Trip Planner Magazine Spring 2010 by Samuel Scheib

Spring 2010 $5.50

o v e r i n g T h e A r t a n d S c i e n c e o f Tr a n s i t

Amenities PO Box 1071 Thomasville, GA 31799-1071 8 5 0 . 5 9 7. 0 3 3 8 editor@tripplannermag.com

Contents Features Anatomy of a Good Stop 11

RTC in Reno is a great example of transit stops done well. Let’s break it down.

All Together Now 12

ADA got the ball rolling on universal accessibility, but what really has to be done at the stop level? by Samuel L. Scheib

Preemptive Strike 14

A transit stop inventory and improvement plan can stave off lawsuits and make transit’s most common asset a bit less common. by Paul Jewel

Like Peas and Carrots 17

Day care in bus stations, libraries over bus bays, transit goes better as part of a pair. by Seth Morgan

Brought to You By. . . 24

Off-site advertising bans make ad-sponsored shelters tricky. Why the California 9th Circuit Court of Appeals might be the new BFF of JTA. by Samuel L. Scheib

. . . On the Other Hand 27

An Opponent Explains Why Placing Ads on Transit Shelters is Not so Great by William D. Brinton

Put the Met in Metro 28

by Alex Bell Art is not just for museums . Transit helps get it on the street.

Vol III, No. 1 Spring 2010 Trip Planner Magazine is a registered trademark of: The Scheib Company Samuel L. Scheib PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER P.O. Box 1071 Thomasville, GA 31799-1071 Trip Planner Magazine was born of the camaraderie and exchange of ideas found at transit conferences and is intended to enlighted, inform, and even entertain professionals in the field of urban mass transportation. We take a broad view of transit planning to encompass route structure, customer service, marketing and printing materials, service efficiencies, contracting, map making and many other related disciplines that make transit better for passengers, public agencies, and the built environment. Trip Planner is published quarterly and mailed to transit agencies, metropolitan planning organizations, collegiate schools of planning, state departments of transportation, Federal Transit Administration offices, transit manufacturers, consultants and other vendors, and other interested parties.

Your Thoughts

A look at the lighter side of the business

Making more of the transit market

Helpful ideas, tips, and miscellany to make your work better and more interesting

The Terms-of-art for the transit world

A little nationwide peer review

Great reports writ short

Covering The A r t a n d S c i e n c e o f Transit Subsciptions: send an e-mail request to: subs@tripplannermag.com

Trip Planner accepts unsolicited manuscripts and queries. Send hard copies to the above address or email: editor@tripplannermag.com All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

Let it Be A

1958

survey

transit

executives

Mass

Transportation Magazine asked what was needed to

here,” like a few thousand pounds of brick and mortar and a pitched roof.

The suggestions

There is nothing easy about amenities, however. My

were exhaustive. Among the responses: Clean vehicles,

first assignment at a transit agency was to place 39 bus

“well-groomed, alert, dignified, well-informed” employees,

shelters. I was amazed to find this was difficult. We needed

improved vehicle design, increasing sex appeal of buses,

flat terrain, ADA compliant sidewalks, right-of-way, and

improved fare structure, getting people downtown, better

locations that didn’t block motorists’ line of sight. I couldn’t

operation, better ride, and improved lighting. This list is

believe that an object with no moving parts could cost more

relevant today, but it is remarkable that a story running 8

to buy and place than a new Kia. Once we put one down we

pages never mentioned bus stops.

were loath to change a route serving it because the shelter

attract and retain transit passengers.

Bus stops are the sentinels, the grunts, the pawns, the privates, the foot soldiers of every transit agency. Unlike bus

would have to be moved at yet more expense. planning became a prisoner of infrastructure.

depots and rail stations, glory hounds all with their cover,

This Amenities issue will touch on shelter advertising,

vending, restroom facilities, security and more, the bus stop

co-locating transit and other facilities, and more. Everything

stands alone, ignored until activated by the presence of a

in this issue has a cost, even those “free” advertising

human. Then it is a flag in the breeze calling for service

shelters, born by the transit agency and the tax payer,

until the vehicle departs and the bus stop returns to its lowly

or the people who look at the ads. After good on-time

position as only the most common feature of your transit

performance and customer service, amenities have to be

agency. Some of these ornery troopers show up dirty and

the most important thing the transit property can provide its

slouch; all are your first ambassadors to the public and thus

passengers. Is it challenging? Of course, as all the best

in need of attention.

