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 5. Create priority bus-only routes during special events.

In addition to creating dedicated space for buses on any day, it is especially important to mitigate the impact of one-time or occasional traffic congestion that we can foresee (parades, concerts, sports events, etc.). The traffic created by these events makes bus service slow and unpredictable, removing a powerful incentive attendees would otherwise have to use transit, which in turn creates more unnecessary traffic. During a recent evening parade in Minneapolis, bus routes experienced major delays as many thousands of people drove cars downtown. But there was one exception: buses using the 4th Street contraflow bus lane ran right on schedule.

Transit Tip 4. Don't leave early.

Don't leave time points (major stops) ahead of schedule. In addition to making people miss the bus, running early is a major contributor to bunching on frequent routes. Example: Bus A is a few minutes late so it picks up some of the people who would have caught Bus B; then Bus B is early so it picks up fewer people and easily catches up to Bus A; then Bus C has even more passengers; and it continues. Between Bus B and Bus C there is a very long wait. The exception is when nobody is allowed to board the bus at that stop, such as drop-off-only stops (express routes) or if the bus has no more room.

Transit Tip 3. Take the lane!

Too many bicyclists try to ride as far out of the traffic stream as possible. This makes you much more vulnerable to hazards such as debris, potholes, suddenly opening car doors, turning cars, and cars/trucks passing too closely. Prevent all of these by being visible and claiming your position in the lane to discourage unsafe driver behavior. Take the lane whenever you need it. Car drivers don't feel bad about taking the lane for themselves, and you shouldn't either. See Bicycle Safe for more tips.

For what it's worth, bus drivers are also taught to take the lane in certain situations to discourage or prevent unsafe driving practices by others (i.e. when a lane is too narrow for a bus, or when periodic hazards are present in the right lane).