Quote:
Originally Posted by frinkprof
I'd like to rehash the discussion of seating arrangements in LRT cars.
There's a few elements that I'm interested to hear thoughts on, drawing upon experiences with both existing cars in Calgary's system as well as examples you've experienced from elsewhere.
1. Transverse vs. longitudinal seating. Transverse is "knee-to-back" seating whereas longitudinal is perimeter seating where the seats on one side of the train face the other side of the train. Let's leave the "conversation style" seating of the oldest LRT cars out of it because no one seems to be doing that anymore.
2. Pole/stanchion/handhold placement, proliferation and types. Where is it good to have them, and where is it not. Preference for certain types (three-pronged, hanging loops from ceiling-mounted poles, etc.). Along the middle of the aisle or running up from the seats or both?
3. Bucket-style seats or straight bench or something in between with just slight grooves?
4. Fold/flip-up seats for wheelchairs? Pretty much have to have these nowadays due to accessibility standards, but any additional thoughts on these? Should they be defaulted to the folded up position or the down-position and you can fold them up and latch them?
5. Seating material? Do you prefer the more-easily-vandalized but cushier vinyl-cushion or upholstered seats or the molded plastic with less cushion?
I'd like to keep the focus primarily on the seating/arrangement topic, but any other thoughts on the customer experience of LRT cars? Noises, announcements, lighting, doors, flooring, etc.
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1. Transverse is better if we had sufficient capacity (and I actually like the "conversational" ones best), but we don't. This is because, as anyone who's played Roller Coaster Tycoon knows, people are more senstive to sideways g-forces than front-to-back g-forces. The new trains have the right idea for more standing room.
2. The current pole placement on the new trains is awful. There's not enough space to squeeze past them.
3. Flat bench all the way. The seats on the new trains are spaced too closely together. Flat bench lets people strecth out when there's space and squeeze in when there isn't. The bucket seats are like urinals without dividers, either you have to leave an empty one or it's too busy for that and then you're too close for comfort.
4. Don't think it makes a major difference, but it might to a person who needs them up. I say default up.
5. Plastic seats suck, I like the cushions.