Friday fun poll: do you line up at the shelter or the actual bus stop?
Friday fun poll: do you line up at the shelter or the actual bus stop?
Today’s Friday fun poll comes from dear reader Sally! Here’s her story:
I have an idea for your Friday Fun Poll since this is something I puzzle about. As you know, the bus shelter is often not at the actual bus stop. What do people do when someone is waiting in the shelter – do they line up politely behind them (even though now they are not technically at the stop), or do they just go and stand right at the stop! This seems particularly tricky at Bridgeport when older people sit on the benches and then get upset at those who line up at the stop!
A good question! So here’s the poll.
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Do you line up at the bus stop or at the shelter?
Total Voters: 169 |
Also, in case you didn’t know, at most stops in the region, TransLink only owns the sign and the pole — the shelter, the trash can, and all the rest are owned and maintained by the municipalities! So in a lot of cases we don’t really have any say about where the bus stop amenities get placed. And now that you know all this, feel free to offer your suggestions for improvement :)
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I prefer to queue up to try to allow orderly boarding of the bus. I just wish that more people knew how to queue up like they do on buses to West Vancouver.
Clearly, once the bus arrives, the elderly people who were sitting at the shelter should be allowed to board the bus immediately, and they should be given seats.
Usually the bus drivers get grumpy if I don’t line up right at the stop (I usually get priority boarding due to wheelchair), so nowadays I bite the bullet, weather-wise, and skip the shelter unless it’s really pouring hard.
But really, if the weather’s dry and not windy, lining up at the stop itself is definitely a much better idea unless you’re obstructing the sidewalk in the process.
Line up at the stop – the old folks get the priorirt seats in any case, so they don’t need to be first on.
I usually line up at the stop, often I am just happy letting others go first and I go last, that way there are no ensuing diplomatic incidents with anyone. The stop opposite Oakridge 41st Skytrain is an example where there are three lines: a) at the stop, b) under the shelter, and c) some crafty people who sneak behind the shelter in order to cut in front of those who have been lining up for a while.
I line up at the stop, no matter what the weather, but then I still let everyone on the bus before me.
I always wait at the stop because there have been occasions when I’ve been passed by or narrowly avoided being passed by because I was seated when the bus went past the stop. But then, this is when I’m waiting for buses in Coquitlam, where it’s typical for me to either be alone or waiting with only one, maybe two other people. The habit does carry over to downtown buses, though.
If you’re concerned about getting a seat on the bus, you should “weather the queue at the bus stop.” You could always carry an umbrella with you. The shelter is for when there’s no queue, and for the people that don’t care if they have a seat on the bus or not. I’m sure this is fact… isn’t this written in a transit guide somewhere?
I always wait at the stop, but when the bus comes I let the elderly people go on first. Basically I would only use the shelter if I need to put my bag down to get something out of it, or if I need shade or protection from the rain if I have no umbrella. But when I get bored standing around waiting for the bus then I’d sit down in the shelter…if no one else is around.
Suggestion #1: Let the elders in the bus first, then strollers after.
Suggestion #2: Frequent bus services – meaning after 2 minutes of departure, another B-Line bus would arrive at the stop to decrease the length of waiting time in line.
Suggestion #3: Be considerate to others who have been waiting in line for a bus, for a long period of time.
Suggestion #4: Have a safe ride to your destination. :)
I wait at the actual bus stop, but sometimes if the next bus arrives in 20-25 minutes I will go to the shelter and wait if there is a shelter at the stop.
Interesting question… and I have an interesting response too. I generally wait at the shelters (if there is one) on days with rain or snow… on cloudy days (and in places without shelters) at the bus stop… and on hot sunny days (all cases) I’ll try hiding behind the shadow of a tall object (e.g. tree or light pole) to reduce exposure to UV rays. It also depends on the route too… for example, TransLink requires me to line up for three-door boarding at the 145 stop in Production Way Stn., but at the top of the hill it’s a free-for-all and I just wait under the shelter in that case until the bus comes by.
Seniors, handicapped, and strollers should board last. They are getting the front seats no matter what. It’s better to let the able-bodied get on and out of the way, while those people struggle to make it every step of the way. It saves a lot of time.
I start first at the shelter, but inch myself closer to the pole as more than a few people show up or the bus arrival time approaches. It’s not fun when you are LEFT BEHIND, as others who show up later are able to make on the bus. Which happens often during rush hour.
In the ideal situation, there is the pole, the seats are near the poles, and the people queue up after the shelter. However this is not possible as the shelters are centralized at bus exchanges (Phibbs Exchange), people arrive in various directions (eg #29 at 29th station), a cyclists ride between the pole and the shelter (eg Bridgeport station), the sidewalks are too narrow to have a shelter up against the pole (eg #49 Eastbound at Cambie), or stop serves multiple bus routes (eg Granville Street).
