Calgary Public Transit - Discussion - Page 7 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

MrMastodonFarm · 10-25-2010, 07:10 PM

Anyone notice the new buses out and about lately? They look pretty damn big, they seem to have seating in the back similar to old style ctrain seating, 4 seats facing each other type thing. Don't know how new they are or how many there are either, just wondering if anyone has more info.

frinkprof · 10-25-2010, 07:39 PM

^Are you speaking of these?

They are the newest addition to the bus fleet, and are from a different manufacturer than Calgary Transit has ordered from in a long time. The manufacturer is Nova, while CT has gone with mostly New Flyer in the last couple decades.

There are 40 on order, 30 have arrived, but only a few have gone into service so far. I think there is an option for another 40 next year, so we'll see if they do indeed get more in the future.

MrMastodonFarm · 10-25-2010, 07:47 PM

Those appear to be the ones, yup. Thanks.

Table 5 · 10-25-2010, 08:32 PM

What happened to the Discotrain?

calgaryrocks · 10-26-2010, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Table 5

What happened to the Discotrain?

? yea, I have never seen this before

fredr123 · 10-26-2010, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frinkprof

^Are you speaking of these?

They are the newest addition to the bus fleet, and are from a different manufacturer than Calgary Transit has ordered from in a long time. The manufacturer is Nova, while CT has gone with mostly New Flyer in the last couple decades.

There are 40 on order, 30 have arrived, but only a few have gone into service so far. I think there is an option for another 40 next year, so we'll see if they do indeed get more in the future.

I rode in one on Monday and didn't notice any extra seating in the back. I'll have to take a better look next time. It did seem like the aisle was more cramped than in the other models. I didn't notice whether the seats were wider or if the bus was narrower than usual.

Also, they still had that new bus smell which I don't doubt will be quickly replaced by a mix of BO and pee.

Table 5 · 10-26-2010, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredr123

Also, they still had that new bus smell which I don't doubt will be quickly replaced by a mix of BO and pee.

Until you've experienced "homeless man who hasn't showered in months clearing out an ENTIRE rush-hour train jam-packed full of steely commuters used to horrible subway smells", count yourself lucky. It's an utterly different level of stench that you can't believe exists until you're caught in it's midst.

pylon · 10-26-2010, 11:51 AM

"Public Transportation is for jerks and lesbians" - Homer S.

/drive by

Cecil Terwilliger · 10-26-2010, 11:55 AM

I haven't read any of this thread but what a stupid decision by Calgary Transit again this past weekend.

I've been to 2 Flames games this year, both on a Sunday, and both times the train has been out of service. There has to be at least a few thousand people who use transit as a method to get to the game.

Ironhorse · 10-26-2010, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Table 5

What happened to the Discotrain?

Wasn't that the commuter train experiment that ran from Okotoks to Anderson LRT via the CPR tracks?

Ducay · 10-26-2010, 12:06 PM

Side note; looks like they're lifting the last span of the elevated guideway pieces into place today (of the pre-Sunalta track)

I-Hate-Hulse · 10-26-2010, 12:17 PM

Any chance the adoption of smartcard payment technology will result in a zone system being created? I've discovered a great bus route that goes from where I live (near Chicken on the Way) to downtown and would use it but $2.75 for a ten minute ride is a little too pricey to justify it.

Burninator · 10-26-2010, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

I haven't read any of this thread but what a stupid decision by Calgary Transit again this past weekend.

I've been to 2 Flames games this year, both on a Sunday, and both times the train has been out of service. There has to be at least a few thousand people who use transit as a method to get to the game.

Are you talking about last Sundays game (24th)? I took the train home that day.

Rathji · 10-26-2010, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

Any chance the adoption of smartcard payment technology will result in a zone system being created? I've discovered a great bus route that goes from where I live (near Chicken on the Way) to downtown and would use it but $2.75 for a ten minute ride is a little too pricey to justify it.

But how much is parking downtown in comparison?

yads · 10-26-2010, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rathji

This would be awesome.

What I have always wanted, and maybe this already exists in some form, is the ability to save multiple stops/paths and be able to access real time information (or just the scheduling information) for those stops/paths.

For example: I get on the 302 in the morning at the MacKenzie Towne stop. I take that bus to the same stop downtown every day.

I would like to be able to save that route so I can name it "Going to work" and it will tell me when I need to be at the bus stop and when it will get to my destination. This would let me program the 4 - 6 routes I normally use.

Then I could easily figure out things like : Should I take the 302 or the 117 at a given time of the day? When I am going to be home from work so the wife can plan dinner, which bus I need to get on in order to get to my class in time, When I need to leave work to avoid having to wait 25 mins for a bus during non-rush hour times.

As it stands now, I need to have a list of bus stop numbers saved into my phone, and either call teleride or go through the cumbersome process on CT website or the slightly streamlined Google maps process.

Am I asking for too much, or does something like this already exist?

Edit: Does CT have an API to allow external developers to access route data like this? Would take much for me to code up something for my own personal use if it did.

Not sure what kind of phone you have, but on Android you can create a shortcut that has directions. So for example I have a Go Home shortcut that will give me transit directions from my current location home via transit. You could also do a Go To Work shortcut as well.

habernac · 10-26-2010, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Table 5

Until you've experienced "homeless man who hasn't showered in months clearing out an ENTIRE rush-hour train jam-packed full of steely commuters used to horrible subway smells", count yourself lucky. It's an utterly different level of stench that you can't believe exists until you're caught in it's midst.

Like the homeless guy who passed out in the middle of a crowded Stampede time train and shat himself? And I believe it was about 30C that day.

TorqueDog · 10-26-2010, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Table 5

What happened to the Discotrain?

Donny Osmond wrote a song about it and they immediately destroyed every last one of them.

You Need a Thneed · 10-26-2010, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

Wasn't that the commuter train experiment that ran from Okotoks to Anderson LRT via the CPR tracks?

Not from olivine, just from somerset (I think) to Anderson. It never went outside of Calgary. Basically, it was a trial run for a couple of months, never something that was going to be permanent, even if they liked the trial.

Addick · 10-26-2010, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Table 5

What happened to the Discotrain?

Wow! I was actually looking up those trains just yesterday.

bizaro86 · 10-26-2010, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

Not from olivine, just from somerset (I think) to Anderson. It never went outside of Calgary. Basically, it was a trial run for a couple of months, never something that was going to be permanent, even if they liked the trial.

Why do a trial run of something that is never, ever, intended to be permanent?