The Great Canadian Transit Thread - Page 109

Beedok · #**2161** Posted **May 16, 2013, 2:11 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by White Pine

For some reason I used to call them slinky busses when I was a kid. (Saw them a lot in Ottawa)

Yay, someone knows their correct name.

Wharn · #**2162** Posted **May 16, 2013, 2:35 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by vid

Won't somebody think of the car drivers?!?!

We should do what people in Thunder Bay suggest: Instead of having a thousand buses, have tens of thousands of mini-vans shuttling everyone all over the place. That way, the constant congestion will be caused by thousands of small, non-descript vehicles instead of occasional congestion caused by large, noticeable vehicles!

Also, more drivers means more jobs!!

"But what if the bus snaps??"

"But what if the bus snaps while going down a hill?? All the people in wheelchairs will go flying into the lake!!!"

I bet that bus would be more palatable if it was two storeys tall and made of wood!

This is just Thunder Bay fish bait for southern fish, I'm not even going to bother biting. But I will say, if you've never had to deal with bendy buses before, either as a motorist or a cyclist (especially the latter), then consider yourself lucky.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrNest

A lot of cities in England introduced them, then shortly got rid of them because they were a congestion causing nightmare.
The grid system in Toronto is obviously very different to that of almost every English city, so they may work better here. Time will tell.

If I recall correctly, the reason why we got rid of them wasn't because they handled like lake freighters, but because they had problems getting through snow in the winter. Obviously technology has improved, but I still can't help but think we're going to run into more mechanical problems due to the added complexity of these vehicles.

vid · #**2163** Posted **May 16, 2013, 3:06 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wharn

This is just Thunder Bay fish bait for southern fish, I'm not even going to bother biting. But I will say, if you've never had to deal with bendy buses before, either as a motorist or a cyclist (especially the latter), then consider yourself lucky.

I never have to deal with buses. If I find myself leap-frogging a bus, I either change what street I am on (if possible), or wait at the next bus stop and ride the bus the rest of the way. (Every bus here has a bike rack.) As a cyclist, you shouldn't put yourself into a situation where you're competing for the right hand lane with a city bus. This is official city policy, cyclist are told to either let the bus get ahead of them, change the street they're on, or board the bus, to avoid this situation.

People here have to deal with 53 foot and 60+ foot articulated transports more often than they deal with city buses, so most of their complains about buses are bullshit. My street gets blocked off due to transports loading and unloading or turning left all the time. People here don't understand that you don't pass a vehicle on the right, when it's turning right!

SteelTown · #**2164** Posted **May 16, 2013, 2:34 PM**

Bus-only lane back up at council

http://www.thespec.com/news-story/2877329-bus-only-lane-back-up-at-council/

Transit stops and the looming bus-only lane on King Street are to be detailed today at council.

City councillors will hear the latest this morning about the looming bus-only lane on King Street as well as the sites for transit shelters along the planned light-rail-transit route.

Between 10 and 12 "enhanced' bus stops could include new shelters, bike locking stations, benches and location maps.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelTown

Hamilton council is about to approve bus only lanes for the B-Line, plus amenities improvements, worth $12 million.

An example of B and A-Line amenities

Chadillaccc · #**2165** Posted **May 16, 2013, 5:10 PM**

That's great! Hamilton is certainly moving on up as far as transit goes. I really hope the new Connaught deal goes through, bring a lot more people to the core, and with so many developments on the fringes/outside of the core, that will create and even stronger case for LRT.

SteelTown · #**2166** Posted **May 16, 2013, 5:33 PM**

The Public Works committee voted down the bus only lane. They barely made quorum and it was mostly suburban councilors that was in attendance. The City isn't even paying for the bus only lanes, Metrolinx is. Suburban councilors are only worried about their cars and commute time.

Next week the bus only lane will go to council for final vote and it's likely they'll approve the bus only lane.

Chadillaccc · #**2167** Posted **May 16, 2013, 5:36 PM**

So that is good then, right? Stupid suburban nimbys!

SteelTown · #**2168** Posted **May 16, 2013, 6:00 PM**

We will see how it goes to council, hopefully the urban councilors show up to vote.

Chadillaccc · #**2169** Posted **May 16, 2013, 6:05 PM**

I don't understand why they wouldn't, especially since they are the ones pushing for LRT. Does them being absent happen often there?

SteelTown · #**2170** Posted **May 16, 2013, 6:13 PM**

Yea for committee meetings absenteeism is usually an issue. The chair of the Public Works committee didn't even attend. You'll think with a $12 million project they'll all attend.

Metro-One · #**2171** Posted **May 16, 2013, 9:01 PM**

So just for a quick update excavation work and trenching has now commenced on the tunnel portals of the Evergreen Line.

Construction is currently at hard to photograph areas, but by the end of this summer there should be some decent photo opportunities.

Chadillaccc · #**2172** Posted **May 21, 2013, 2:40 AM**

Excellent news about the Evergreen Line!

Canada's newest major transit expansion to start

Hurray!

Here's a couple photos I snapped today of Calgary's impressive Sunalta Station.

20130520_152158 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

20130520_152251 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

20130520_152337 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

20130520_152452 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

20130520_152630 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

20130520_152654 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

Source: ME!

Nouvellecosse · #**2173** Posted **May 21, 2013, 3:28 AM**

Are all the stations on the line that large and elaborate? That one resembles a full metro station.

Chadillaccc · #**2174** Posted **May 21, 2013, 3:37 AM**

the Ctrain basically is a full metro. The average speed including stops is faster than Toronto and Montreal. But yes, almost all of the stations on the West line are pretty cool. Only 45th Street Station is kinda shitty.

Nouvellecosse · #**2175** Posted **May 21, 2013, 4:54 AM**

That worm would look rather tempting, but alas it's attached to a shiny hook.

Chadillaccc · #**2176** Posted **May 21, 2013, 5:12 AM**

Perhaps sometime this week I'll get out and do a little photo tour of the stations of the West Line again. A significant amount of Ctrain stations on all lines look "large and elaborate" and "resemble metro stations."

bartlebooth · #**2177** Posted **May 22, 2013, 2:34 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

Perhaps sometime this week I'll get out and do a little photo tour of the stations of the West Line again. A significant amount of Ctrain stations on all lines look "large and elaborate" and "resemble metro stations."

Would love to see a photo tour!

Some Ottawa related transit news; major road reconfigurations began today in anticipation of tunneling for our LRT line. We should expect construction on the underground portion of the Confederation Line to start in July. Should be a hectic summer of construction in Ottawa

SteelTown · #**2178** Posted **May 22, 2013, 9:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelTown

Hamilton council is about to approve bus only lanes for the B-Line, plus amenities improvements, worth $12 million.

An example of B and A-Line amenities

Hamilton council is currently debating about the bus only lane for B-Line.

Chadillaccc · #**2179** Posted **May 22, 2013, 9:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bartlebooth

Would love to see a photo tour!

I did one a couple months ago, but it would probably be better now because it's spring.

SteelTown · #**2180** Posted **May 22, 2013, 11:20 PM**

Passed! Bus only lanes are coming to Hamilton.