Discussions

This is similar to a post recently where some concerned parents were wondering about school fire alarms sounding in extreme cold conditions where students must evacuate without proper winter attire.  
Last Wednesday was the coldest day of the year. There was an accident and the bus was late on the Richmond West run for over an hour. I was lucky to have waited on Willowdale in my building where I can spot the bus coming from a distance. But some spots are wide open in the wind and cold. This could be serious for someone who is not prepared for a serious wait times - maybe have health issues, but also a major inconvenience for riders who rely on the scheduled run. I know there are many variables like trains, weather, etc.  
My question is: Should there be something in place where people could be informed about accidents or other factors delaying buses such as in extreme weather conditions?  
 
When I rode transit in BC, I noted they have GPS systems in buses that always updates (in real time) online to alert riders as to their wheareabouts. It's like a text based ticker that shows the times when a bus will be at a certain stop (right to within seconds). Maybe there could be an app for people to receive SMS notifications so if there were problems like delays then it would send a text to your phone to let you know or info could be updated on website.  
Wasn't there a time (before the internet) that if a bus was late then dispatch would notify an on-call driver to take up the slack? I don't ever remember it being this bad. Shortage of drivers perhaps? How do they ever catch up if a bus runs off schedule? How does a person transfer when they will never be downtown on the half hour?  
I feel for those drivers. They are under a lot of stress to try and keep schedule in bad weather. You would need to exceed the speed limit to make time. I appreciate their effort and take my hat off to these drivers.  
Not a rant. Just curious about what positive innovation can be implemented in this case.

a long time in blowing wind... after about 15 minutes I figure I have missed bus so I go back home and maybe call the transit info or go outside for the next bus hopefully... certainly an app would be a good idea... Most people have smartphones today or can access online info... I don't envy those guys who drive in that crappy weather.

Would love an app or real time notifications however with that comes a cost which would mean raising the cost of our bus fare from the lowest price I've ever seen. Also it's been a horrible winter.. it hasn't been like this in years

Pray it Forward said "This is similar to a post recently where some concerned parents were wondering about school fire alarms sounding in extreme cold conditions where students must evacuate without proper winter attire.   Last Wednesday was the coldest day of the year. There was an accident and the bus was late on the Richmond West run for over an hour. I was lucky to have waited on Willowdale in my building where I can spot the bus coming from a distance. But some spots are wide open in the wind and cold. This could be serious for someone who is not prepared for a serious wait times - maybe have health issues, but also a major inconvenience for riders who rely on the scheduled run. I know there are many variables like trains, weather, etc.   My question is: Should there be something in place where people could be informed about accidents or other factors delaying buses such as in extreme weather conditions?     When I rode transit in BC, I noted they have GPS systems in buses that always updates (in real time) online to alert riders as to their wheareabouts. It's like a text based ticker that shows the times when a bus will be at a certain stop (right to within seconds). Maybe there could be an app for people to receive SMS notifications so if there were problems like delays then it would send a text to your phone to let you know or info could be updated on website.   Wasn't there a time (before the internet) that if a bus was late then dispatch would notify an on-call driver to take up the slack? I don't ever remember it being this bad. Shortage of drivers perhaps? How do they ever catch up if a bus runs off schedule? How does a person transfer when they will never be downtown on the half hour?   I feel for those drivers. They are under a lot of stress to try and keep schedule in bad weather. You would need to exceed the speed limit to make time. I appreciate their effort and take my hat off to these drivers.   Not a rant. Just curious about what positive innovation can be implemented in this case. "

How much would people be willing to pay for this? Transit in Vancouver is $2.75 and up - depending on where and time of day for a single adult fair. Of course your traveling a longer distance there, but perks like GPS comes with number of riders, and that would add a fair premium to the cost of riding.  
 
And also keep in mind, while you may have no problem paying an increase, we have many much less financially able people, for whom any increase would be a hardship.  
 
I agree that major improvements can be made, but remember, improvements are not going to be free.

transit system in the Greater Vancouver Area is operated by TransLink. A private company, not a city run transit system. They also have the population and ridership to justify the cost of such a system.  
 
http://www.translink.ca/  
 
Also with all of these threads, you'd think we've never had very cold weather before. Or even snow storms.

OK, perhaps something simple like they have posted "Detours and Closures" on the Brandon Transit site.  
I am just thinking that the web master could post an update on the transit front page if there are "serious" delays. It's no expense, but just a call from dispatch to the IT person (webmaster) who could update from home or office. Then, anyone who subscribes to updates, would get an email/text.  
Again, just an idea for me to maybe submit to the city "suggestion box".  
Thanks for tuning in.