Transit Tip 13: Make a Snow Plan

It's been a day of heavy snow here in Philadelphia. While viewing the city from its trains and buses was quite pleasant, a snow storm presents significant challenges for transit operators. Depending on the timing of the storm, either buses and streetcars will be stuck in heavy traffic or they will be empty and running on time as nobody goes anywhere.

It makes sense to reduce scheduled service on most lines to match reduced ridership and make more buses (and drivers) available to respond to special needs that will arise - Some lines will require snow routes that add significant time and require an extra bus. Other needs include stalled buses, extra trips, rail replacement shuttles, evacuations and more.

Vehicles take a lot of abuse during a blizzard and that means many may be out of service the following day. Don't run the risk of having to run 70 percent of normal service on several subsequent regular days because you couldn't be bothered making a snow plan.

Plan ahead and communicate. Everything in a snow plan, from route detours to service reductions to plowing busways, can be planned ahead of time and strategically implemented early.  That means employee shifts can be different, supervisors will know what to do and what scenarios to watch for, and customers will know where to find a snow route -- but only if the information is made available in advance, such as in timetables and maps.

Meanwhile, we can look to Hampton Roads Transit for a completely inexcusable three-day bus shutdown as the agency is apparently afraid that someone will slip and fall while boarding a bus.

Transit Tip 12: Keep pedestrian and bike paths free of obstructions.

There's usually a buffer space between the sidewalk and the street where signs, utility poles, mail boxes and other things can go. Bus stop signs, for example, must be placed 1-2 feet back from the curb so the bus mirrors don't hit them.  But if you get rid of the buffer area to add parking or maximize the driving lane width, don't encroach on the already narrow path for parking meters, construction signs or anything else that doesn't belong there.

Also, to all the highway engineers out there, if you put any objects on the sidewalk, remember that the sidewalk has been narrowed. It's not a 5-foot (1.5m) sidewalk if 2 feet are taken up by poles and signs.

This is a 2-foot (0.6m) clear width, less than the minimum required, even while the driving width is at least 30 feet (9m).

Check out Perils for Pedestrians has a wealth great info on walking paths.

Episode 45: TRB recap: light rail, design, walking, technology ...

This is the first of several episodes featuring content from TRB Annual Meeting sessions in Washington, DC, starting with the common themes of transport data, automation and the idea that technology will solve more than a few of our problems.  From the sessions, we learn how to successfully insert a light rail transit (LRT) line into a city streetscape dominated by car culture, informed by experience in small French and Spanish cities; why industrial design matters at every stage of a project; and the importance of informal social paths (or, why attempting to corral pedestrians into designated crossing locations makes walking less safe). Do you have thoughts on these topics? Of course you do, so share them with the world! Suggest other viewpoints, new perspectives and ideas for further research, show topics and/or guests, by emailing feedback@criticaltransit.com or using the contact form or those social media tools.

Find me at Planning Camp on February 1 in Philadelphia, at the Human Transit talk in New York on February 6, and otherwise riding trains and buses around the northeast.

Finally, if you enjoy this time dump very useful transit project, please help support my work by sharing it with your friends and colleagues, leaving a review on iTunes and other places, and consider sponsoring an episode if you are able to.

Bike sharing pioneer Bixi seeks bankruptcy

Bixi, which runs the bike sharing system in Montreal and sells the bikes, stations and software to other cities, has filed for bankruptcy.  The city has taken over the operation of the local network at an estimated $1.5 million cost. Like most bike share hosts, Montreal has thus far refused to contribute to operating costs. But if we consider the usage, about 2 million trips per year, I agree with the new mayor that $0.75 per trip is a great investment for a healthier, more accessible city. Let's hope support remains high among residents for continued operation.

Every city that has implemented a bike sharing system (as far as I know) has done it the same way: rely on a private company to run it, refuse to spend any public money on it, then complain about the over-reliance on advertising, station placement and failure to reach low-income and minority communities.

Perhaps it's a small issue: if you can make it run well without city funds, well, more money for schools and libraries. Except what happens when we use a federal grant for a new library building but then expect managers to solicit sponsors to help pay for books and computers? Same with bike sharing: at some point ad revenues decline and things fall apart. Like bus routes, many stations will be critically important but never profitable. But social equity and environmental justice goals don't easily mesh with running a business.

If we are serious about encouraging bicycling as healthy and effective transportation, cities should start funding and operating bike share as a public service, integrated with other modes of transportation. The Montreal mayor's comments are encouraging, as Bixi certainly is a fantastic public service worth paying for, and Montreal's transit agency STM has put together a plan for running it. After all, bike sharing only supplements the trains and buses that form a comprehensive, useful transportation network for maximum mobility.

Transit Tip 11. Put real-time vehicle arrival & service alerts at bus stops

Relying on smartphones and third-party apps leaves many people out and the information can be spotty or a hassle to look up. Set an example by putting upcoming departures on a display board in a consistent format for everyone to see and understand.

Use shelter advertisements to generate revenue for the display boards as well as lights and heaters.

Transit Tip 10. Clearing snow from sidewalks: how to do it well.

A few days ago I challenged cities and counties to accepting responsibility for actually clearing snow from sidewalks by just doing it. No more excuses. Then I came across an institution (hospital) doing it well. [gallery ids="1103,1104,1105"]

Thanks to Allina Health for showing how to clear snow efficiently and effectively. No excuses, just a safe, clear sidewalk.

Transit Tip 9. Locate bus stops at the far side of an intersection.

Far side bus stops (just beyond an intersection) are in most cases the safest and most efficient choice. They require less curb space per bus, encourage passengers to cross behind the bus, speed bus travel by not having to wait at a red light twice (once in the traffic queue and then again after boarding passengers), prevent the right hook (drivers turning right in front of a stopped bus), and make merging out from the stop much easier. It can be politically difficult to relocate existing stops but many will be happy that far side stops usually require about 25 percent less curb space. The key is to push for stop relocation (and consolidation and upgraded amenities) in conjunction with street reconstruction projects.

Transit Tip 8. Sidewalk maintenance & snow clearing should be a public service.

Every year, despite lots of rhetoric, the same problem illustrates just how cities really feel about walking, biking and public transportation. There has been snow every year for centuries and it will continue to fall, yet somehow we still haven't accepted that the current system for getting around in the winter doesn't work. Cities clear the roadways for cars only, ignore everyone else, and then blame property owners for not all coming out with a tiny plastic shovel and scraping their piece of sidewalk clean.

It is time for cities and counties to take responsibility for maintaining safe, clear sidewalks everywhere. This spring we should survey every sidewalk and pedestrian path and make repairs where necessary, so that next winter we can simply drive a bunch of snow blower around the city and get the job done.  UPDATE: like this.

Transit Tip 7. Provide free rides when service is severely delayed.

On-board fare collection consumes up to 30 percent of running times. Severe delays can be reduced or eliminated by letting people ride free -- often enough time to recover from 20-minute delays in one trip. Otherwise you're running late all day, and nobody wins in that situation.

Transit Tip 6. Implement a proof-of-payment fare system.

I remember once speaking to a DART Light Rail fare enforcement officer and mentioning that in Boston we still collect fares at the front door. She was speechless.  Other rich Western countries would similarly laugh at us if they understood that still happens on almost every bus line in America. Requiring people to line up at the front door, delaying all passengers and paying an expensive professionally trained operator to waste up to 30 percent of running time collecting fares, at a time when we're cutting crowded service for lack of money, is beyond ridiculous.

A proof-of-payment fare collection system (TCRP Report 96) drastically reduces travel times and lets us use the savings to spend our resources where they are needed: more service.