Comments on: Jay Walder and NYC Buses, Part 2: What Can the MTA Do for Bus Riders? http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/26/jay-walder-and-nyc-buses-part-2-what-can-the-mta-do-for-bus-riders/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: ddartley http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/26/jay-walder-and-nyc-buses-part-2-what-can-the-mta-do-for-bus-riders/comment-page-1/#comment-143751 ddartley Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:35:09 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=74601#comment-143751 J:Lai, your story makes me think of this email exchange I had with MTA Customer Service (when I was considering an activist strategy which I have not yet put to any use...) <blockquote>Customer (David Dartley) - 08/17/2009 05:27 PM Hi, I am interested in handing out, while on board NYCT buses, flyers to bus riders that encourage those passengers to contact public officials and demand that bus-only lanes be kept clear so that bus riders are not subjected to unfair delays. Is there any MTA or other rule against my handing out such flyers while riding on NYCT buses? How about on subway platforms and on board subway trains? Thanks very much. Response (Art Kelly) - 08/21/2009 02:17 PM Dear Mr. Dartley, You may engage in this activity, as long as you do not solicit monetary contributions, in any way interfere with passenger traffic, or in any way constitute a danger or hazard to other persons on the bus. For information regarding such activity on subway platforms or in subway cars, please call 718-330-3322. We hope that this information is helpful to you. Sincerely, Art Kelly Manager, Customer Relations</blockquote> J:Lai, your story makes me think of this email exchange I had with MTA Customer Service (when I was considering an activist strategy which I have not yet put to any use…)

Customer (David Dartley) – 08/17/2009 05:27 PM
Hi,

I am interested in handing out, while on board NYCT buses, flyers to bus riders that encourage those passengers to contact public officials and demand that bus-only lanes be kept clear so that bus riders are not subjected to unfair delays.

Is there any MTA or other rule against my handing out such flyers while riding on NYCT buses?

How about on subway platforms and on board subway trains?

Thanks very much.

Response (Art Kelly) – 08/21/2009 02:17 PM

Dear Mr. Dartley,

You may engage in this activity, as long as you do not solicit monetary contributions, in any way interfere with passenger traffic, or in any way constitute a danger or hazard to other persons on the bus.

For information regarding such activity on subway platforms or in subway cars, please call 718-330-3322.

We hope that this information is helpful to you.

Sincerely,

Art Kelly
Manager, Customer Relations

]]> By: J:Lai http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/26/jay-walder-and-nyc-buses-part-2-what-can-the-mta-do-for-bus-riders/comment-page-1/#comment-143701 J:Lai Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:32:59 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=74601#comment-143701 Kaja - awesome idea, buses should get the same. That would obviate the need for enforcement cameras. I was on a bus the other day that was trying to pull into the bus stop, but was blocked by a standing car. Despite the fact that there was open curb space directly beyond the bus stop, the driver refused to pull forward. The bus sat right behind him, blowing its horn (and blocking the intersection, and delaying passengers trying to get off) for about 2-3 minutes until the driver of the car moved. It would have been great if the bus could have given him a little push. Kaja – awesome idea, buses should get the same. That would obviate the need for enforcement cameras.

I was on a bus the other day that was trying to pull into the bus stop, but was blocked by a standing car. Despite the fact that there was open curb space directly beyond the bus stop, the driver refused to pull forward. The bus sat right behind him, blowing its horn (and blocking the intersection, and delaying passengers trying to get off) for about 2-3 minutes until the driver of the car moved.

It would have been great if the bus could have given him a little push.

]]> By: Mark Walker http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/26/jay-walder-and-nyc-buses-part-2-what-can-the-mta-do-for-bus-riders/comment-page-1/#comment-142561 Mark Walker Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:05:22 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=74601#comment-142561 jass, good question. I haven't had much experience living with trolley buses -- I've seen them in San Francisco, but didn't spend enough time in the city to form an opinion. Perhaps I should spend more time in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trolley_bus#Use_and_preservation" rel="nofollow">these places</a>. One thing I do like about conventional light and heavy rail is that they usually stay on their tracks and therefore their movements are predictable to pedestrians. I understand that trolley buses have to stay beneath their electrical cables, but would that prevent them from veering off and crashing? Again, I'm not an expert, so I shouldn't venture an opinion. However I welcome informed commentary from trolley bus experts. jass, good question. I haven’t had much experience living with trolley buses — I’ve seen them in San Francisco, but didn’t spend enough time in the city to form an opinion. Perhaps I should spend more time in these places.

One thing I do like about conventional light and heavy rail is that they usually stay on their tracks and therefore their movements are predictable to pedestrians. I understand that trolley buses have to stay beneath their electrical cables, but would that prevent them from veering off and crashing? Again, I’m not an expert, so I shouldn’t venture an opinion.

However I welcome informed commentary from trolley bus experts.

]]> By: jass http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/26/jay-walder-and-nyc-buses-part-2-what-can-the-mta-do-for-bus-riders/comment-page-1/#comment-142421 jass Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:43:31 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=74601#comment-142421 Mark, then wouldnt you prefer electric trolley buses, which dont pollute but can move around obstacles in a way streetcars cannot? Mark, then wouldnt you prefer electric trolley buses, which dont pollute but can move around obstacles in a way streetcars cannot?

