Links and Tidbits – June 8, 2018
Links and Tidbits – June 8, 2018
Links and tidbits is our semi-regular roundup of interesting fodder about transportation from the last few weeks or so. If you have links to contribute, put them in the comments or email us!
» The double-decker bus trial has come to an end, but this isn’t the first time we’ve brought in a double-decker bus for trials! Turns out we did it way back in 1936.
» TTC Riders, a grassroots advocacy group, launched “overcrowding relief kits” to raise awareness about crowding on the Yonge subway line.
» It appears part of the reason that subway line is crowded could be because it’s also the transportation choice for live crabs. ?
» Transport for London (TfL) launched the blue “Please offer me a seat” badge for people who find it difficult to stand. In fact, our Access Transit team is discussing this very matter and looking at how other transit agencies are tackling this important issue.
» Also in London, the TfL recently added a new safety announcement to warn passengers when the vehicle is about to move, but commuters haven’t responded well to the announcements. They’ll be fixing the glitch.
» In Berlin, 500 limited release Adidas sneakers that doubles up as a transit pass!
The chip is in the tongue of the shoes. ? This just way too cool. What an amazing collaboration. Would love to see @TransLink do something similar!
" 'Public transport is cool': new Adidas trainers double as Berlin transit passes" https://t.co/JZDo3dnnFj— Dan Ward (@_DanWard) January 18, 2018
» Tomorrow’s transit today! A South Korean company’s 45-seat self-driving bus is experiencing test-drives on public roads in Seoul.
» San Francisco’s Bay Area Rapid Transit recently launched a new transit etiquette campaign with local college students. Check it out!
We enlisted graphic design students from the @CACollegeofArts in SF to help combat bad behavior and encourage etiquette. The new posters will be displayed on trains and in stations throughout the year. See the full collection and read the backstory: https://t.co/HOF4ogqIsZ pic.twitter.com/brKEKXs7hA
— SFBART (@SFBART) February 8, 2018
» Beginning last year, the City of Toronto began a pilot on King Street to give priority to streetcars. The numbers are in! Spending is reportedly up in the corridor.
» OC Transpo’s 40 new LRT cars are all getting names, which were submitted by children under 16 as part of a contest. Among the names: Majestic Moose, Rocket Richard, Nanuq-Polar Bear and Gord Downie.
» Seen the Black Panther movie yet? There is a dash of reality in the movie’s transportation utopia, writes The Verge.
» Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes! Spotify and the Brooklyn Museum have collaborated to create and bring this homage to David Bowie to the Broadway–Lafayette Street/Bleecker Street station in New York City!
» Say “hello” ??? to the Hello Kitty bullet train in Japan!
» Congratulations to the Washington Capitals on winning the Stanley Cup! A SmarTrip card in honour of T.J. Oshie appears to be in the works. Oshie has been riding the Metro to-and-from his games.