Friday fun poll: do you pull the cord or push the button to request a stop?
Friday fun poll: do you pull the cord or push the button to request a stop?
If you like, skip to the end of this post to answer the stop request poll.
Last week’s survey: favourite train?
Last week, I asked you to pick your favourite type of train!
Out of a record 309 votes, the clear winner is the Mark II 1300-1400 series, with 48%! Those are the brand new dark-grey trains on the Expo and Millennium Lines, with the light-up maps.
Second place goes to the Canada Line cars with 34% of the vote, then third to the Mark I classics (13%). Surprisingly, the poor old regular Mark IIs are in last place with just 6% of the vote, even though they topped the old “favourite train” poll with 71%. How the mighty have fallen!
In the comments, most people were actually waxing nostalgic about the Mark Is, rather than trumpeting the new Mark IIs. Here’s Devin, for example:
For this poll I have to go with the Mk1 cars as my favourite train car. The Mk1 SkyTrain car was the first train I have ever been on in my life and it holds a very special place in my heart. It’s what made me the train and transit nut I am today. The electric motor acceleration and deceleration hum on the Mk1 cars is ingrained in my head and hearing it whenever I’m back in Vancouver is a little like having your favourite dish that mum cooks.
Awww! It’s a very similar thing for MaxNV:
Gotta go with the MKI’s for the same reasons alot of people have stated. But mostly because when I was a kid my mom and me would ride them out to Surrey and back to Waterfront just for fun and because I love trains. Also I just love the sounds they make.
Rvie did do a shoutout to the Mark IIs and the Canada Line trains though:
All the trains are awesome but my heart has to go out to the new Mark II trains and the Canada Line trains. Obviously they both contribute to quiet rides, yet they are both state-of-the art. I love the destination signs on both trains, which tell where the train is going. What I really like about the new Mark II trains is the LED maps and spacing in terms of standing and sitting. But my heart REALLY has to go out to the Canada Line trains–big ample space for standing, sitting, AND placing your bags. I especially love the destination signs inside, which tell you the next station and the terminus station. The ride is also very smooth and comfortable.
Btw I’m a big fan of those LED maps too: I think they do a great job of giving you the terminus and the next station in a single glance. Way to go, new Mark IIs!
This week: how do you usually request a stop on a bus?
Not all buses have the cord *and* the buttons, but when you have the choice, which method do you tend to use?
Personally I always seem to go for the cord, even if the button is nearby, probably out of habit.
Also, if you have poll question suggestions or other ideas for fun Friday trivia and surveys and such, please let me know! I’m always on the lookout for help with this item!
gotta go with the cords on this one. a habit of mine is to pull the cord for my stop right after the rear door closes; not to mention pulling it for terminus stops. I remember when taking the 410 to 22nd st sta, I’d pull the cord for the last stop (approaching the queensborough bridge) and the driver would turn off the next stop indicator. side note about the cords is why people have to tug so hard on the cords? i’ve seen one person tug on it at least 5 times when clearly once was enough. this is why the newer buses have lost the new yellow cord and got replaced by the dull clear cord.
another note in regards to the buttons, when they were first introduced on the artics (orange LED’d ones) bus drivers had to disable the buttons because people were misusing them at bus stops.
For me this choice is usually dictated by what is available to me (and what is closest). Most buses in Richmond only have the pull cord, so that’s what I use the majority of the time.
I prefer the buttons… I don’t need to raise my arm as much and don’t need to climb over people when I’m standing. In addition, I don’t get that sudden “jerk” when more than one person pulls the cord at the same time.
I do pull the cord when the driver forgets to unlock the rear doors (no green light). You can hear the cord snapping all along the bus.
With regards to the MK1’s, I remember when they first debuted, you could leave a wine glass on the floor without it tipping in your ride. Can’t do this with any of the trains today.
I use the buttons whenever possible, because then I don’t have to lean over people to pull the cord. However, most busses in the Tri-Cities don’t have buttons in them. I think there’s a lot of people who think the red buttons are actually emergency stop buttons, like on trains. Sometimes I see people who are already holding the pole with the button on it perform gymnastics to reach the cord.
I usually pull the cord (or, as I tend to refer to it out of long-term childish habit, the “dinger-bell”), mostly out of habit. I do like to have the buttons available when I’m standing, though, so I don’t need to invade the personal space of people sitting down to reach a cord.
How come there’s no option for “Tell the operator”?
Many customers do that on my bus!
:)
Whatever is nearest. When I used to take the bus, I would sub-consciously check if the bus had stop buttons. If they did, when getting off, I would simply push the button at the rear door.
By waiting to push the button to when I was at the rear doors, someone else might of pushed it.
The button, almost always. You don’t have to worry about reaching over people to get to it, whether standing or sitting. Plus, you only have to push it once, while the cords sometimes take a few pulls.
As always, the cord. It’s the only thing that’s available in the buses here in Richmond, sadly.
NNNOOOOO! My secret is out on the buttons? Why jhen?! Why??!!! Jkjk lol.
I personally prefer the cord, but I usually use the button cause I’m usually near it.
Although the cord is a force of habit for me when I’m on the bus. Pressing it on skytrain/WCE/CLine and seabus will get transit cops there faster than u can think ” I wonder what this does”
Sometimes I’m tempted to do that….just cause its big and yellow. Any button I see I wanna press it. Course I’m scared that it might be a self destruct button, but that’s just me…lol
Sorry for the rant….just went on a complete tangent there. But I prefer the cord
Here’s another easily forgotten secret. If you are sitting on some bench courtesy seats, you can bend over and reach between your legs to find a large yellow pad. Press it a few times for a little surprise when the bus is in motion for a little surprise.
Young kids in strollers are not popular when they find this pad.
I perfer the buttons as the cords often break or have already been broken.
Hmm… i never knew about the yellow pad before :) i thought it was just a sign and wondered why they didnt just put a sticker there… my bad :P
But, if i remember correctly, at least some of the D40, D60, and the older D40LF and D60LF have a yellow strip on the wall for stop request, they look like the yellow strip on the SkyTrain
And i like pulling the cord… it just makes me kinda feel good :P… lol, but of course, i would push the button if it is closer than the cord
OK, wait: CJ & ;), it sounds like you guys are talking about the yellow button under the seats? To be honest I didn’t know those were there! I was only talking about the buttons found on the poles in the quiz. You learn something new every day :)