things in life are (I’ve aged ten years since my three year old

Amenities at stops are extremely important, especially

was born. Totally worth it) but we need shelters, benches,

shelters, because they elevate a stop from just a stick in

bike racks, and lights for comfort, for security, for the image

the mud to a place. Outside of an urban core, a person

of transit. Hard? You bet, but remember: the first half of

standing by the road waiting for a bus looks out of place,

amenities is Amen. Let it be so.

like beach umbrellas on the moon. A bench or shelter gives that same location a purpose and affords the person more dignity. And the more the better; nothing says , “You belong

Samuel L. Scheib Editor

Service

Trip Planner Magazine Fall 2009

Ann Arbor is one of the many towns thinking about streetcars as an option, and like most places there is a great lack of understanding. [The Streetcar] issue did an outstanding job of putting together a lot of current information in an attractive format. I’d like ten copies to pass around so we can come closer to at least a shared understanding of what of what we’re talking about. Chris White Manager of Service Development Ann Arbor Transportation Authority •

Could you please you send me the current issue and future issues in hard copy? Thanks much, and congratulations on a great magazine. Manuel Soto Senior Associate Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates • I have enjoyed each issue of Trip Planner Magazine, in particular the articles on Transit Oriented Development and Streetcars. In my

work with transit agencies, I have seen that this magazine has been well received. In fact, I saw one at Miami-Dade Transit and Bob Pearsall, Manager of Service Planning and Scheduling, said that this was a required reading for all planners. I thought you would like to know. Excellent job! Dr. Fabian Cevallos Miami, FL Send letters to: letters@tripplannermag.com

OMISSION

Our apologies to Bill Monaghan of the Friends of Philadelphia Trolleys, Inc. who supplied us with the two wonderful streetcar photos below. He was not credited for these images.

Trip Planner Magazine Spring 2010

A look at the lighter side of the business

Yes Peter, It Is George Takei, the actor who played Mr. Sulu on the original Star Trek TV show appeared recently on the NPR news quiz Wait Wait, Don’t Tell Me. After Star Trek went off the air Mr. Takei had difficulty finding acting jobs and went into public service, spending 11 years on the Southern California Rapid Transit District board with the mission of helping L.A. get a subway system. In this exchange between host (and Trekie) Peter Sagal, panelist Mo Rocca, and Takei, we see what happens when transit geeks and Trekies get together. Mo Rocca: I feel a little left out [of the conversation] because I am not a Star Trek geek, but I am a rapid transit geek George Takei: Really, because you sound like one. (audience laughs)

Pedestrian Obstruction On 15 February 2006, 82-yearold Mayvis Coyle was ticketed by a Los Angeles police officer for “obstructing the flow of traffic.” Her infraction? Walking too slowly. While the arresting officer said he couldn’t comment on the ticket, he was quoted as saying “Right now, pedestrian accidents are above normal. We’re looking out for pedestrians – people who think they have carte blanche in crossing the street.” Ms. Coyle was slapped with a $114 ticket for no other crime than not walking fast enough. Lost Angeles Daily News, quoted in Dangerous by Design •

GT: Uh, here in Los Angeles?

“It is difficult to design a space that will not attract people. What is remarkable is how often this has been accomplished.”

MR: No anywhere, I just love them.

William Whyte, author and urbanist

GT: No, here what we are doing in Los Angeles is building a network of light rail because that is less costly, and putting the focus on extending the stub ending of the Wilshire Line . . .

•

MR: I wanted to know if there is any future in the monorail.

Peter Sagal: Is this what other people feel like when we are talking about Star Trek?

