Comments on: Sunday Open Thread: Durian http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/10/04/sunday-open-thread-durian/ Transit in the Greater Seattle Area Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:59:21 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Bernie http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/10/04/sunday-open-thread-durian/#comment-99434 Bernie Fri, 22 Jan 2010 09:10:04 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=8161#comment-99434 Do open threads really have to be this open? Although I can see where this could lead to some very interesting discussion of riding "public" transit := Do open threads really have to be this open? Although I can see where this could lead to some very interesting discussion of riding “public” transit :=

]]> By: Bill http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/10/04/sunday-open-thread-durian/#comment-72364 Bill Wed, 07 Oct 2009 07:10:30 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=8161#comment-72364 I recommend they add Korean Kimchi to their list of forbidden food items then. I recommend they add Korean Kimchi to their list of forbidden food items then.

]]> By: Jeff Welch http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/10/04/sunday-open-thread-durian/#comment-72278 Jeff Welch Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:47:18 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=8161#comment-72278 The signs are still there - right up front, right hand side of the bus. And dogs have been allowed on Metro buses forever. Lots of people don't drive and still want to take their dog to the park. The signs are still there – right up front, right hand side of the bus. And dogs have been allowed on Metro buses forever. Lots of people don’t drive and still want to take their dog to the park.

]]> By: Matt http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/10/04/sunday-open-thread-durian/#comment-72156 Matt Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:51:42 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=8161#comment-72156 The detail I'm aware of is that Link was ssuuppeerr slow today, and I ended up at work in Lake City about 45 minutes later than normal as a result! The detail I’m aware of is that Link was ssuuppeerr slow today, and I ended up at work in Lake City about 45 minutes later than normal as a result!

]]> By: Matt http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/10/04/sunday-open-thread-durian/#comment-72154 Matt Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:48:47 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=8161#comment-72154 I'va had a driver try to make me pay a fare for my 50 lb dog, but he loves sitting on my lap! I’va had a driver try to make me pay a fare for my 50 lb dog, but he loves sitting on my lap!

]]> By: josh http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/10/04/sunday-open-thread-durian/#comment-72148 josh Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:15:58 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=8161#comment-72148 An open thread question for those familiar with local bus driver training: is there any specific training regarding "curb pinching" cyclists? A "curb pinch" is when a long vehicle such as a bus incompletely passes a cyclist before pulling to the curb, squeezing the cyclist between the right side of the vehicle and the curb. Most Metro drivers seem to recognize the problem, others seem either oblivious or sufficiently hostile to cyclists that they do it repeatedly. Discussion on the Cascade message boards at http://www.cascade.org/Community/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=14&threadid=15663 If a police officer happens to see and happens to care enough to stop, this potentially-lethal maneuver can be cited as failure to provide proper clearance when passing, but both cyclists and Metro drivers are usually at the low end of police priorities. An open thread question for those familiar with local bus driver training: is there any specific training regarding “curb pinching” cyclists?

A “curb pinch” is when a long vehicle such as a bus incompletely passes a cyclist before pulling to the curb, squeezing the cyclist between the right side of the vehicle and the curb.

Most Metro drivers seem to recognize the problem, others seem either oblivious or sufficiently hostile to cyclists that they do it repeatedly.

Discussion on the Cascade message boards at
http://www.cascade.org/Community/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=14&threadid=15663

If a police officer happens to see and happens to care enough to stop, this potentially-lethal maneuver can be cited as failure to provide proper clearance when passing, but both cyclists and Metro drivers are usually at the low end of police priorities.

]]> By: NSBill http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/10/04/sunday-open-thread-durian/#comment-72137 NSBill Mon, 05 Oct 2009 20:18:58 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=8161#comment-72137 I had never heard of Durian until this thread and later that night on Next Iron Chef someone had to use Durian in their recipe! AB also mentioned how it's not allowed on buses in many countries. Funny how that always happens. :) I had never heard of Durian until this thread and later that night on Next Iron Chef someone had to use Durian in their recipe! AB also mentioned how it’s not allowed on buses in many countries. Funny how that always happens. :)

]]> By: David in Burien http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/10/04/sunday-open-thread-durian/#comment-72130 David in Burien Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:43:55 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=8161#comment-72130 Oh and the Pho place in the Safeway shopping center across the street from the Burien Transit Center has Durian Smoothies. I usually have one of these every month. It's a lot like an onion milkshake. If you can imagine that. Oh and the Pho place in the Safeway shopping center across the street from the Burien Transit Center has Durian Smoothies. I usually have one of these every month. It’s a lot like an onion milkshake. If you can imagine that.