I’m starting to see a new unofficial policy…. seniors, wheelchairs, and strollers in the front doors….. Everyone else in the back doors to ensure the bus driver leaves on time. And I don’t just mean the B-Lines, but also the other busy articulated routes…. which I don’t like because many board without showing their fares to anyone.
As the demographics shows the senior group growing, I’m starting to see more senior to senior conflicts. It’s not uncommon to see seniors arguing who’s older to be at a seat, only to see both lose it to a stroller or wheelchair a few stops later.
Sadly it’s difficult to stand “at the pole” when Expo/Millenium line trains approach as their doors can be anywhere. I would love to see the Canada Line stations mark their platforms to show where the doors open, especially the luggage doors for airport passengers to speed boarding. Ideally something like Hong Kong where people stand at the sides, where the center channel allows for people to exit the trains.
I’ll share little island tip, as I often take visitors to Butchart Gardens by bus. Normally you need to take 2 buses with a transfer to get from the garden to the ferry terminal. However there is a direct bus route. I often tell my visitors to be at the bus stop hanging onto the pole early 35 to 45 minutes. Why? Because when the bus shows up there are 30 to 40 people…. the bus is a TINY community shuttle which does NOT permit standees. Also this community shuttle comes once EVERY 2 HOURS (they did not add additional buses for a Labour Day holiday Saturday). It’s amazing how people show their “international” frustration at the poor driver as they are told they will be missing the 7pm ferry. Thankfully no one challenges my group because we are standing AT THE POLE very visibility showing our rights to be on that community shuttle, unlike others who enjoyed their “creature comforts” (shade and seats) at the various shelters in the area.
The bus stops at the bus stop right? So why would not wait at the bus stop. ;)
Even if you were first to the bus stop and a line formed at the bus stop after you arrived, you seem rude to the people at the end of the line because it looks like you are budging, so I always line up.
In general the answer is yes…. the driver will stop right at the pole. This is the safest option as there is clearance to pull out and the rear is not obstructing traffic from behind….
However, if the driver sees a wall of passengers waiting to get on and he knows there are passengers who will be exiting the front (ie strollers, wheelchairs, and seniors) the driver often will stop BEFORE or AFTER pole creating mass confusion as passengers shuffle back and forth trying to ensure they are not left behind. Drivers will often stop before if he sees a dangerous situation where people are standing too close to the curb to safely approach and open the doors. Frequently a situation with young children in front of schools.
Sadly those who got there earliest, are left behind.
I’ll also add that in situations where the bus stop is just BEFORE an intersection, right turning traffic will often block the bus from approaching the stop…… passengers will often demand the driver to stop and open the doors a few car lengths early from the stop (#49 Westbound at Langara station, Main St Southbound at Terminal). While passengers are exiting, people at the stop then start walking towards the bus, only to see the doors close and pull up to the stop and they shuffle back. Frustrating….
Over the years, I’ve learned to carry an umbrella and goretex jacket when riding the bus. While many hide in the shelter (I have no idea which bus they are waiting for), I just wait at the stop to tough it out. I got tired of being left behind, especially when the next bus is 10, 15 or 30 minutes away.
The umbrella shop on Broadway also sells these “self-closing” umbrellas that collapses automatically with one hand that makes it really handy to stay dry until I walk into the bus.
At the bus stop. With Surrey’s new bus shelters, several of them are 2 shelters in one and have the advertising pane at the front and it makes it so you can’t see the bus coming if you were sitting in it and the driver can’t see people sitting in them until they are at the stop or past it. They are a poor design for that reason. Also at the bus stop too because there are hardly no shelters in the area of Surrey that I often board the bus.
I like to line up at the bus stop. Usually I’m the only person there since there isn’t very many people taking the 228 and 229 buses. And it’s probably just a habit of not wanting the bus driver to miss me, as it seems that drivers usually get the message to not pick up when I step away from the stop as they approach me. I think drivers like it when we stand at the pole =D so there’s no confusion about whether to pick up or not.
The 49 eastbound seems pretty annoying too at Langara Station. It seems the bus drivers rush off just before every wave of passengers getting off the trains can get across the street.
(Since the last poll is basically “hidden” and I still haven’t reported, I’ll do it here. =D The pavement at the 99 westbound stop at Cambie DOESN’T line up with the middle door of the bus! It was so close though =P. Just three feet offset towards the rear =P)
Jhenifer, I’ll send you an e-mail with my attempted screenshots of the comment box problem on Internet Explorer. =)
Andrew S: Thanks for the screenshots! I’ve passed them on to the web people.
I always line-up no matter what, period..
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If you don’t stand at the pole and choose to sit in the shelter the driver may drive past the stop since they tell me they think if I am
not standing I don’t want the bus even if it is the only bus serving the stop! I guess some people might spend time relaxing in bus stops on their daily walk but really!!!