Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion

[Meraki]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

i wonder when it'll be time to update the 9yr old Canada-Line signs with these fancy ones; or add entrance ones.

Probably never, because why would ProTrans BC want to spend the money.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Even in places like Hong Kong and Singapore, each line has different displays, and you can tell from the prettiness of the interface that some are much older than others.

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Even in places like Hong Kong and Singapore, each line has different displays, and you can tell from the prettiness of the interface that some are much older than others.

Where I am in Japan can top that, the quality from station to station on a single line can be world’s apart.

Some still look like wooden country side shelters and others put anything we have in Vancouver to shame.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by ilikeredheads

Those new exterior info signs are just big magnets for vandalism. They should be placed in the concourse.

That's why it says "*Renderings are for illustrative purposes only." They will be inside the station probably.

[dpogue]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

That's why it says "*Renderings are for illustrative purposes only." They will be inside the station probably.

Yeah, the Station Entrance Emergency Information Panels (SEEIPs) should be just inside the station grilles, so that they're protected at night, but also visible from outside the grilles in case the station is closed and they need to provide detour information to customers.

[MIPS]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

man, they have a lot of CCTV cameras around the system. i wonder what kind of storage system they have for all that data. and i wonder what quality they'll have.

I seem to recall the system still used analog video recorders up until 2010 with a two hour tape cycle. It has since been completely overhauled with a modern digital system capable of storing footage for one week at a time. I believe with the upgrade of the fiber optic cables they converted over completely to HD cameras (or an HD stream, with multiple station cameras multiplexed into one strand of fiber)
Here is one camera at New Westminster Station from an incident back in May:

• Video Link

...And Granville Station, earlier this month:

• Video Link

[Mac Write]

The Analog VHS tapes were on a 2hr loop. When they upgraded to Digital (was it 2010) they could store a minimum of 1 week of footage.

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

thanks for the info guys, cool.

very good quality, though i would hope so since it is 2018 after all.

i do wonder if there will be a time where the police, to find suspects, will be able to run facial recognition through the ICBC database. the quality has to be good enough for a hit.

[MIPS]

I would hope that we don't follow in Beijing's footsteps in that manner any time soon....

Or you know, try to avoid embarrassing accidents like this. - AI Mistakes Bus-Side Ad for Famous CEO, Charges Her With Jaywalking

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by MIPS

I would hope that we don't follow in Beijing's footsteps in that manner any time soon....

I understand the big brother fears, and I'm not always a fan.

On the other hand, fuck these pieces of shit who think they can get away with stuff like what we see on these video.

[SpongeG]

TransLink introducing Compass wristbands on Dec. 3

The Compass wristband is TransLink's first wearable payment option.

SCOTT BROWN Updated: November 29, 2018

There is some good news for the Metro Vancouver transit rider who finds using a Compass Card too complicated or unwieldy.

On Monday, TransLink will introduce the Compass wristband, its first wearable payment option.


TransLink is introducing its first wearable payment option as part of our commitment to make taking transit as comfortable and convenient as possible. Compass wristbands will be available beginning Dec. 3. TRANSLINK HANDOUT

So no more fumbling through your wallet before boarding the bus, SkyTrain or SeaBus. Just flick your wrist at the Compass reader — and your fare is paid.

TransLink is releasing a limited supply — 1,000 blue adult wristbands and 1,000 orange concession wristbands — next week.

...

https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/translink-introducing-compass-wristbands-on-dec-3

[MIPS]

I still call the inability for Compass readers to differentiate between a Compass Card and a Credit Card to be a massive design oversight from Cubic and that everyone is simply too full of themselves to admit is an extremely expensive mistake that cannot be economically fixed until the system is upgraded in....30 years?

On the other hand, ---- these pieces of ---- who think they can get away with stuff like what we see on these video.

It doesn't help when TransLink has on average 19 cameras per station and they always release profiles to the press from some of the worst angles.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Mac Write

The Analog VHS tapes were on a 2hr loop. When they upgraded to Digital (was it 2010) they could store a minimum of 1 week of footage.

