🚀 go-pugleaf

ifisher@unixg.ubc.ca (Ian Fisher) wrote:

>Martin_Williamson@mindlink.bc.ca wrote:
>
>>This 'lack of manpower' is not an uncommon problem.  I expect that
>>we'll see posters advocating the simple solution 'Hire more drivers',
>>but before we get into that let me say there are a number of
>>mitigating factors involved here that many outside the public transit
>>industry are probably not aware of.
>
>I'm sure anyone who has waited for a bus that didn't show up or been
>passed up by a full bus because the one before it was missing would
>love to know what these mitigating factors are...

First off, you have to have equipment for operators to drive.  The
number of companies that manufacture transit coaches is limited.  So
with other areas also vying for spots on the assembly line the lead
time between ordering and receiving coaches is in the area of 2 years.
The changing political nature of BC adds to the mix.  This makes
planning for the future difficult.

At present, due to government forced cancellation of Transit's
standing order for 50 buses per year (this was to maintain the
operating fleet at its present level, not increase it) Transit is
walking a very narrow line between the schedule and what is available
for service.  Maintenance requirements and unexpected failures
sometimes push over the line and coaches are late leaving the garage
or don't get out at all.  This does not even begin to touch on
servicing levels for new or expanded routes or increasing accessible
service.

Hire more drivers!  The load on the transit system in the lower
mainland varies greatly over the year.  Right now, with UBC out for
the summer, the load on the west side diminishes considerably.  In
another two months public school finishes and the load drops even
further (Transit provides a number of 'school bus' type services for
Vancouver, Burnaby and Coquitlam schools to name a few).  Anyone who
drives to work will notice the decrease in vehicles when UBC, BCIT and
SFU finish their winter sessions.  The question arises, what to do
with all these drivers (if they were hired) during the 3 months of
summer.  The load brought in by the tourist industry does not warrant
keeping them.

Part-time drivers is an issue that the driver's union (ICTU) has
always fought for a number of reasons.  Since I am not a member of the
union I will not debate the pros or cons of their position except to
point one area that I feel is valid.  I would not feel safe driving at
speed in one of the largest vehicles on the road with someone who
doesn't do it 5 days a week.  It's a difficult job to do well and full
time practice is required to keep up that skill.  Transit has one of
the best safety records in North America.  I feel that it is important
to keep it.

Government imposition of operating rules is a little known or
considered area that affects what service gets to the street.  As I
mentioned, BC Transit has one of the best safety records in North
America.  It was attained following operating rules arrived at and
agreed to by both company and union.  The provincial government has
now imposed the operating rules of the trucking industry on all
commercial transport, including urban transit.  This blocked some
operators from putting in extra time on the road along with other
items.  Admittedly, it is only a few hours here and there but a bus
here and there is what we're talking about.

Like all large commercial operations, providing public transit is a
complicated business.  For those on the outside solutions to some
problems appear to be simple, the unfortunate reality is that they're
not.