🚀 go-pugleaf

johansen@portal.ca (George Johansen) wrote:

>> The drivers
>> could simply call in with whatever problem they encounter and provide
>> an estimated delay.   8 million?  Probably much less than that.   If
>> they need additional revenue, maybe adopting OC Transpo's $56 tickets
>> for everything from walking/driving in the bus lane to fare cheating
>> could be an option.

>It's not like you're the very first person to consider this.  BC Transit
>has studied (as has every other major city) how to provide information in
>many modes.  It's just not as easy as it looks on the surface.

Never said it was an original idea...   I did say that OC Transpo
(Ottawa)  has a system in place that allows riders to find out when
the next bus is.   This really helps when you're sitting there
waiting... wondering when the next bus is coming, trying to decide
whether or not a taxi would be a good idea.   
For example, when I was in Ottawa last year, I was at the airport,
waiting for a bus.   The schedule indicated the last bus to be at
11:30pm.   I got to the stop at about 11:15.   No bus.   I call the
number on the bus stop sign, and was told 11:30.  So I wait in -35C
weather.   At 11:35, still no bus.  I call... bus was cancelled.   So
I took a taxi.   Now, if I didn't have somewhere to call, who knows
how long I would have waited (I'm used to BC Transit, so I'm generally
quite patient about buses).   It works.

>As for the drivers, if you were to add being a traffic reporter to their
>duties, how much more would you be willing to pay?  Added responsibilities
>cost money to employers.  You cannot just add one here and another there
>before somebody says "whoa!".
So, you're saying a bus driver isn't capable of calling in when he's
late?   Or if he looks ahead and sees a jam?   Give them a little
credit.  As you well know, many are very experienced and have a good
feel for traffic.   If they're late, they know it.   The system
doesn't have to be 100% accurate (not down to the last minute), but so
long as it informs riders about delays.    Heck, I'd be happy if
drivers would stick their head out the door at stops and shout "Bus
#403 is delayed" or something to that effect.  It just gives the rider
the info needed to make decisions.   Anyways, wouldn't this
information help BC Transit in their planning?   If certain buses at
certain times are consistently late, then perhaps scheduling could be
adjusted accordingly...     Doesn't BCT already collect this info (in
some fashion)?   Is it that tough to pass it on to the riders?

Patrick