Friday, May 27, 2011

Flop of the day: an audible warning system intended to alert pedestrians that a TriMet bus was turning.

The transit agency announced Friday that after three months of testing the system, at a cost of $46,000, the tests had come to the end of the line. Announcements broadcast over external speaker systems on 10 buses didn’t activate when they were supposed to and did activate at inappropriate times, such as when buses were changing lanes.

“It was determined,” a TriMet news release said, “that the technology has not advanced enough to make it an effective tool to help alert pedestrians and people riding bikes that a bus is turning.”

The system was made by ProTran1 of New Jersey, and because the agency bought the book-sized units, they can’t be returned.

Spokeswoman Mary Fetsch said she didn’t know what TriMet would do with the units, but “if there are other transit agencies that would like to try it, we’d be happy to help them out.”

http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/05/follow-up-jeri-ellsworth-vs-talking-buses-trimet-jeri-won.html

"...the agency bought the book-sized units, they can’t be returned."

Brilliant. TriMet wasted $46,000...money that might have been able to go towards new buses.

“if there are other transit agencies that would like to try it, we’d be happy to help them out.”"

"We'd be happy to help them out"? Really? Happy to help them out by giving them the faulty equipment and letting them find out for themselves it doesn't work? Ha! That takes the cake for the best Mary Fetsch quote yet!

This is where TriMet continues to tell us we don't need new buses

They must think that if they try hard enough to tell us that, it will become magically true.

The Boneyard at Merlo

Well, let me say something, TriMet. IT AIN'T WORKING. Literally.

Trolley bus! (sort of...)

I'm not really sure what this thing was, but it was sure cool to see.
Saw it today at 6th and salmon just by chance.

The front of the bus-trolly-thing. TriMet supervisor car to the left. I ended up staying in the same area for a while and not once did that supervisor come out of his (running) car.

Interesting how the sides are open. Didn't think that sort of design in a place like Portland, Oregon would work so well considering how much it likes to rain here. (notice the wet pavement--it had been raining earlier in the day)

Bye bye pink thing!

The bloggers ride the 84

Videos:

Erik Halstead finds something nice to say about TriMet

Bloggers argue over the talking bus program
That new "art" at Rockwood

Max and Henry interview the lone 84 passenger
Locating Marjama Nursery per Steve Fung's instructions

There might be more that Al posts...i don't know. If there are, i'll post those too

For Fear of Hitting a Cyclist

But as I get older, fear is also playing a role. Portland does a better job than most mitigating conflicts between cars and two wheelers or people on foot. Still, in a world dominated by fast moving two-ton machines, opportunities for death and injury abound. And even in pdx, too many poorly designed streets and non existent driver liability laws compromise safe biking and walking—leaving the burden of responsible driving up to the individual.
http://www.portlandurbanista.com/?p=446

Respect the Union Waterfront!

Some of my favorite quotes

"The world we see before us is a flawless creation of our combined acts, thoughts, and dreams. There are no accidents, there are no random events; we are as we are as individuals, cultures, and as a world for one simple reason: this is what we have made. What terrifies us is that we can not, as individuals, political parties, and religions, control this creation. Thus, the politics of blood and tears."
~David Wagstaff

"I felt that I had been happy and that I was happy again. For everything to be consummated, for me to feel less alone, I had only to wish that there be a large crowd of spectators the day of my execution and that they greet me with cries of hate."
~The Stranger, Albert Camus

Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same.
~Flavia Weedn

When the world says, "Give up,"
Hope whispers, "Try it one more time."
~Author Unknown

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."
~Unknown

"If A is a success in life, then A equals x plus y plus z. Work is x; y is play; and z is keeping your mouth shut."
~Unknown

"Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding."
~Unknown

Route 84

Four of the blog authors from the blog Rantings of People who use Public Transit in Portland, Oregon went to ride line 84 tonight to report about that line. Not sure about the details yet, but I'm looking forward to the corresponding post by one of them about it.
Route 84 is that Kelso/Boring route that much controversy surrounded earlier this spring and last winter. Still no word from TriMet about what they're going to do about the route (if they're going to leave it the same, increase service, or cancel it altogether).
I'll link to the Rantings post about line 84 when it is posted, likely with more of my jabber about it. :)

The Sequel: Fixing the problem of illicit TriMet tickets not so easy

"Is it even legal to resell TriMet tickets at bus and train stops if you don't work for the agency?"

No, it's not -- on TriMet property. Transit police have busted people for doing it. Of course, if the stop is along a city street, the ticket grifter can always claim, "Hey, man, I'm on the sidewalk."

One more cosmic sigh.
http://blog.oregonlive.com/commuting/2011/05/fixing_the_problem_of_illicit.html

The End of "Pedestrian, Bus is Turning"

Aww... we could never have predicted this. The idea of a bus shouting a robotic, bilingual warning message every time it turned was BRILLIANT.
BLOGTOWN PDX
There's also a poll you guys should check out!

January 7th, 2010 MAX disruption

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

First PM rush hour on the new Portland Mall: Part 1

First PM rush hour on the new Portland Mall: Part 2

Touring a new TriMet bus with Director Lehrbach

How it's Made - Transit Buses

“The last thing any station wants is an activist weatherman,”

Weather reporters have come a long way from the 1970s, when they were hired for their looks and handed jokey scripts (David Letterman was a weatherman). Today, most forecasters have degrees in meteorology or a related science. In fact, because weather forecasters are often the only reporters in the newsroom with science backgrounds, they are well positioned to report on global warming, if not explain all the complexities of climate science. “It’s not like there’s a Grand Canyon separating meteorologists and climatologists,” says Anthony Socci, a senior policy fellow at the American Meteorological Society in Boston. “We share the same skill set.”
Crazy Weather | Portland Urbanista

Trimet general manager says the "spring thaw" has arrived

http://www.thoughts.com/HR202/trimet-general-manager-says-the-spring-thaw-has-arrived

TriMet's Clean Streams?