Read an article and think they said the switch was 2008?

[Mac Write]

I did it from memory.

Now bring Compass card to Apple Wallet so I can use my C.N.I.B. card with my iPhone or an Apple Watch. As that will be safer as I have lost my card many times due to not putting it away properly. and no putting it around my neck is not an option.

[GeeCee]

Originally Posted by MIPS

I still call the inability for Compass readers to differentiate between a Compass Card and a Credit Card to be a massive design oversight from Cubic and that everyone is simply too full of themselves to admit is an extremely expensive mistake that cannot be economically fixed until the system is upgraded in....30 years?

Every other system in the world that supports credit cards as well works in the same manner. The only real way to solve that would be put in a delay so that it can read multiple cards before the gate opens, and that's not exactly a great solution during busy times. Only putting the card that you want to use on the reader isn't that big of a burden.

[MIPS]

It's just so kludgy.
Seriously, you should be funneling people towards the ticket machines for transactions as a penalty for NOT already having a compass card, phone app or ticket. Somewhere where it's a bit easier to pull cards in and out of a wallet. The regions on either side of a faregate are always high traffic areas.
I might be a little forgiving if it wasn't for TransLink still having their knickers in a triple twist about people repurposing cards into their apparel so they always have their compass solution immediately available but are not likely to lose it. Some crap wrist band isn't going to change that opinion.

[officedweller]

From a payment perspective, you want there to be an action on the part of the purchaser to confirm and limit the parameters of the transaction - i.e. tapping the card.
You would not want an uncontrolled system where scanners can read any card within a vicinity - can you imagine if the data or system was hacked?

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by MIPS

I still call the inability for Compass readers to differentiate between a Compass Card and a Credit Card to be a massive design oversight from Cubic and that everyone is simply too full of themselves to admit is an extremely expensive mistake that cannot be economically fixed until the system is upgraded in....30 years?

So if you have multiple credit and debit cards in your wallet and you're buying something at a store do you just pull your whole wallet out to tap the point of sale terminal and leave it to chance as to which one gets used?

[MIPS]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

So if you have multiple credit and debit cards in your wallet and you're buying something at a store do you just pull your whole wallet out to tap the point of sale terminal and leave it to chance as to which one gets used?

In Japan: No because my Suica card is not on the same frequency as my debit, credit or BCID card, though this is due to a difference in standards.

In Canada: Standing at a till in a store is different from standing in the middle of either the entrance of a station or walking towards said gate while pulling a wallet out of your pants to open it and pull your card out. Same applies when using the tap feature at a gas pump.

[Kisai]

Originally Posted by MIPS

I still call the inability for Compass readers to differentiate between a Compass Card and a Credit Card to be a massive design oversight from Cubic and that everyone is simply too full of themselves to admit is an extremely expensive mistake that cannot be economically fixed until the system is upgraded in....30 years?


It doesn't help when TransLink has on average 19 cameras per station and they always release profiles to the press from some of the worst angles.

Just on the basis of what I've seen. I don't think it's possible for the contactless readers to operate efficiently when there's multiple cards, hence even with a normal Compass card, it will randomly go "please tap again" just to make sure you meant to tap it. When it activates, it will read the card with the fastest response, and unless it's rejected because multiple cards were picked up, it will try to authorize the first card. I knew Credit card support was coming because our Compass Card system is the same as London's, and they rolled out theirs years ago.

I've also experienced numerous times where people follow behind me who clearly didn't pay because they tapped nothing. Which is why sometimes I'll go through it and then hesitate before moving away from the gate. The wristband is a good idea but it's going to have limited appeal since nobody is going to want to wear one of those all day if they do any work at all. It's likely to have more appeal for tourists/conventions and people who include transit as part of their athletic routine (eg taking the bus or skytrain to/from a gym) as it won't get lost when shuffling bags around.


That said, obviously the Compass card vending machines can't vend these. So I wonder how they plan to sell them? Maybe in actual vending machines?