Trip Planner Magazine Spring 2010

You were saying? I was on the 545 and someone was talking very loudly on the phone about how much he hated riding the bus. He felt like sharing with conversation with all of us and

proceded to discuss how his car was in the shop, how the bus was for poor people and losers, and how much the whole experience sucked. We were about half-way over the 520 bridge when a “bus friend” of mine – who takes the 545 every day – tapped him on the shoulder and asked him if he could please be quiet. The phone guy began to turn his head, said “Hey, I’m talking on the phone–”, but when he looked at tapper he spoke into the phone “oh crap, it’s my boss I have to go.” I thought that was funny. Andrew Smith, Seattle Transit Blog

Kung Fu He is Not A 33-year-old man did about as well as can be expected when he attempted to karate chop a moving train in Queensland, Australia. A Queensland Rail spokesperson said the man failed to jump onto the moving train, injuring his head and falling back onto the platform. In retribution to the vehicle, the man then tried to karate chop the vehicle and his leg fell between the train and the platform. He was transported to hospital in a stable condition with a laceration to his leg and the police are investigating. Reported in the Courier Mail, Australia

Making more of the transit market

In 28 years in the transit industry, I’ve read a lot of then there is a need to change perceptions. Or you transit plans and all of them note the need to market may simply need to get people to give it a try to see transit more effectively in order to build ridership and that riding the bus offers benefits they may not have increase productivity. So it’s agreed: transit systems considered. need to market their services more. But how? Once you’ve decided what you expect marketing There are hundreds of possible marketing to accomplish, think about your target markets. Keep strategies to choose from - radio, TV, newspaper, in mind that no amount of marketing can get people outreach presentations, brochures, signage - you to use a transit service that does not meet their name it. How do you choose which strategies to needs; marketing to them will just waste time and pursue with your meager (sometimes non-existent) money. Identify those potential rider groups you have marketing budget? Too often it’s a crap shoot. Transit something valuable to offer: mobility, cost savings, providers simply choose the first or the easiest or the reduced parking hassles and service that can get cheapest or, if they are lucky, the cleverest idea. them to their destination with a reasonable level of Here is a different approach – a way to sort out convenience. the possible strategies to increase your odds of Now that you’ve taken these three steps, the list MBTA Testimonial Ads 06.qxd:MBTA Ads 10/21/09 9:14 AM Page 4 picking one that will work. The strategic marketing process is a four step approach to making better “I ride MBTA to work – Where marketing decisions. Start by taking a good hard can and I save over look at your system. Where do MBTA four hundred dollars you have capacity for growth? take a month.” What are the characteristics and you? qualities of those services? Who is “I was tired of paying so much for gas to drive riding now and how are they using Yucca my truck from Yucca Valley to Twenynine Palms transit? How aware is the general Valley to work. Now I catch the Route 1 bus and I get population of the services you there in about 45 minutes and always on time. I Joshua offer? How do non-riders perceive probably save a hundred dollars or more a week Tree your services and how accurate are by riding. I’m able to go back and forth all month those perceptions. What do you CMC long for $30.” have to offer potential new riders? Jason Chavez Jiffy Lube Employee 29 Palms Based on that assessment, think Find out how we can get you around the Twentynine Palms Resident about what objectives marketing Morongo Basin and to Palm Springs, and Marine needs to address. If you are the ask about money-saving monthly passes Base best kept secret in town then build like Jason uses. Visit our website or call Landers awareness. If transit is considered (760) 366-2395. a redoubt for the down-and-out This MBTA ad targets a specific market: Service workers

Trip Planner Magazine Spring 2010

Tell that to the M arines! This brochures for trainees at 29 Palms targets not only the servicemembers but also the location:

Palm Springs, CA.

RESORTS

GAMING SPORTS

DINING GOLF

MORONGO BASIN TRANSIT AUTHORITY

Trip Planner Magazine Spring 2010

of possible marketing strategies will be greatly refined so that instead of hundreds you may have only a handful of choices. That makes your decision process a whole lot easier. Let me give you an example of how this worked in a recent marketing program I developed for the Morongo Basin Transit Authority in southern California (they like to call themselves “the other MBTA”). Situation: MBTA operates local and intercity services connecting the communities of 29 Palms, Joshua Tree, and Yucca Valley. Most of their routes operate on hourly headways. They also offer commute and weekend service to Palm Springs on a less frequent basis. Objective: MBTA has significant capacity on its intercity service both within the valley and to Palm Springs. They wanted to attract both regular commute ridership and occasional riders going to Palm Springs for recreation, medical appointments and the airport. Target Market: MBTA identified four target markets for whom the intercity service offered distinct benefits. • Service workers who traveled to jobs along the intercity corridor which is the primary commercial corridor in the region. • Marine trainees at the 29 Palms Marine Base who could use the service to travel to and from Palm Springs to reach the airport and for recreation. • Seniors in the Valley