]]> By: David in Burien http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/10/04/sunday-open-thread-durian/#comment-72129 David in Burien Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:39:03 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=8161#comment-72129 Separate transit stories from a suburbanite this weekend. Friday morning I took a series of buses from Burien Transit Center to my specialty mechanic on South Tacoma Way in Tacoma to pick up my specialty car. Friday night my wife and I took Link Light Rail from Tukwila International Blvd Station to Gameworks downtown with a couple of other parents and 15 ten- and eleven-year-old boys for one of the boy's birthday's. One of these experiences was huge fun with a few drawbacks. The other, uh, not-so-much. I have to do the Tacoma run every so often to get my WRX-powered Vanagon serviced. It always consists of Metro 140/180 to the airport, ST574 to 512P&R, and PT300 back down South Tacoma Way to the shop. This time I used the Metro trip planner tool, noted the times (it never takes less than two hours), and the fares. This time, I decided to use ST560 to ST574 to PT300. The Metro trip planner said $1.75 two zone off-peak/transfer/transfer, which I paid but only got the "one zone" transfer. Yet, when I took it up with the 560 driver, he replied "you'll have to take it up with the 574 driver." Which lead to my paying another $3.00 as I boarded the 574 for a ST three-zone fare and transfer. Lucky for me I had $5 in quarters. I have to say that this fare/zone/peak-offpeak shit gets confusing for folks who ride transit infrequently. It doesn't help when the Trip Planner doesn't give you the right story either. Thumbs up for being there but down for the experience. On the other hand, having my friends organize their son's birthday party around meeting at the Light Rail station and taking a bunch of kids downtown and back proved to be fairly effortless (other than trying to corral a bunch of little monkeys). My friends live in Normandy Park and would inclined to use light rail for downtown runs, but never would have considered using the bus. The trip saved us from having to use as many 8 separate cars, driving and parking. And it was fun to have a couple of pops without the background concern of drinking and driving. The only drawbacks stemmed from the both the sway in the Tukwila segment and driver technique in the valley segment. Our driver had a jerky technique with short stops and quick starts that made for a bit of an uncomfortable ride. Thumbs up for everything although the driver could use some more training. Separate transit stories from a suburbanite this weekend.

Friday morning I took a series of buses from Burien Transit Center to my specialty mechanic on South Tacoma Way in Tacoma to pick up my specialty car. Friday night my wife and I took Link Light Rail from Tukwila International Blvd Station to Gameworks downtown with a couple of other parents and 15 ten- and eleven-year-old boys for one of the boy’s birthday’s. One of these experiences was huge fun with a few drawbacks. The other, uh, not-so-much.

I have to do the Tacoma run every so often to get my WRX-powered Vanagon serviced. It always consists of Metro 140/180 to the airport, ST574 to 512P&R, and PT300 back down South Tacoma Way to the shop. This time I used the Metro trip planner tool, noted the times (it never takes less than two hours), and the fares. This time, I decided to use ST560 to ST574 to PT300. The Metro trip planner said $1.75 two zone off-peak/transfer/transfer, which I paid but only got the “one zone” transfer. Yet, when I took it up with the 560 driver, he replied “you’ll have to take it up with the 574 driver.” Which lead to my paying another $3.00 as I boarded the 574 for a ST three-zone fare and transfer. Lucky for me I had $5 in quarters. I have to say that this fare/zone/peak-offpeak shit gets confusing for folks who ride transit infrequently. It doesn’t help when the Trip Planner doesn’t give you the right story either. Thumbs up for being there but down for the experience.

On the other hand, having my friends organize their son’s birthday party around meeting at the Light Rail station and taking a bunch of kids downtown and back proved to be fairly effortless (other than trying to corral a bunch of little monkeys). My friends live in Normandy Park and would inclined to use light rail for downtown runs, but never would have considered using the bus. The trip saved us from having to use as many 8 separate cars, driving and parking. And it was fun to have a couple of pops without the background concern of drinking and driving. The only drawbacks stemmed from the both the sway in the Tukwila segment and driver technique in the valley segment. Our driver had a jerky technique with short stops and quick starts that made for a bit of an uncomfortable ride. Thumbs up for everything although the driver could use some more training.

]]> By: Mark Dublin http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/10/04/sunday-open-thread-durian/#comment-72128 Mark Dublin Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:34:12 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=8161#comment-72128 Not sure what LINK signalling has to do with durians, but probably ought to keep quiet about them in transit discussions for fear of new terrorist threat: surreptitiously dropping a durian in front of a train at Westlake Station at PM rush hour during Holiday season. Not sure what LINK signalling has to do with durians, but probably ought to keep quiet about them in transit discussions for fear of new terrorist threat: surreptitiously dropping a durian in front of a train at Westlake Station at PM rush hour during Holiday season.