This piece sounds ‘alarmist’ – ‘it’s meant to be’ | LO Review

Why bikes and rail don't mix

It sucks when you have to learn the reason the hard way.

Only in Oregon

Mama, ducklings stop traffic on I-5

Twitter

@DanFiebiger Dan Fiebiger

Bumper Sticker on my car: 23 entire TriMet busses are off the road cuz my car is on it. A new world record for a single idiot driver !

24 May via web

from Portland, OR

Fairmont Boulevard as an OHSU park-and-hike?

http://bojack.org/2011/05/sw_fairmont_as_an_ohsu_parkand.html

Las Vegas express bus lines among best in U.S., report says

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/may/27/las-vegas-rapid-bus-lines-among-best-us-report-say/

Lowering Performance standards

Even so, "on time" may not be what it sounds like. Trains are considered on time if they are two minutes later than scheduled during peak service -- or up to 50 percent of the wait time during off-peak times. That means if riders are expecting a 15-minute wait on a weekend, Metro considers the train on time if it arrives in 22 minutes.

Buses considered on-time can be two minutes early or seven minutes late.

Board member Mortimer Downey, a former U.S. deputy secretary of transportation, questioned the changes, saying Metro already had the widest definition of what qualifies as on-time as any transit agency he's seen. He said lowering the bus rate to 78 percent was like telling riders the agency could predict a bus would come but not when.

Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/dc/2011/05/metro-lowers-standards-train-bus-performance#ixzz1NbBJNlkj

Wonder if TriMet is next?

Old TriMet Fares and Fare Zones

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmchuff/2640715100/
5 zones?? Wow.
Gawd, i wish fares were so cheap these days--i would only have to pay $15 for a monthly pass!

Eli Pariser on "The Filter Bubble: What the Internet Is Hiding from You”

http://www.democracynow.org/2011/5/27/eli_pariser_on_the_filter_bubble
Very interesting, i would say.

What to Do at a Yellow Light? And Other Things American Drivers Don’t Know

http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/26/what-to-do-at-a-yellow-light-and-other-things-american-drivers-dont-know/?hp
So what do you do? The article never says; it simply dances around the answer and only provides numbers.

100 or 25 bucks? You can do better than that, TriMet

Not that impressive, huh?

Eastbank Esplanade detour extended to June 24

The detour for bicyclists and pedestrians at the south end of the Eastbank Esplanade will be extended through June 24. Work is under way in the area to prepare for construction of the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Bridge this summer. Crews need the additional time to complete unforeseen subsurface work in the area. View a map of the detour.
~TRIMET Email Updates

More on those new Nextrip bus stop signs

This new signage – the first part of a larger initiative to update all bus stop signs – brings Nextripinformation to each and every bus stop in the system. It’s a project that shows Metro’s commitment to the real time arrival system by making sure that all riders are aware of the service and have access to the neccessary information.

http://thesource.metro.net/2011/05/25/more-on-those-new-nextrip-bus-stop-signs/

The Silly Argument Over BRT and Rail

What is clear is that for the majority of American cities — excluding only a few in the Northeast — buses will remain the predominant mode of public transit for most riders, even after major expansions in train networks planned for cities from Charlotte to Phoenix. So even cities that choose to invest in rail projects must also spend on the improvement of their bus lines.

http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2011/05/25/the-silly-argument-over-brt-and-rail/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thetransportpolitic+%28The+Transport+Politic%29

Complaints r us...

http://rantingsofatrimetbusdriver.blogspot.com/2011/05/complaints-r-us.html

How To Die In Oregon

http://maxredline.typepad.com/maxredline/2011/05/how-to-die-in-oregon.html

BoJack

In Search of Chemistry
What China Wants
Eye in the Sky
Gatsby's got a secret

http://bikeportland.org/2011/05/27/trimet-pulls-plug-on-audible-turn-warnings-system-53800?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BikePortland+%28BikePortland.org%29

TriMet says faulty technology ends pedestrian warning system test

The test cost $46,000, or $4,600 per bus. TriMet spokesperson Mary Fetsch said it was a reasonable amount of money to determine whether the system should be purchased and installed on the entire fleet.
http://portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=130651558602340800

TriMet finally realizes that the turning talking bus announcements are worthless

So, after wasting thousands on that useless system, they quit using it, finally realizing that it wasn't working properly at all.

News Release: TriMet halts test of audible pedestrian warning system

So this now begs the question: What will TriMet do with those 10 buses that have the system installed in them? Will they just pull the system out of the bus? Will they keep it and just use those 10 buses as backup buses in case more buses are needed at one time? What will those buses get done to them? They were all (i think) 2600s-2800s, so it makes the most sense that TriMet would just take the system out, if possible, so those buses would be usable.

Time to reboot the Sellwood Bridge?

Discussion

Given all of that--if the existing project constraints were mostly removed, and the region had $200 million to build a southern crossing wherever it liked--where would you put it, how would you fund it, who would run it, and what would it look like? To make this interesting, feel free to imagine other connecting infrastructure projects in the future, if you like.

And if you think that the $200 million ought to be spent elsewhere entirely, or pocketed--with no more vehicular crossing of the Willamette between Oregon City and downtown after the existing bridge reaches the end of its useful life, feel free to say that as well.

Portland Transport