[afransen]

I hate those things on the streetcar. The traffic signal turns green, and just as the doors are closing and we’re about to move, someone presses that button, bringing us all to a stop while the doors cycle, the traffic signal turns red, and repeat.

Isn't this as simple as deactivating the the buttons once the 'please stand clear of the doors' announcement is made?

 

[smallspy]

Isn't this as simple as deactivating the the buttons once the 'please stand clear of the doors' announcement is made?

With the legacy fleet cars, the doors will only open if the outer circle of the buttons are lit up and a button gets pressed. Otherwise, the buttons will operate as stop request buttons, either inside or out. It's been a while, but I believe that the Flexities in Kitchener operate in the same way, other than not using the stop request system.

I would have assumed that the Finch cars would have operated on the same principle, but obviously, we know what happens when one assumes....

Dan

 

[chrisw]

Looking from the distance, it also seems that RoW and Keolis have had a pretty functional arrangement that actually mostly works compared to other public-private partnerships.

There is some rigidity in the contract. It would need to be changed if the Region of Waterloo wanted more service earlier than scheduled. That incremental cost would be quite expensive. They floated distributing rush hour service for less off peak service, and it was quite unpopular.

 

[bearcat]

With the legacy fleet cars, the doors will only open if the outer circle of the buttons are lit up and a button gets pressed. Otherwise, the buttons will operate as stop request buttons, either inside or out. It's been a while, but I believe that the Flexities in Kitchener operate in the same way, other than not using the stop request system.

I would have assumed that the Finch cars would have operated on the same principle, but obviously, we know what happens when one assumes....

Dan

Why would an outside button ever need to act as a stop request? Can the streetcar not distinguish between an inside or outside button? Or am I misunderstanding what you said?

 

[ZEBuilder]

With the legacy fleet cars, the doors will only open if the outer circle of the buttons are lit up and a button gets pressed. Otherwise, the buttons will operate as stop request buttons, either inside or out. It's been a while, but I believe that the Flexities in Kitchener operate in the same way, other than not using the stop request system.

I would have assumed that the Finch cars would have operated on the same principle, but obviously, we know what happens when one assumes....

Dan

KW disabled the buttons during covid and now only uses them during really cold weather. In all other cases all the doors open at a stop regardless of the number of people getting on or off. You can have one person getting on at 9pm but all 4 doors will still open.

 

[MidtownKW]

KW disabled the buttons during covid and now only uses them during really cold weather. In all other cases all the doors open at a stop regardless of the number of people getting on or off. You can have one person getting on at 9pm but all 4 doors will still open.

I don't even think this changes during really cold weather, unless the Region and I have different definitions of cold. I have been on recently at 6:45am, twelve below zero, and the doors still open at stations where no one is getting on or off.

I find the change frustrating. One regional councillor argued that the change is friendlier for riders of disabilities. Possibly true, but it is a real comfort issue for all users when it's very hot or very cold.

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

Doesn't Toronto (Wheel-Trans), Waterloo (MobilityPLUS), and other Ontario jurisdictions have some sort of accessible transportation available? Would think in snowy conditions like today, being picked up at your door would be better than struggling through the snow, people, traffic, etc. to use Line 6 to get to a destination? Yes, it needs improvement.

 

[Bojaxs]

I don't even think this changes during really cold weather, unless the Region and I have different definitions of cold. I have been on recently at 6:45am, twelve below zero, and the doors still open at stations where no one is getting on or off.

I find the change frustrating. One regional councillor argued that the change is friendlier for riders of disabilities. Possibly true, but it is a real comfort issue for all users when it's very hot or very cold.

Don't buy that argument. With the doors opening necessarily at every stop, the coldest part of the trams is going to be the wheelchair accessible zone. Right in between two doors. Don't think that's doing disabled people any favours.

 

[christine]

Doesn't Toronto (Wheel-Trans), Waterloo (MobilityPLUS), and other Ontario jurisdictions have some sort of accessible transportation available? Would think in snowy conditions like today, being picked up at your door would be better than struggling through the snow, people, traffic, etc. to use Line 6 to get to a destination? Yes, it needs improvement.

Wheel-Trans does exist but it doesn't always mean its a replacement for transit. Also, the qualifications to gain access to Wheel-Trans services are more than just "use a cane" or "have a walker". People with accessibility needs should still be able to use the system like an able-bodied person can, regardless of weather conditions.

 

[smallspy]

Why would an outside button ever need to act as a stop request? Can the streetcar not distinguish between an inside or outside button? Or am I misunderstanding what you said?

It doesn't.

But it seems as if the buttons haven't been programmed in a way to differentiate between a press happening from inside the car versus one from outside the car. They have the two modes that operate identically on the inside and outside of the cars.

KW disabled the buttons during covid and now only uses them during really cold weather. In all other cases all the doors open at a stop regardless of the number of people getting on or off. You can have one person getting on at 9pm but all 4 doors will still open.

This aligns with what I remembered, but it'd been long enough that I didn't consider myself sure. Thanks for the confirmation.

Dan

 

[hw621]

My son just bet with me the odds this line would close AGAIN tomorrow, and he is just 13...lol

 

[Towered]

So, I know this is just anecdotal evidence based on a tiny sample size of 1, but I rode this line end to end twice in the same day on Dec. 23rd, and had a positive experience. There were multiple times I clocked the train going over 50 km/h, once even hitting just over 60. Total travel time was about 30 minutes flat. I couldn't understand what everyone was whining about so much here and on social media. Maybe I got lucky? It certainly wasn't crawling as anticipated.

 

[innsertnamehere]

30 minutes end to end is significantly below every reported travel time I've seen. I haven't ridden it since opening day but it was almost an hour for me that day.

 

[T-Bor]

30 minutes is unbelievable. What was it that sped up the trip? I.e. greater speed? Nobody boarding, etc?

 

[A 6264]

30 minutes end to end is significantly below every reported travel time I've seen. I haven't ridden it since opening day but it was almost an hour for me that day.

Same here. I rode it once to check it out, a week after it opened, on an average winter day with no major precipitation, and it took 55 minutes in each direction. Since I wasn't actually going anywhere (it was a sightseeing trip), I didn't mind how long it took.