Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion - Page 615

rsxstock · #**12281** Posted **Aug 5, 2014, 1:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlassCity

I'm just surprised to hear that free transit day got so many people to come out. Was the $3 fare really an obstacle before this? It's not like taking the bus is a fun activity for most people, although it is for me

i think those who came out actually needed to take transit and had a monthly pass anyways

Xerx · #**12282** Posted **Aug 5, 2014, 3:59 PM**

The buses in Burnaby seemed like any other weekend. Skytrain appeared slightly more full than a regular Sunday.

memememe76 · #**12283** Posted **Aug 5, 2014, 4:10 PM**

I left Surrey to Downtown around 8:15am, and I didn't find it all that busy. Same for the return back (around 6:00pm).

And I saved more than $3.00 in transit. An all-day pass is the same price regardless of the day it is used.

A family of two kids save at least $17 (if they just pay once to go to wherever, then pay to go back home).

jsbertram · #**12284** Posted **Aug 5, 2014, 10:08 PM**

I wonder if scheduled holidays should be Free Transit days too.

People jammed onto the Free Buses and Skytrains yesterday, since everyone likes FREE STUFF.

Having a regular Free Transit day on Stat Holidays will make it just a 'normal event' and less likely to have crushing crowds.

And there might be the bonus effect of getting non-transit users comfortable with the system and become paying customers.

Supermarkets figured this out decades ago: Give out free samples while you're shopping, and some people will buy your product (perhaps even switch from the competition).

jsbertram · #**12285** Posted **Aug 5, 2014, 10:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by memememe76

I left Surrey to Downtown around 8:15am, and I didn't find it all that busy. Same for the return back (around 6:00pm).

And I saved more than $3.00 in transit. An all-day pass is the same price regardless of the day it is used.

A family of two kids save at least $17 (if they just pay once to go to wherever, then pay to go back home).

Isn't holiday fares set so that two adults can have up to 3 kids ride with them for free?

jsbertram · #**12286** Posted **Aug 5, 2014, 10:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlassCity

I'm just surprised to hear that free transit day got so many people to come out. Was the $3 fare really an obstacle before this? It's not like taking the bus is a fun activity for most people, although it is for me

FREE make people do strange things.

Be prepared for crowds and hours-long lineups at the new stations when Evergreen Line has its free previews before going into revenue service.

GlassCity · #**12287** Posted **Aug 5, 2014, 10:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsbertram

FREE make people do strange things.

Be prepared for crowds and hours-long lineups at the new stations when Evergreen Line has its free previews before going into revenue service.

I can't wait to try the Evergreen Line, but I'm definitely going to do it a couple weeks after it opens.

memememe76 · #**12288** Posted **Aug 5, 2014, 11:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsbertram

Isn't holiday fares set so that two adults can have up to 3 kids ride with them for free?

I thought that only applies to those with monthly passes?

Or, I can pay $2.75 for a fare and 3 kids (regardless of age) can come with me for free?

spm2013 · #**12289** Posted **Aug 6, 2014, 12:51 AM**

The new Burrard Otter II is here:

http://buzzer.translink.ca/2014/07/the-burrad-otter-ii-is-here/

spm2013 · #**12290** Posted **Aug 6, 2014, 12:55 AM**

Think they did away with that program this year.

Wikipedia:

Until December 31, 2013, two adults (14 and older) and up to four children (13 and younger) may ride on one adult FareCard on Sundays and Holidays

Pinion · #**12291** Posted **Aug 6, 2014, 1:09 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by spm2013

The new Burrard Otter II is here:

http://buzzer.translink.ca/2014/07/the-burrad-otter-ii-is-here/

Now we get 10 minute service! Right...? Right.............?

Haven't used our garbage public transit in four years now. Feels good man.

spm2013 · #**12292** Posted **Aug 6, 2014, 1:21 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinion

Now we get 10 minute service! Right...? Right.............?

Haven't used our garbage public transit in four years now. Feels good man.

It would if they weren't decommissioning the old Otter

Quote:

The Burrard Otter II will share duties with the Burrard Pacific Breeze, which made its maiden voyage on December 23, 2009.

The original Burrard Otter will be retired from active service, and the Burrard Beaver will be retrofitted ($1 million) and used as a spare vessel.

cornholio · #**12293** Posted **Aug 6, 2014, 4:09 AM**

I read this and thought I had to share it for a good laugh.

