Comments on: Friday fun post: are you helping out new folks on transit?

By: ;-)

;-) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 20:31:44 +0000

Here’s a thought… How much would you “pay” to use a washroom? Traveling in China, I noticed the pay washrooms are much cleaner and you don’t have the trouble makers using them.

While washrooms are easily available in the city during the day. After 9pm, it can get interesting. Would you pay $5, $10, or $20 to a skytrain attendant for some instant relief and save your dignity in the evenings (9pm-1am)? Would this be of interest to women, seniors or people with young children? Would this be a funding or customer service option for Translink?

Like 0

By: The Buzzer blog » Friday fun post: are you planning to go to a lot of Games events?

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 00:31:12 +0000

[...] Last week’s fun post asked if you usually helped out new people on transit. [...]

Like 0

By: zack

zack — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:33:06 +0000

I would be very careful if I were you, to look for any washrooms late at night. Because most SkyTrain stations in Downtown Vancouver and Whalley are a magnet for crime and drug dealers.

Like 0

By: RoundTop

RoundTop — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:45:56 +0000

Seabus has washrooms in the waiting area, so if you are in a bad way, that is a good one. Also there are some at waterfront.

At broadway go to the safeway beside it, they are open late.

At granville there are several restaurants nearby that are open late that you can ask to use their washroom.

At metrotown your options are a little slim, but there are restaurants that are part of station square, and they probably have one for you to use.

Like 0

By: Nathan

Nathan — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:17:50 +0000

I always try to help whenever a person is in need on transit. I’ve got a good story for you from recently..

I was taking the new airport sky train line to pick up a relative the other day. A man on the sky train was confused and asked me for directions.

He was actually trying to head downtown but was getting confused on directions and told me someone pointed to this direction so he went. :) I guess this is what being new to the city is like.

Anyway, we talked for abit and I ended up telling him where to go and lending him a spare map I had.

For thanks, he actually gave me a cool case for my iPhone! I wasn’t expecting anything but it turns out he ran https://www.coolcases.ca and to thank me for being friendly.

It pays to help out on transit!

Like 0

By: Jhenifer Pabillano

Jhenifer Pabillano — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:04:23 +0000

Ric:

Well, here’s the answer I got from ProTrans BC.

Trains get put into service or pulled out of service for a variety of reasons. Just normal operation. We will not disclose these reasons neither.

So… I guess we won’t know then…

Like 0

By: Jhenifer Pabillano

Jhenifer Pabillano — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:05:09 +0000

I don’t know. I’ll forward that on to ProTrans BC and see if they know.

Like 0

By: Ric

Ric — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:44:10 +0000

Off topic question but I don’t know where else to post it, and I want to find out the answer. Here’s the question: I was on the canada line sunday night at 5:30PM coming in from Waterfront. Upon arriving at Richmond-Brighouse at 6:00PM the train was taken out of service. What was the reason for that?

Like 0

By: Jhenifer Pabillano

Jhenifer Pabillano — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:21:21 +0000

About the washroom thing: as far as I know, one of the major reasons we don’t have bathrooms in SkyTrain stations is they become a magnet for drug use. As well, as ;-) points out, there are the issues with having a private space where other crimes and illegal activity can take place.

Like 0

By: Tsushima Masaki

Tsushima Masaki — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:44:10 +0000

I don’t think I have an “ask me” face. I don’t really give off a friendly vibe so as a result of that I’ve had no one asking me for advice. I’m also somewhat reserved so I usually don’t make an effort to ask if someone needs help when they look lost. But then again I also haven’t really been around the busy transit hubs during peak times.

There was a time last year when, coming back from the ferry terminal on the 620, I helped a group of people who were unsure of how to get to Hastings Street. Then when when I was on the Bridgeport Station platform I guided a man to the bus bay he was looking for, and then when I was finally on the train I helped two other people find their way. That must’ve been a record for me!

Like 0