9626 replies to this topic

[57WestHills]

I think I saw an electric articulated (bendy) bus at Langford's depot today. Anyone know more? (Or if I'm confused)

[Mike K.]

Oh interesting!

[talldude123]

It's an all-electric articulated bus made by BYD K11 "Build Your Dreams", a chinese manufacturer, however the bus is built in California. It belongs to a transit agency in Southern California. Apparently the Alpine mechanics are working on the brakes (so I was told by an Alpine employee). It's likely touring around US/Canada. 

[VicHockeyFan]

They need to get rid of that accordion thing.  It's the crappiest looking part of the thing.  Or make it play accordion music as it drives.  Like a musical stairwell.

Edited by VicHockeyFan, 11 August 2017 - 05:00 PM.

[talldude123]

My first thought is that bus would do great on a BUSY route like the 50, 70, 6, 15, 61, etc. Too bad the stops aren't long enough for it. 

[Nparker]

...make it play accordion music as it drives.  Like a musical stairwell.

Oh great. You've just given Lady Lisa and her merry band of ne'er-do-wells another project to put on their "foolish ways to spend the taxpayers' money" to-do list.

[Cats4Hire]

My first thought is that bus would do great on a BUSY route like the 50, 70, 6, 15, 61, etc. Too bad the stops aren't long enough for it. 

I'm not sure if anyone actually has this information aside from heads of BC Transit but do you know how ridership for the 27/28 and 30/31 compares with the 6? I rarely ride the 6 so I can't comment too much on them but I see the 4 routes I mentioned fill up (at least all seats with usually a person or two standing) leaving downtown before the 27/28 get to Bagbie and the 30/31 to Bay pretty much anytime after 11 AM (Whenever I've gotten on before Douglas/Fort I notice them emptying out there so I don't imagine it's because of James Bay traffic). Once while I was on a 6B from Hillside to Mackenzie at around 1 PM once and there was like 5 people on it max yet people always state the 6 as one of the busiest routes.

 

Maybe I just got lucky with the 6 and unlucky with the 27/28s and 30/31s I end up taking.

[VicHockeyFan]

My experience is that the 6 is never as full as the 27/28.  Or 30/31.  But the 6 is frequenter.  Is that a word?

Edited by VicHockeyFan, 11 August 2017 - 07:05 PM.

[Cats4Hire]

My experience is that the 6 is never as full as the 27/28.  Or 30/31.  But the 6 is frequenter.  Is that a word?

By frequenter do you mean runs more frequently? According to the schedule one leaves Royal Oak about every 10 minutes (although the 6A leaves on minutes ending in 5 and the 6 and 6B minutes ending in 8 so it's not exact). If the 27/28 and 30/31 are each counted as 1 route (they're listed together on the site) then the 30/31 are also about every 10 minutes (seem to be anywhere from 8-12) and the 27/28 don't seem to have a set pattern but 16 minutes seems to be the longest between them and there is an 8 minute one (27 leaving 1:14 PM, 28 at 1:22 PM)

[VicHockeyFan]

I guess I have some built-in bias, as I very infrequently take the 30/31 to where they diverge, but I do sometimes take the 27 and 28 to their ends.  So to me the 27/28 seem more separate.

 

I dunno, I never recall having to stand on the 6, going either direction from/to McKenzie.

 

On the 30/31 if I catch it inbound at Cloverdale or closer in, I might have to stand.

 

27/28 catching it at Vancouver St. outbound sometimes it's already full, and I can't sit until after Hillside Mall.

[jessief]

I used to take the 6 from downtown at rush hour from Balmoral and I would often barely get on or it would pass me altogether.

[Cats4Hire]

I guess I have some built-in bias, as I very infrequently take the 30/31 to where they diverge, but I do sometimes take the 27 and 28 to their ends.  So to me the 27/28 seem more separate.

 

I dunno, I never recall having to stand on the 6, going either direction from/to McKenzie.

 

On the 30/31 if I catch it inbound at Cloverdale or closer in, I might have to stand.

