The August 30, 2013 Buzzer is now on the system
September 4, 2013
The August 30, 2013 Buzzer is now on the system
September 4, 2013
Holla! The latest issue of the Buzzer newsletter is now on the system.
The main subject matter this month is the September service changes. Yup, lots of new info this fall like every September school season.
We also included a recap of I Love Transit Night 2013. Was that really just under a month from now? It feels like just yesterday!
Besides the usual suspects included Contest Corner, Back Issues and Coming Events, a segment about Compass Card Beta Testers (stay tuned for an update on this on the blog very soon) and a reminder about transit etiquette and cell phones on the system. Do you remember Chatty Chihuahau?
Do make sure you pick one up on buses, SkyTrain, SeaBus or West Coast Express or download it. Enjoy your read!
I think we have a great opportunity to address Chatty Chihuahau. Let’s legalize Apple picking!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIqVUa9B1fw
I have to say I am disappointed with Translink seemingly abandoning the regional route numbering system. This system seems to make so much sense, yet with the introduction of community buses and B-lines, Translink seems to have forgotten it. Here it is:
1-99 (used to be City of Vancouver and Endowement Lands) – today, I’d argue this is now 1-89
100-199 – Burnaby, New Westminster and tri-cities
200-299 – North Shore (with 250-259 being West Vancouver Blue Buses)
300-399 – Surrey, North Delta and White Rock (with 350-359 being White Rock)
400-499 – Richmond
500-599 – Langley
600-699 – South Delta
700-799 – Pit Meadows and Maple Ridge
Community Buses – to me it makes no sense numbering buses based on the equipment (size of bus) used. THe public really don’t care – a bus is a bus. I’d rather see Translink abolish this ridiculous numbering policy and renumber the “C” series buses using the regional numbering system.
B-Line – OK – the 99 B-Line made sense – a rapid bus running along 9th Avenue (Broadway). Subsequent B-Line numbers make no sense and seem to be a continuation of the 90 series being reserved for BRT type service. The 98 B-line was okay as it served mainly Vancouver, but the 97 makes no sense – 199 would be better number, and the new 96 is worse – 399 is much better. Or, Translink should have thought it through and used another 3-digit designation – maybe 950, 951, 952 and 953 for example, for rapid buses (Skytrains routes are numbered 900s).
David M: I don’t understand your B-Line statement at all …
@ Elfren
He makes perfect sense to me.
What do you think of the numbers that were chosen for the B-Line routes?
I don’t think that I ever thought about the B-Line numbers. He seems to have convinced me.
I hope no one is suggesting they get rid of the B and C part of the route numbers. The way the community shuttle buses are made you have to walk up a couple stairs to get into them, and knowing that matters to someone with mobility issues.
I know I suggested using more than the 90’s for B-Lines before but no one seemed to agree with me then. Perhaps the routes in Burnaby should be 10B or C10, and then 20’s for North Shore, etc. That way they still fit into the numbering system.
@ Sheba
We are most definitely suggesting that they get rid of the B and C. I recall Jarrett Walker, the expert, saying likewise. The numbers tell us nothing, and the C is meaningless, because riders usually do not have a choice of taking a C route or not.
They have been using C for a long time, and I still do not know which C routes go to Scottsdale Exchange, which is “my” exchange.
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Hi David: I have some info for you regarding numbering. The numbering conventions still apply, the only divergence has been the use of 90’s series for all B-Line services across the region. We are moving away from the use of C-series route numbers, for the very reasons you suggest David. Unfortunately we can’t really justify the costs (new signage, etc) of renumbering a whole bunch of services at once if that’s all we’re doing to them. Instead, we update route numbers if/when we make significant changes to them as in the case of the 128 (formerly 154) in New Westminster. The new number better reflects its role of providing service along the full length of 8th Ave.