mr.x
July 4th, 2007, 06:41 PM
Buses to receive audio announcement systems
GPS, satellite-based units will be installed on new trolley and B-Line buses starting in August
Linda Nguyen, Vancouver Sun
Published: Wednesday, July 04, 2007
GVRD - Coast Mountain Bus Co. will install 250 audio announcement systems on its Greater Vancouver bus fleet as early as August.
Representative Doug McDonald said the transit management and communication systems, to be installed on new trolley and B-Line buses, will automatically announce each stop by using GPS and satellite-based technology. The units are part of a $44-million system that will include a computerized co-pilot, a radio system for drivers to communicate with security and the capability to determine bus mechanical problems.
"We're going to start installation in late August or early September," he said. "We're targeting these buses because they're the busiest and we get the best bang for our buck on them."
McDonald said the decision to install the units was made prior to a decision by Ottawa to make similar changes to its bus system following a human rights complaint.
Last Friday, Ottawa transit officials instructed bus drivers to call out every stop on their routes and said they were seeking $8 million to revamp the city's bus system with new automated announcement systems by 2010.
The changes came shortly after the Canadian Transportation Agency ruled that the human rights of Terrance Green, 56, a legally blind lawyer, were violated because the bus driver did not call out the stops he had requested. A similar case is being heard in Toronto.
"This isn't a response in light of those situations but it doesn't surprise me," McDonald said. "We pushed really hard to ensure that we had these systems as an add-on to our buses."
Some of the city's 98 B-Line buses now display and announce all major stops.
Another 203 new buses being introduced to the city's existing 1,100-bus fleet next year will also include the announcement and display systems, McDonald said.
Coast Mountain policy requires drivers to call out all the major stops along every route, but McDonald admits that is sometimes difficult given the distractions bus drivers face.
"Most times, our sight-impaired customers usually ask for a stop to be called but even then sometimes it gets forgotten because drivers get distracted," McDonald said. "Sometimes it happens so these new systems are a real benefit for everyone."
Erin Jeffrey, executive director of the B.C. Chapter of the Canadian Deafblind and Rubella Association said the visually-impaired community welcomes the new initiatives.
"The public transit system is a key way to get around. It's not like they're [visually-impaired people] going to be hopping into a car. Transit is a convenient, safe and viable system of transportation," she said. "Anything that is offering any increased communication is good."
lnguyen@png.canwest.com
© The Vancouver Sun 2007
GPS, satellite-based units will be installed on new trolley and B-Line buses starting in August
Linda Nguyen, Vancouver Sun
Published: Wednesday, July 04, 2007
GVRD - Coast Mountain Bus Co. will install 250 audio announcement systems on its Greater Vancouver bus fleet as early as August.
Representative Doug McDonald said the transit management and communication systems, to be installed on new trolley and B-Line buses, will automatically announce each stop by using GPS and satellite-based technology. The units are part of a $44-million system that will include a computerized co-pilot, a radio system for drivers to communicate with security and the capability to determine bus mechanical problems.
"We're going to start installation in late August or early September," he said. "We're targeting these buses because they're the busiest and we get the best bang for our buck on them."
McDonald said the decision to install the units was made prior to a decision by Ottawa to make similar changes to its bus system following a human rights complaint.
Last Friday, Ottawa transit officials instructed bus drivers to call out every stop on their routes and said they were seeking $8 million to revamp the city's bus system with new automated announcement systems by 2010.
The changes came shortly after the Canadian Transportation Agency ruled that the human rights of Terrance Green, 56, a legally blind lawyer, were violated because the bus driver did not call out the stops he had requested. A similar case is being heard in Toronto.
"This isn't a response in light of those situations but it doesn't surprise me," McDonald said. "We pushed really hard to ensure that we had these systems as an add-on to our buses."
Some of the city's 98 B-Line buses now display and announce all major stops.
Another 203 new buses being introduced to the city's existing 1,100-bus fleet next year will also include the announcement and display systems, McDonald said.
Coast Mountain policy requires drivers to call out all the major stops along every route, but McDonald admits that is sometimes difficult given the distractions bus drivers face.
"Most times, our sight-impaired customers usually ask for a stop to be called but even then sometimes it gets forgotten because drivers get distracted," McDonald said. "Sometimes it happens so these new systems are a real benefit for everyone."
Erin Jeffrey, executive director of the B.C. Chapter of the Canadian Deafblind and Rubella Association said the visually-impaired community welcomes the new initiatives.
"The public transit system is a key way to get around. It's not like they're [visually-impaired people] going to be hopping into a car. Transit is a convenient, safe and viable system of transportation," she said. "Anything that is offering any increased communication is good."
lnguyen@png.canwest.com
© The Vancouver Sun 2007