Comments on: Swift Opening Day is Here http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/11/29/swift-opening-day-is-here/ Transit in the Greater Seattle Area Sun, 14 Mar 2010 00:53:59 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: gwen c. http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/11/29/swift-opening-day-is-here/#comment-86260 gwen c. Tue, 01 Dec 2009 01:38:27 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=10140#comment-86260 Uhhhh...i meant Tacoma Link. Yeah, that's it. Yep. Uh-huh. You're correct, Alex. Apologies for the error...and yeah, it does remind me of the SLUT. We were just so busy being excited about NO STRAPS!!! YAY!!! that it slipped by my mental fact checker. Uhhhh…i meant Tacoma Link. Yeah, that’s it. Yep. Uh-huh.

You’re correct, Alex. Apologies for the error…and yeah, it does remind me of the SLUT. We were just so busy being excited about NO STRAPS!!! YAY!!! that it slipped by my mental fact checker.

]]> By: Mike Lindblom http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/11/29/swift-opening-day-is-here/#comment-86178 Mike Lindblom Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:33:25 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=10140#comment-86178 I was fascinated by the bicycle racks and asked many questions during one of the media tours. CT's official reasons for this design were: -- Rolling the bikes aboard is swifter than cinching them to a front-loaded rack outside the bus. -- The floor-mounted rack design, about 2-3 feet high, is considered easier to use than hanging the front wheel from a hook, as on Seattle and Portland LRT vehicles. These in-bus racks, with the spring-mounted spool to clamp the front wheel, were designed by CT and manufactured by inmates in Grays Harbor County. -- Mike Lindblom, The Seattle Times I was fascinated by the bicycle racks and asked many questions during one of the media tours. CT’s official reasons for this design were:

– Rolling the bikes aboard is swifter than cinching them to a front-loaded rack outside the bus.
– The floor-mounted rack design, about 2-3 feet high, is considered easier to use than hanging the front wheel from a hook, as on Seattle and Portland LRT vehicles.

These in-bus racks, with the spring-mounted spool to clamp the front wheel, were designed by CT and manufactured by inmates in Grays Harbor County.

– Mike Lindblom, The Seattle Times

]]> By: Steve http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/11/29/swift-opening-day-is-here/#comment-86173 Steve Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:58:01 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=10140#comment-86173 BTW, AC Transit considers the Van Hool purchase a fiasco. I don't know the exact details, though. BTW, AC Transit considers the Van Hool purchase a fiasco. I don’t know the exact details, though.

]]> By: alexjonlin http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/11/29/swift-opening-day-is-here/#comment-86144 alexjonlin Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:08:50 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=10140#comment-86144 I'm pretty sure Link has no ramps. I think you mean the SLUT. I’m pretty sure Link has no ramps. I think you mean the SLUT.

]]> By: gwen c. http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/11/29/swift-opening-day-is-here/#comment-86138 gwen c. Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:45:37 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=10140#comment-86138 *laugh* i know, right? *laugh* i know, right?

]]> By: Jessica http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/11/29/swift-opening-day-is-here/#comment-86127 Jessica Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:06:19 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=10140#comment-86127 No straps required?? Might make some excuse to take a day from work... No straps required?? Might make some excuse to take a day from work…

]]> By: gwen c. http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/11/29/swift-opening-day-is-here/#comment-86126 gwen c. Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:53:55 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=10140#comment-86126 It's pretty simple; there's a sliding ramp at the front door which looks a lot like a LINK ramp, except it's driver-deployed. The ramp is short and gradual, as the platforms are significantly elevated. The interesting thing, which makes it a lot more like light rail, is that they pulled off a passive restraint system; back in against the backboard, put down the armrest, lock your brakes, and you're good to go, If you like the 9000 straps of doom, that's an option, too. I think the passive restraint system is the first i've seen on buses in the States that don't have an exclusive grade-separated ROW, so yay on that. It’s pretty simple; there’s a sliding ramp at the front door which looks a lot like a LINK ramp, except it’s driver-deployed. The ramp is short and gradual, as the platforms are significantly elevated.

The interesting thing, which makes it a lot more like light rail, is that they pulled off a passive restraint system; back in against the backboard, put down the armrest, lock your brakes, and you’re good to go, If you like the 9000 straps of doom, that’s an option, too. I think the passive restraint system is the first i’ve seen on buses in the States that don’t have an exclusive grade-separated ROW, so yay on that.

