[frinkprof]

Sorry to bump an aging thread, but I've been too busy to reply these last few days.

Originally Posted by The Goon

The TTC in Toronto is testing out using GPS to know where buses are and (ideally) when they'll be at the next stop. Hopefully Calgary Transit is able to implement this in the not-too-distant future.

As mentioned, real-time arrival information systems will be implemented for the C-Train and the BRT routes.

It is important to note that this technology does not, in and of itself, solve scheduling issues. It won't prevent buses from breaking down, being delayed, bunching up with other buses on the route, etc. As far as dispatchers/scheduling is concerned, radios do a good enough job for reporting position/delays, etc.

It does provide riders with reliable arrival information though, which is valuable.

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

Is it me or do these bendy buses suck in the snow? They always seem to be stuck on hills trying to go up them.

Snow tires in order for these models in particular perhaps?

Snow tires were tested on about 20 articulated bus units last winter, but the program was not continued. Apparently Calgary Transit didn't notice an appreciable difference from the regular tires. Here's a couple news stories on it:

http://www.metro-magazine.com/News/S...-on-fleet.aspx

http://www.calgaryherald.com/busines...867/story.html

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

Scheduling is clearly a disaster, but that can be reasonably blamed on traffic, lights and (on days like today) snow.

What you can't blame on anything but piss-poor organization and bad standards is:

You are at a train station for 15 minutes and five trains go by heading south and zero trains go by heading north.

The train stops in the middle of the tracks for five minutes and the driver doesn't say a goddamn word. This is infuriating. Even "we've got a medical emergency at Heritage and we'll be a few minutes" changes everything. Just sitting there in silence, when you know 200 people are sitting behind you wondering what the problem is, seems to me to be the symptom of a mental illness. Just speak up ferchrissakes.

Trains going off-duty before 9am, and rush hour service ends before 6pm. I could understand the morning service ending early (but not that early) but cripes, sometimes adults don't leave work when a whistle blows at 4:30 or 5. The train and buses are far from deserted at 6, but some of the buses have gone back to 30+ minute service.

Good post. There are certainly some problems with quite a few aspects of scheduling that go beyond the problems caused by weather. From talking to a few operators, the scheduling department is behind the times and their approach to scheduling in general leaves a lot to be desired. Now, take that with a grain of salt seeing as how operators could have a part to play, but might not admit to it. I really do hope things improve somehow.

I'd also like to see rush hour service extended in the evenings until 6:30. Even 6:15 would make a big difference.

I've always been of the thought that the easiest way to improve transit service is to increase frequency. It costs the most money (operating costs), but if all feeder buses had their frequency increased by, say 50%, the benefits to the system as a whole would be huge.

Originally Posted by browna

Buses, ok...c-trains what's the point?

If a bus is late, sometimes people can wait in their house/office a bit longer, or make other arrangements (take different route etc), given the infrequency of a particular route, and sometimes, like today, buses can't go up certain hills with crappy roads so have to take detours you'd have no idea about.

But for a Ctrain? They run on rails every 10-20 minutes all day long. If there are major delays or closures, there's annoucements made on the platforms.

Never understood those people who make a point to go to the edge of the platform and lean over to look down the tracks to see if a train is coming twice a minute, as if they're going to spot the train making a left turn somewhere and missing the stop. (I have seen buses do that) or make a decision to take some other form of transport because the train isn't fast enough for you.

It gets there when it gets there. If you're standing on the Ctrain platform, you don't really have an option other than to wait like everyone else.

This highlights a psychological phenomenon (also illustrated by RougeUnderoos above. People are much more at ease when they know, or at least have some idea of, when their bus or train is arriving. When it is supposed to arrive doesn't mean much, especially when there are delays, and this is why the current Teleride (call a number, receive regurgitation of scheduled arrival time) isn't valuable, especially in bad weather. People want to have some semblance of control over otherwise uncertain situations. Extrapolating a bit, it's part of why private automobiles are a more attractive option for some people, because they feel they have more control over the trip.

Knowing when your train or bus will arrive has a value beyond the psychological benefit. If people know roughly when their train or bus will arrive, they can take another route, choose to drive, call a taxi or a friend/relative to come pick them up, call their workplace or home to let them know you will be late, stay inside for longer, conduct some business over the phone rather than wait to get to the office, etc.