🚀 go-pugleaf

An "omnibus" reply to some of the issues raised in this thread:

Why did BCT buy the New Flyer low-floor?

New Flyer has the most experience building low-floor buses for the
North American market. Similar vehicles have been in operation in
Victoria for about four years now. The other two Canadian bus makers
(Orion Bus Industries and NovaBus) have not yet delivered production
low-floor buses but should be doing so soon. Perhaps then New Flyer's
dominance will be challenged. I'va also heard that Vancouver BC
Transit staff weren't too keen on buying low-floor but the BC Transit
Board of Directors (provincially appointed) forced them too.

johansen@portal.ca (George Johansen) wrote:

>> Except that with the new buses, a single wheelchair rider requires that 4 
>> seats be abandoned to accommodate the wheelchair. On the old buses, I 
>> think it was 2 seats.

The lift buses had one centre-facing seat that could be flipped up if
required to accomodate a wheelchair - total seating loss: three seats.
I'm pretty sure the low floors have at least two centre facing seats
which can be flipped up to provide more room for a total seating loss
of at least four seats. No doubt this is because of the high-density
seating layout used to try to counteract the intrusive nature of the
wheel wells and the resulting reduction of seating area.

The seat spacing does leave a lot to be desired for taller people. We
got a bit of bonus on the New Flyer lift-equipped buses since the
seats on the right side of the bus between the doors are unusually far
apart. On the low-floors the situation is much different. I found this
to be a special problem in Victoria where low-floor buses are used on
the bus to the Swartz Bay ferry terminal - there is very little room
for luggage.

>BC Transit *does* consult with passengers, and very extensively at that. 
>What they have failed to do was to ask you specifically.

I don't recall BC Transit making any consultations with passengers on
this bus purchase. The only riders they consult are the
mobility-impaired riders who need lifts and low-floor buses. BCT also
did not consult with riders when it bought the outrageously noisy and
rough New Flyer lift-equipped buses in 1991. At least the 1992 was
*slightly* quieter and smoother riding.

BTW, the soft seats on the low-floors were pushed for by the transit
union, not BCT staff. Apparently the soft seats are considerably
cheaper then the stainless steel model preferred by BCT staff. If
people respect them then they may prove economical but if boneheads
insist on slashing them or cutting out chunks of foam then all the
riders will pay in comfort for a certain groups anti-social behaviour.

>As for the lift equipped
>equipment, some of it dates back to 1987 models which were "retrofitted"
>with lifts after the fact.  All of this vintage are still on the road in
>our fleet.

BC Transit has never retro-fitted lifts to its buses. The first
lift-equipped bus was purchased from MCI in 1989 with more purchased
in subsequent years from MCI (in 1990) and New Flyer (in 1991 and
1992). Then the strangest thing happened - the NDP got elected and it
took almost 4 years for BC Transit to recieve its next new bus order.

>Also, feel
>free to contact BC Transit anytime you have an observation good or bad. 
>They are a service company just like any other.  And they do respond to
>rider concerns.

Yes, they sometimes deal with an issue well and will reply to your
concerns to varying degrees. They are often pretty poor at
communicating with the riders on a routine basis. Consider the
Blanca-UBC midday shuttles on the 9 Broadway; these have been in
effect for three schedule changes now with no explanation ever given
and no signs at UBC loop explaining why the buses aren't running
according to the schedule posted there.

The fallout form the messy shcedule changes in Coquitlam accompanying
the introduction of the West Coast Express woke them up and, at least
in that area, they seem to have become a bit more responsive.
 
------------
Ian Fisher  ifisher@unixg.ubc.ca   Transport 2000 British Columbia
Vancouver, BC, Canada              Visit the Transport 2000 BC Web Site:
Telephone/Fax: (604)681-3192       http://www.vcn.bc.ca/t2000bc/
Vancouver transit anniversaries: 1996: SkyTrain turns 10 
1997: SeaBus turns 20		 1998: Trolley bus system turns 50!