Calgary Public Transit - Discussion

[GGG]

Originally Posted by MattyC

This is just a function of the faux seats they have there, which are ridiculous. They don't let you create your own space, you have to sit in the allotted spot. Just a bad idea. Straight bench seats will have people mostly sitting where it's comfortable.

This is a good thing though.

Trains exist in two states -- Empty so that not all seats are filled and packed -- people are touching each other standing up. (yes there is a transition period but it is very short). So to design for these two environments you make the allotted seating as tight as possible so it can handle the most people it can in the packed case. The comfort of the seated passengers is sacrificed for more standing room.

In the empty case you can have space between people so the small seats aren't an issue.

I think straight bench seats would reduce the capacity of each train car by about 10 people (2.5 people per bench x 4 benches per train). And since the seats on each bench right now are always filled the tiny bench seats are still more sought after than standing therefore improving their comfort is unnecessary

[SebC]

If we want off-peak to transit to be more viable at higher frequencies we need to improve comfort - seats that are two inches too narrow and thus need to be alternated like urinals are detrimental to that.

IMO the biggest issue with the sideways seat configuration is that lateral G-forces are more nauseating than longitudinal ones.

[Russic]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Is the "cuddling" not unavoidable, regardless of the seat scheme? You could have the ones that face each other like the oldies, you still have to sit beside someone, and have the added bonus of being knee-knee with a stranger while trying to avoid eye-contact.

Outside of a bunch of individual fold down seats that are 6 inches apart, or no seats at all, there really aren't any other options.

Burninator outlined my thoughts pretty well. At least in versions 1 and 2 I only ever have 1 person directly beside me, and even then it's rare that they're touching me. I'm a short guy, so I almost never run into the leg problem on V1 models. On V3 trains sitting down means I have a person on either side pressing against me. In summer it's skin-on-skin action and in winter there's half the space available due to giant coats. I totally appreciate that not everybody feels this way, but I find it incredibly uncomfortable and it gives me a slight anxiety (nothing serious, I just actively avoid it). The outside seats that fold down are the absolute best as there's room to hang off the side slightly.

I would like to emphasize that my comfort is not the most important thing here. Obviously moving the most number of bodies is, and the v3 trains do that well. I fully admit my preference of the v1 and v2 models is a bit silly.

[Coach]

But the V2 is dependent on the idea that everyone's ass is the same size. Wouldn't you rather the bigger people take up the actual space they take up than trying to fit into seats designed for people of average size? Isn't that much less comfortable?

I stand on the train regardless of the seats available though, so the seating arrangement has no affect on my really.

[Russic]

Originally Posted by MattyC

But the V2 is dependent on the idea that everyone's ass is the same size. Wouldn't you rather the bigger people take up the actual space they take up than trying to fit into seats designed for people of average size? Isn't that much less comfortable?

I stand on the train regardless of the seats available though, so the seating arrangement has no affect on my really.

I think we might be agreeing slightly. Just for clarification, v2 is the blue seats, all facing forward or backwards. The v3 is the periphery seating facing each other.

Big people taking up their actual space is definitely a good thing, and I think the fact that the bench has "seats" on the v3 version is the problem. That's why while the v4 has bench seating, my original point was at least it's just one big bench and not segregated into a bunch of tiny seats that only I seem able to fit into.

[GirlySports]

have you guys bought a Feb bus pass yet? i still got charged $103

[Fuzz]

They cancelled the price increase this year.

[bizaro86]

It was supposed to be $99 for Feb.

[Fuzz]

oh.... crooks!

[sleepingmoose]

Gst?

[Jimmy Stang]

Are any of the new "mask" trains currently in service? I know that they were unveiled a couple of weeks ago, and that the order will be trickling in over the next year or so. I'm just curious if these are seeing action yet.

[frinkprof]

^No. The commissioning process will take some time, especially since this is a new model and the first unit in the order. There also needs to be a critical mass of them delivered and commissioned so that a consist can be made, with a couple of spares in the shop in case there is a need for substitution.

I believe toward the end of the order, the delivery to commission process typically takes 3 or 4 weeks.

[codfather]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

have you guys bought a Feb bus pass yet? i still got charged $103

Bought mine earlier this week, paid $99. I did notice that the price isn't printed on it at all.

Originally Posted by sleepingmoose

Gst?

No gst on transit passes.

[GirlySports]

hmmm so where i bought it, they ran it through the machine and it said $103

[codfather]

I'm guessing they didn't update their POS system. I bought mine at Shoppers.

[RW99]

nm

[GirlySports]

i went this morning and got my $4 back

[Mass_nerder]

Not sure if this is really old news, but I'm currently riding in the 4th car of the train on the way to the university.

[albertGQ]

Originally Posted by Mass_nerder

Not sure if this is really old news, but I'm currently riding in the 4th car of the train on the way to the university.

Is the train still crazy packed like a 3 car train?

[Mass_nerder]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

Is the train still crazy packed like a 3 car train?

It was just before 9, so the train was fairly empty.
Hopefully, it will ease the congestion on the train.