9626 replies to this topic

[Jackerbie]

Took transit in Vancouver this weekend for the first time in a while, and man oh man being able to tap my credit card across the system to pay my fare was a miracle!

Matt.

 

Yah, it had an immediate effect on the long queues at ticketing booths in the key stations. Next improvements will include pay by phone and a Compass app, I believe.

[Cats4Hire]

Does anyone know why month old alerts are showing up lately? There's a pop-up about site maintenance but that seems like a weird side-effect. Why even bother keeping them on the server to be reactivated like this? https://bctransit.co...and-maps/alerts

[BCTransitLTC]

Three new 35-foot "Vicinity" buses have arrived in the Langford depot. Just spotted them walking to the yard today. 4461, 4462, and 4463. 

These are replacing the old Red/Blue Dennis Dart 35-foot buses. 

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[Mystic-Pizza]

Three new 35-foot "Vicinity" buses have arrived in the Langford depot. Just spotted them walking to the yard today. 4461, 4462, and 4463. 

These are replacing the old Red/Blue Dennis Dart 35-foot buses. 

 

Yeah they are already on the road. Was behind one today on my way home from work

[Nparker]

Three new 35-foot "Vicinity" buses have arrived in the Langford depot. Just spotted them walking to the yard today...

These new buses walk?  I suppose if they have to share the new "priority lanes" on Douglas with bicycles, their speed probably won't much exceed walking anyway.

[BCTransitLTC]

Yeah they are already on the road. Was behind one today on my way home from work

 

Interesting. Are you sure it wasn't the older one (4400)? 4400 is the same thing, just a few months older and has been making rounds in Victoria area (James Bay mostly) 

[Mystic-Pizza]

Interesting. Are you sure it wasn't the older one (4400)? 4400 is the same thing, just a few months older and has been making rounds in Victoria area (James Bay mostly) 

Looked like the one in the picture to me. I remember looking at it and going "Boy that's a new model of bus they are trying out" and thinking at first it was one of those new Fully Electric buses they are supposed to be trying out until I noticed the exhaust pipe going out the top of the back of the bus.

[Cats4Hire]

Did they change the signs for the 31/75? I was on one today and the sign was the usual "31 Royal Oak Exch to 75 Saanichton" but then it changed the number to 75 and said "Butchart Gardens". I didn't see a 30/75, 50/61 or 7/21 to check if those were any different but it was the first time I've seen the sign display 3 different things instead of 2 (I assumed it was limited to 2 and why it didn't say "31 Royal Oak Exch via Glanford to 75 Saanichton" in the first place).

[Bernard]

Did they change the signs for the 31/75? I was on one today and the sign was the usual "31 Royal Oak Exch to 75 Saanichton" but then it changed the number to 75 and said "Butchart Gardens". I didn't see a 30/75, 50/61 or 7/21 to check if those were any different but it was the first time I've seen the sign display 3 different things instead of 2 (I assumed it was limited to 2 and why it didn't say "31 Royal Oak Exch via Glanford to 75 Saanichton" in the first place).

This has long been the case for the 75.  It is done because only some runs go to Butchart Gardens.   this is done for the benefit of tourists.   I had to take this bus in the summer of 2014 a lot and when it was the one that was going to Butcharts it was full or tourists

[Cats4Hire]

This has long been the case for the 75.  It is done because only some runs go to Butchart Gardens.   this is done for the benefit of tourists.   I had to take this bus in the summer of 2014 a lot and when it was the one that was going to Butcharts it was full or tourists

the 75 itself does that but I've never seen a 31 that will become a 75 at Royal Oak do it. They usually just say "31 - Royal Oak Exch to 75 Saanichton". It does make sense though as there are still tourists and I doubt many know Buchart Gardens is on the Saanichton bus (might be even more confusing with the 72 saying "via Saanichton")

[BCTransitLTC]

Well, unfortunately, one of these new 35-foot Chinese buses broke down on me. Half a trip on the Route 52 was lost. Stalled twice on route and garage deemed it unsafe to travel up Bear Mountain. Waited 30 minutes for a change-off and was already 10 minutes late. That's what happens when paddles (workload for the day) is too tight and BC Transit buys new Chinese buses which haven't been tested by other transit systems yet. 

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[57WestHills]

That's a Grande West isn't it? Far from new or untested, they're used throughout North America. BC Transit was the first customer, but that was years past now.

[Cats4Hire]

Why is the 26 detoured but not the 30/31? All the signs say you can't turn on/off Saanich which the 30/31 do while the 26 just goes straight https://bctransit.co...d=1529701594110

[Cats4Hire]

Ok I must have misunderstood how the road was closed as the 26 detour makes sense but I still don't get why the 30/31 south aren't. There's signs everywhere saying "no left turn" meanwhile the bus sitting there holding up all the traffic as there's only 1 lane open.

[Cats4Hire]

Erinn Pinkerton was promoted to permanent president and CEO https://bctransit.co...d=1529701689785

[Cats4Hire]

But I thought the Douglas bus lanes would magically fix traffic! https://bctransit.co...d=1529701722863. Even with some issue relating to Mckenzie interchange that wouldn't affect "most routes" just the ones coming from Langford/Sooke.

[Mike K.]

Oh, it is so, so bad out there with the realignment of the interchange

[Cats4Hire]

 

 

Today’s funding will help BC Transit add new buses to its fleet, refurbish existing ones, introduce on-board cashless fare and GPS tracking technologies and build a series of new transit shelters

https://bctransit.co...d=1529701776418

[ryno8097]

But I thought the Douglas bus lanes would magically fix traffic! https://bctransit.co...d=1529701722863. Even with some issue relating to Mckenzie interchange that wouldn't affect "most routes" just the ones coming from Langford/Sooke.

Routes in Victoria are so heavily linked to each other (known as interlining) that screwups to one key intersection can severely impact service across the entire region... and that is exactly what is happening as a result of the TCH southbound temporary re-alignment.

Edited by ryno8097, 16 November 2018 - 06:30 PM.

[Cats4Hire]

Google Maps lists a new southbound Carey at Ravine stop with the 30, 31, 32, 70, 71 stopping there. I assume the 72 and 75 will as well it's just not updated. Seems weird to pull the Peninsula buses to Douglas that soon. https://www.google.c...5307,600m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x6caf6fb42ad0063e!8m2!3d48.456183!4d-123.377515?hl=en-US. The northbound stop also added the 32, 70 and 71. Douglas and Saanich has them listed Northbound but not southbound (nor the 30 and 31). Douglas and Cloverdale (both directions) have all of them added (including the 72 and 75).