]]> By: Zed http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/10/04/sunday-open-thread-durian/#comment-72117 Zed Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:10:05 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=8161#comment-72117 This is what I found on the Metro wesbite; "Animals on buses Service animals for persons with disabilities ride without charge, as do small dogs that will fit in their owners' laps. Large dogs, leashed, pay the same fare as their owner and may not occupy a seat, but should ride on the floor of the coach next to their owner. Other animals, cats, etc. that are not service animals must be carried in appropriate pet carriers." http://metro.kingcounty.gov/tops/bus/fare/fare-info.html#animals Although I've never seen anyone pay a fare for their dog This is what I found on the Metro wesbite;

“Animals on buses

Service animals for persons with disabilities ride without charge, as do small dogs that will fit in their owners’ laps. Large dogs, leashed, pay the same fare as their owner and may not occupy a seat, but should ride on the floor of the coach next to their owner.

Other animals, cats, etc. that are not service animals must be carried in appropriate pet carriers.”

http://metro.kingcounty.gov/tops/bus/fare/fare-info.html#animals

Although I’ve never seen anyone pay a fare for their dog

]]> By: Cam http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/10/04/sunday-open-thread-durian/#comment-72116 Cam Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:47:20 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=8161#comment-72116 Does anyone know what the details of the maintenance problems on Central Link they announced this morning (Monday) are? Does anyone know what the details of the maintenance problems on Central Link they announced this morning (Monday) are?

]]> By: Squints http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/10/04/sunday-open-thread-durian/#comment-72114 Squints Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:27:55 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=8161#comment-72114 Well if we're hoping to encourage more people to give up cars then this is a good policy in my opinion - people don't need a car in order to own a pet and take it to the vet. Well if we’re hoping to encourage more people to give up cars then this is a good policy in my opinion – people don’t need a car in order to own a pet and take it to the vet.

]]> By: dreya http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/10/04/sunday-open-thread-durian/#comment-72104 dreya Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:10:53 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=8161#comment-72104 I just tried looking it up on Metro's site and couldn't find it, but I have been told by more than 1 long term Metro employee that dogs are allowed on buses if leashed. Cats must be in a carrier. This is not something they like to advertise, of course, but as for official policy, well behaved pets are certainly allowed. I just tried looking it up on Metro’s site and couldn’t find it, but I have been told by more than 1 long term Metro employee that dogs are allowed on buses if leashed. Cats must be in a carrier.

This is not something they like to advertise, of course, but as for official policy, well behaved pets are certainly allowed.

]]> By: Chris Stefan http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/10/04/sunday-open-thread-durian/#comment-72099 Chris Stefan Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:01:50 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=8161#comment-72099 I believe the official policy is still only that service animals are allowed. However Metro drivers aren't really in a position to judge what is and isn't a legit service animal so they don't typically tell people they can't bring their dogs on-board. I believe the official policy is still only that service animals are allowed. However Metro drivers aren’t really in a position to judge what is and isn’t a legit service animal so they don’t typically tell people they can’t bring their dogs on-board.

]]> By: Good Grief http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/10/04/sunday-open-thread-durian/#comment-72098 Good Grief Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:59:05 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=8161#comment-72098 Talk about a place that incents the use of Mass Transit -- for most people in Singapore owning a car is a financial impossibility. The MRT there is fast, clean and packed, although it is more Skytrain than Link... Talk about a place that incents the use of Mass Transit — for most people in Singapore owning a car is a financial impossibility. The MRT there is fast, clean and packed, although it is more Skytrain than Link…

]]> By: Good Grief http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/10/04/sunday-open-thread-durian/#comment-72097 Good Grief Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:55:15 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=8161#comment-72097 Interesting on the signaling -- I guess it seemed strange that it was only really between those 2 stations (and in both directions). I guess it could have been the same operator (good luck for me!) about 4.5 hours apart. Interesting on the signaling — I guess it seemed strange that it was only really between those 2 stations (and in both directions). I guess it could have been the same operator (good luck for me!) about 4.5 hours apart.

]]> By: Sherwin http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/10/04/sunday-open-thread-durian/#comment-72096 Sherwin Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:45:39 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=8161#comment-72096 Oh yeah, it was that South Park stabbing prick. Oh yeah, it was that South Park stabbing prick.

]]> By: Sherwin http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/10/04/sunday-open-thread-durian/#comment-72095 Sherwin Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:45:03 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=8161#comment-72095 I recall a few months back where this one suspected criminal was walking around with a dog, and he was spotted on a Metro bus. I guess it was the dog that gave him away. I recall a few months back where this one suspected criminal was walking around with a dog, and he was spotted on a Metro bus. I guess it was the dog that gave him away.

]]> By: Mathew "RennDawg" Renner http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/10/04/sunday-open-thread-durian/#comment-72081 Mathew "RennDawg" Renner Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:28:31 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=8161#comment-72081 I've been to Singapore. i loved it there. I would not want to live there and they take some of those rules to far. However, when they caned that kid I was cheering them on. I've ridden Singapores trains. If Link was as clean and quiet as Singapores trains I love to ride them. I’ve been to Singapore. i loved it there. I would not want to live there and they take some of those rules to far. However, when they caned that kid I was cheering them on. I’ve ridden Singapores trains. If Link was as clean and quiet as Singapores trains I love to ride them.

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