 

27/28 catching it at Vancouver St. outbound sometimes it's already full, and I can't sit until after Hillside Mall.

I've only taken the 28 to Hillside Mall (For a semester because the 4/14 were both single decker and usually got way too crowded for comfort so I just walked from there to Camosun) and never the 27 but looking at the trip map they look a little to each other than the 30/31. Through most of the day the 30/31 separate twice while the 27/28 are only separate for Gordon Head. After the 27 turns onto Blair.

 

Heading to Gordon Head I count 20 stops the 27 does without the 28 and 10 the 28 does without the 27 (it seems at night or something the 27 and 28 are pretty much the same as all the 28's stops list the 27 as a bus that stops there but I don't see any 27s in the "next bus" thing)

 

Heading to Royal Oak I count 25 for the 30 (9 in James Bay, 16 in Saanich) and 21 for the 31 (8 in James Bay, 13 in Saanich). I didn't count Royal Oak at West Saanich since the 31 isn't supposed to stop there but I notice they frequently do. I also didn't count West Saanich at Pipeline because technically both stop there (31 to Royal Oak, 30 to Beacon Hill/James Bay).

[talldude123]

I miss the old days, when buses had PLENTY of seats and the bus wasn't full of strollers, walkers, wheelchairs, etc. Would have been nice to keep the old MCI buses for commuter routes like the 32, 47, 48, 61x, and even the 50. 

[VicHockeyFan]

I miss the old days, when buses had PLENTY of seats and the bus wasn't full of strollers, walkers, wheelchairs, etc. 

 

Ya!  It was way better when the disabled just stayed home!  Plus why are you having kids of you can't even afford a car!  Don't they still they have free condoms and morning-after pills at the family planning centre?  

[Matt R.]

I always loved getting on the 26 at tillicum mall with our double long stroller to take the kids to the pool trolololol.

Matt.

[talldude123]

I have no issues with parents taking their kids onto the bus, but please bring a foldable stroller! Back around 10 years ago, there were certain trips that were accessible, which allowed wheelchair users to plan ahead. But the commuters that leave for work at 7am and leave from work at 4pm don't want to share the bus with a stroller or walker. They just want a seat for their 30-60 minute commute. 

[VicHockeyFan]

Ya! Handicapped people don't work, so please don't choose to travel when us working folks are trying to get to and from our office. You got all the other times of day to do your leisure trips.

[57WestHills]

Yeah I don't think the days of non-accessible service were superior in anyway except for the most socially oblivious. Transit is a service of particular value and importance to many people with mobility challenges or impairments - suggesting service be reduced for these people literally makes no sense. Your talking about a trivial reduction in capacity for the overall system.... maybe find a real problem instead of harping on the vulnerable.

[CV92]

 But the commuters that leave for work at 7am and leave from work at 4pm don't want to share the bus with a stroller or walker. They just want a seat for their 30-60 minute commute. 

 

You're right that bus travelers would like a seat. You're wrong if you think that the majority care if there's a stroller or walker on board. So long as they get a seat, and even when they don't, if their fellow riders are being respectful - IE not clipping their toenails, causing fights, yelling loudly, etc, I don't think who is making use of the accessible seating area is of much concern to the general ridership.

 

I'm glad you've taken the false claim that you are a transit operator out of your signature. For the public to think that actual transit drivers believe for a minute that young families and those with mobility impairments don't belong on the bus would negatively impact the perception of transit drivers in the eyes of many. 

 

To suggest that the system's capacity issues are due to making the vehicles accessible and equitable to all, and not an issue of insufficient funding to keep with ridership and population growth is morally wrong and plain ignorant.

[Cats4Hire]

Hello everyone. Today on Markham I noticed the electronic sign now says Markham will be closed to all traffic August 19 and 20. I think this is due to paving and the fact no one has really been there this week I think that's all they really need to do. If that's the case they'll be done before Camosun goes back in which is good.

 

I don't think any buses go up Markham on the weekend so I guess nothing should be affected by this.