]]> By: Mark Walker http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/26/jay-walder-and-nyc-buses-part-2-what-can-the-mta-do-for-bus-riders/comment-page-1/#comment-142261 Mark Walker Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:01:49 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=74601#comment-142261 It's worth noting that several of the bus-speeding features described in the story -- contactless metrocards, GPS, enforcement cameras -- could be applied to light rail as well as to buses. I understand the rationale behind pushing bus rapid transit -- the up-front cost is less and thus it's more likely to get done sooner. But I still think light rail is the better long-term investment. I've seen it work beautifully in many cities, and as a pedestrian, I'd rather share the streets with electrified rail than with diesel buses, even if they're hybrids. It’s worth noting that several of the bus-speeding features described in the story — contactless metrocards, GPS, enforcement cameras — could be applied to light rail as well as to buses. I understand the rationale behind pushing bus rapid transit — the up-front cost is less and thus it’s more likely to get done sooner. But I still think light rail is the better long-term investment. I’ve seen it work beautifully in many cities, and as a pedestrian, I’d rather share the streets with electrified rail than with diesel buses, even if they’re hybrids.

]]> By: Danny G http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/26/jay-walder-and-nyc-buses-part-2-what-can-the-mta-do-for-bus-riders/comment-page-1/#comment-142231 Danny G Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:41:55 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=74601#comment-142231 Is there any argument against blocking the bus lanes off with concrete bollards spaced every six to ten feet? Is there any argument against blocking the bus lanes off with concrete bollards spaced every six to ten feet?

]]> By: Kaja http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/26/jay-walder-and-nyc-buses-part-2-what-can-the-mta-do-for-bus-riders/comment-page-1/#comment-142161 Kaja Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:45:52 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=74601#comment-142161 Streetcars of the future should be equipped with sufficient horsepower to physically push automobiles out of the way with their cowcatcher. Streetcars of the future should be equipped with sufficient horsepower to physically push automobiles out of the way with their cowcatcher.

]]> By: Cap'n Transit http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/26/jay-walder-and-nyc-buses-part-2-what-can-the-mta-do-for-bus-riders/comment-page-1/#comment-142121 Cap'n Transit Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:19:43 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=74601#comment-142121 <blockquote>Jay Walder: "If I put train tracks down the street, you wouldn't park your car on them." OK, put tracks down the street!</blockquote> Good one, Mark! But since this quote keeps getting repeated, I want to point out that in cities where there are tracks down the street, many people <b>do</b> park on them if they think they can get away with it. People don't park on regular railroad tracks because they know that trains tend to move fast and have difficulty stopping at short range. So their car might not be in one piece when they get back - and nobody's going to blame the train driver. However, slower-moving trains or streetcars can come to a stop before hitting a parked car, and people are much more likely to block the tracks because the consequences are not as immediate. Usually enforcement is good because the train can't go around the car, so again, there's a consequence and nobody will blame the train driver. But if enforcement is anything but swift, people will test it.

Jay Walder: “If I put train tracks down the street, you wouldn’t park your car on them.”

OK, put tracks down the street!

Good one, Mark! But since this quote keeps getting repeated, I want to point out that in cities where there are tracks down the street, many people do park on them if they think they can get away with it.

People don’t park on regular railroad tracks because they know that trains tend to move fast and have difficulty stopping at short range. So their car might not be in one piece when they get back – and nobody’s going to blame the train driver.

However, slower-moving trains or streetcars can come to a stop before hitting a parked car, and people are much more likely to block the tracks because the consequences are not as immediate. Usually enforcement is good because the train can’t go around the car, so again, there’s a consequence and nobody will blame the train driver. But if enforcement is anything but swift, people will test it.

]]> By: aceizwild http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/26/jay-walder-and-nyc-buses-part-2-what-can-the-mta-do-for-bus-riders/comment-page-1/#comment-142111 aceizwild Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:17:59 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=74601#comment-142111 J:Lai, The new Orion VII Hybrid buses actually make an annoucement requesting that riders exit through the rear door when the stop request cord is pulled. J:Lai,

The new Orion VII Hybrid buses actually make an annoucement requesting that riders exit through the rear door when the stop request cord is pulled.

]]> By: J:Lai http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/26/jay-walder-and-nyc-buses-part-2-what-can-the-mta-do-for-bus-riders/comment-page-1/#comment-142021 J:Lai Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:02:41 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=74601#comment-142021 can we please get turnstiles by the front entrance? I really think that forcing people to exit from the rear doors would do as much or more to speed boarding times than touchless cards. can we please get turnstiles by the front entrance?
I really think that forcing people to exit from the rear doors would do as much or more to speed boarding times than touchless cards.

]]> By: Mark Walker http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/26/jay-walder-and-nyc-buses-part-2-what-can-the-mta-do-for-bus-riders/comment-page-1/#comment-142011 Mark Walker Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:40:18 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=74601#comment-142011 Jay Walder: "If I put train tracks down the street, you wouldn't park your car on them." OK, put tracks down the street! Jay Walder: “If I put train tracks down the street, you wouldn’t park your car on them.”

OK, put tracks down the street!

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