Quote:

Gordon Price, head of the City Program at Simon Fraser University and a former Vancouver city councillor, said one wise move might be for TransLink to upgrade its trains, and make it impossible for doors to be easily pried open.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/brit...old-next-time-dont-flee/article19800066/

This guy is not very bright. How he can be part of some clearly ludicrous program, and be quoted by someone, ever, be quoted by Postmedia, is nuts. Crazy world we live in.

Millennium2002 · #**12294** Posted **Aug 6, 2014, 5:58 AM**

Perhaps he's thinking of something like the buses, where the windows are the emergency exits. It does make people pause more about what the situation is and if they really need to open that door.

Anyway, cut him some slack, people often lapse on logic all the time. Geez... It's very easy to say something without thinking it entirely through.

Waders · #**12295** Posted **Aug 6, 2014, 7:01 AM**

Interesting video clip about media tour to Skytrain control center.
http://bc.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=412022

Quote:

The SkyTrain computer system is run on 22-year-old computers with 1992 era Pentium I chips backed up by floppy disks.

I still have some 3.5 inches floppy disk but my PC's floppy drive have long stopped working. Such an obsolete technology.
I guess this is another case of 'Don't touch the system if it doesn't break'.

Also it was mentioned in the video UPS exists but it was compromised by the circuit break.

red-paladin · #**12296** Posted **Aug 6, 2014, 9:09 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinion

Now we get 10 minute service! Right...? Right.............?

Haven't used our garbage public transit in four years now. Feels good man.

On my side, I get to sit and read the paper, free from any traffic, as I ride to work on an automated train every day in the last 4 years. The envy of my friends in the US that spend 15-30 min in traffic every day. In that time, there have been about 4 significant Skytrain outages that I can recall, and only one of them actually affected my trip.

nname · #**12297** Posted **Aug 6, 2014, 5:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinion

Now we get 10 minute service! Right...? Right.............?

Haven't used our garbage public transit in four years now. Feels good man.

Maybe if there are twice as many riders.

Right now the peak load is only 65% while the midday load is barely 25% of capacity. Not sure how they would justify 10min service while many bus routes are slated to become hourly next month...

Henbo · #**12298** Posted **Aug 6, 2014, 6:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by red-paladin

On my side, I get to sit and read the paper, free from any traffic, as I ride to work on an automated train every day in the last 4 years. The envy of my friends in the US that spend 15-30 min in traffic every day. In that time, there have been about 4 significant Skytrain outages that I can recall, and only one of them actually affected my trip.

I am pretty sure Pinion commutes on/to/from the North Shore and I must agree the transit there is pretty garbage. Not all of us are so fortunate to ride an automated train everyday

Henbo · #**12299** Posted **Aug 6, 2014, 6:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by nname

Right now the peak load is only 65% while the midday load is barely 25% of capacity. Not sure how they would justify 10min service while many bus routes are slated to become hourly next month...

This may be because the Seabus is only convenient for the folks of lower Lonsdale. I heard once that if you are few blocks up from the water, it is actually faster to bus downtown via lions gate

Genauso · #**12300** Posted **Aug 6, 2014, 6:33 PM**

There's lots of money for spending east of Boundary Rd, take money from there and you won't have anyone complain that they are losing anything.

There may be seven billion people living south of the Fraser who won't be happy until TransLink builds a Ferris wheel or roller coaster to close the gasp with the west side or whatever but the system needs riders and drivers, and needs money.

What's a better opportunity for growth? Serving a short hop that avoids the 1 or 2 lanes on the Lions' Gate bridge, or the long haul commute where there is no obvious bottle neck or any local transit use except when it's free and used as an amusement park ride.

Why would anyone west of Boundary Rd entertain voting yes on the upcoming referendum is beyond me. It's easy to say no to anything, but as long as money is being spent it should be expected to follow a consistent standard, to deliver sustaining progress.

The referendum won't end TransLink right away but ask yourself two questions to see what will be the way forward.

How old is it as an organization? The youngest organizations are the most likely to dissolve.

What are its major achievements that it's proud of?
Does it compare well in the local history to other providers of transportation infrastructure (province, city, private)