2014 - 04:56 PM
Perhaps part of a drivers training should be at Town Crier yellow bus school.
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=wkCwymz-RI0
#3351
Posted 19 April 2014 - 08:25 PM
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.
#3352
Posted 19 April 2014 - 08:42 PM
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.
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#3353
Posted 19 April 2014 - 09:37 PM
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
#3354
Posted 21 April 2014 - 10:36 AM
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.
#3355
Posted 21 April 2014 - 11:06 AM
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.
#3356
Posted 21 April 2014 - 11:21 AM
Where's the transit board in all of this?
Know it all.
Citified.ca is Victoria's most comprehensive research resource for new-build homes and commercial spaces.
#3357
Posted 21 April 2014 - 11:27 AM
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.
- tedward likes this
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#3358
Posted 21 April 2014 - 07:51 PM
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!
Know it all.
Citified.ca is Victoria's most comprehensive research resource for new-build homes and commercial spaces.
#3359
Posted 21 April 2014 - 07:56 PM
Does $15,000 per bus sound reasonable?
It does when you acquire the technology from companies that are used to fleecing public sector organizations.
Victoria current weather by neighbourhood: Victoria school-based weather station network
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#3360
Posted 21 April 2014 - 09:34 PM
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.
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