]]> By: Jessica http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/11/29/swift-opening-day-is-here/#comment-86112 Jessica Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:49:44 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=10140#comment-86112 I didn't get a chance to go :( How does wheelchair access on SWIFT work exactly? Might try and get up there this weekend with my brother Adam I didn’t get a chance to go :(

How does wheelchair access on SWIFT work exactly? Might try and get up there this weekend with my brother Adam

]]> By: alexjonlin http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/11/29/swift-opening-day-is-here/#comment-86052 alexjonlin Mon, 30 Nov 2009 04:58:02 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=10140#comment-86052 A person or two got on at each stop on the trip I went on at about six. So some riders but not that many. I wonder if it will ever come close to capacity... A person or two got on at each stop on the trip I went on at about six. So some riders but not that many. I wonder if it will ever come close to capacity…

]]> By: Andrew Cencini http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/11/29/swift-opening-day-is-here/#comment-86046 Andrew Cencini Mon, 30 Nov 2009 04:17:50 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=10140#comment-86046 i have severe back problems and ended up having to stand :( that said, i didn't mind the wheelchair seats too much. took the 510 back to seattle after making it to everett. that was a nice ride... i have severe back problems and ended up having to stand :(

that said, i didn’t mind the wheelchair seats too much.

took the 510 back to seattle after making it to everett. that was a nice ride…

]]> By: Lucas Smith http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/11/29/swift-opening-day-is-here/#comment-86042 Lucas Smith Mon, 30 Nov 2009 04:00:23 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=10140#comment-86042 On the contrary, there were a ton of people waiting for the Swift I was on (the first northbound trip after 4). On the contrary, there were a ton of people waiting for the Swift I was on (the first northbound trip after 4).

]]> By: Lucas Smith http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/11/29/swift-opening-day-is-here/#comment-86041 Lucas Smith Mon, 30 Nov 2009 03:59:28 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=10140#comment-86041 I ended up riding the "express" back to AVTC, then got on the first regular bus with Oran, right at 4. I ended up riding the “express” back to AVTC, then got on the first regular bus with Oran, right at 4.

]]> By: ericn http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/11/29/swift-opening-day-is-here/#comment-86040 ericn Mon, 30 Nov 2009 03:58:18 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=10140#comment-86040 RapidRide line E will go from Aurora Village to Seattle via 99. In the meantime, the 358 is already pretty frequent on that same route. RapidRide line E will go from Aurora Village to Seattle via 99. In the meantime, the 358 is already pretty frequent on that same route.

]]> By: L. Smith http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/11/29/swift-opening-day-is-here/#comment-86038 L. Smith Mon, 30 Nov 2009 03:54:23 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=10140#comment-86038 You get a transfer if you use Orca. You get a transfer if you use Orca.

]]> By: Oran Viriyincy http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/11/29/swift-opening-day-is-here/#comment-86033 Oran Viriyincy Mon, 30 Nov 2009 03:26:32 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=10140#comment-86033 The fold-up seats in the wheelchair area are very uncomfortable. My back ached and I'm in my 20s! I fixed that by facing backwards and rested my back on the large wheelchair cushion. The other seats were comparable to Link but with a little more flex. The backs were plastic, not metal. However, nothing compares to the comfy adjustable seats with foot rests on Sound Transit's coaches. The fold-up seats in the wheelchair area are very uncomfortable. My back ached and I’m in my 20s! I fixed that by facing backwards and rested my back on the large wheelchair cushion.

The other seats were comparable to Link but with a little more flex. The backs were plastic, not metal. However, nothing compares to the comfy adjustable seats with foot rests on Sound Transit’s coaches.

]]> By: Tim http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/11/29/swift-opening-day-is-here/#comment-86031 Tim Mon, 30 Nov 2009 03:06:09 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=10140#comment-86031 I got to ride with O2 man back to Everett. Kinda cool it was a Swift Express--we made no stops between Crossroads and Everett Station. It's still a looooong route. I got to ride with O2 man back to Everett. Kinda cool it was a Swift Express–we made no stops between Crossroads and Everett Station. It’s still a looooong route.

]]> By: Tim http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/11/29/swift-opening-day-is-here/#comment-86030 Tim Mon, 30 Nov 2009 03:05:25 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=10140#comment-86030 Me either--it was dark, and on a Sunday night. Me either–it was dark, and on a Sunday night.

]]> By: Tim http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/11/29/swift-opening-day-is-here/#comment-86029 Tim Mon, 30 Nov 2009 03:04:37 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=10140#comment-86029 I don't see too much of a problem. There's some circulation room, and anyone forward of the racks can use the middle door if the bikes are "blocking" them. I don’t see too much of a problem. There’s some circulation room, and anyone forward of the racks can use the middle door if the bikes are “blocking” them.

]]> By: Tim http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/11/29/swift-opening-day-is-here/#comment-86028 Tim Mon, 30 Nov 2009 03:00:43 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=10140#comment-86028 It would've been hard to get a time lapse today. Inagural rides didn't start until 3ish, and the sun starts going down at 4. It would’ve been hard to get a time lapse today. Inagural rides didn’t start until 3ish, and the sun starts going down at 4.

]]> By: Galen http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/11/29/swift-opening-day-is-here/#comment-86024 Galen Mon, 30 Nov 2009 02:32:18 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=10140#comment-86024 I drove on 99 corridor and didn't see many people waiting at the swift stations....it's not like they're excited to check it out compared to Central Link light rail. I drove on 99 corridor and didn’t see many people waiting at the swift stations….it’s not like they’re excited to check it out compared to Central Link light rail.

]]>