communities who could travel to Palm Springs for recreation and medical appointments. • Community College Students from the Valley who had direct access to Copper Mountain College on the intercity route, and paid a reduced fare of only 25 cents. Once the target groups were clearly identified, it was easy to select communications channels and create messages that would reach each group efficiently and persuasively. Service workers were targeted through testimonial radio spots and print ads that focused on the savings associated with riding MBTA. Young Marines were reached through a brochure distributed on base, ads in the base newspaper, and a dedicated web page that provided customized information about how to get between the base and Palm Springs for some “R&R”. The webpage allowed trainees to find out what their transportation options were before they reported for training at the remote 29 Palms base. Similarly, customized strategies were identified for seniors and college students that reached them with low cost communications channels, and highly customized messages. To see more of the marketing tools developed for MBTA, visit: www.transitmarketing.com/ Morongo. •Selena Barlow, Transit Marketing

Helpful ideas, tips, and miscellany to make your work better and more interestng

Let Their Fingers do the Reading Business cards have limited utility for the blind. Adding Braille makes cards accessible to all. This card is from Clever Devices, a company that got its start working with the visually disabled, so they have done this for years. But Braille cards are becoming more common especially among those working for agencies for the disabled and . . . consultants who want to do work for them.

Get the Word Out

Destination signs don’t have to be limited to telling your passengers where the bus is going. Use them as roving digital display boards to advertise schedule and route changes and new fare structures as seen here on an RTS Gainesville (FL) bus.

Almost one out of every four fixed-route transit trips taken in the United States is made in the New York combined metropolitan statistical area (CMSA), a 29-county area (well, 24 counties and 5 boroughs anyway) touching New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. (7,466,704,789 U.S. total, 1,706,087,276 NYCMSA, from NTD)

Outlier Pimp Your Ride Guide

OCTA (Orange County Transportation Authority) has a fantastic application on its website for creating a custom pdf of the “Busbook.” A three-step process (any of which can be skipped) allows a passenger to check routes, fare and other info, and connections to regional systems or other modes and then click “Create My eBusbook.” The resulting pdf can be saved to a computer or printed. The interface is easy to use, gives the customer only what information he or she wants, and externalizes the printing cost on the user. Pretty neat.

RUNCUTTER.COM Arthur N. Gaudet & Associates, Inc. Scheduling, Runcutting, Training, Service Planning, & Runcut Reviews Also offering:

The Runcutter CourseTM

A Two Day Course in Fixed-Route Service Design, Scheduling, and Runcutting Contact us about a presentation at your location.

Arthur N. Gaudet & Associates, Inc. - Carrollton, TX (972)466-4611 e-mail: runcutter@runcutter.com Finish Pay

Work Blk Run Route Start Time No. No.

11 17 32 21 30 21 30 18

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

1 1 2 2 2 3 3 3

Time

5:20 AM 1:35 PM 1:15 PM 10:55 PM 5:20 AM 10:25 AM 10:25 AM 2:55 PM 2:45 PM 7:30 PM 5:40 AM 9:25 AM 9:15 AM 1:05 PM 1:05 PM 8:25 PM

Hours

8.25 9.67 5.08 4.50 4.75 3.75 3.83 7.33

12M 01M 02M 03M 04M 05M 06M 07M 08M 09M 10M 11M 12

Trip Planner Magazine Spring 2010

Population Pyramids If your community were a junior prom, a population

in any analysis of said place whether a proposal submission

pyramid would be its photograph: girls on the left, boys on

or comprehensive operational analysis for the board (these

the right, all clustered by clique, or in this case, by age group.

are really useful when looking at peer cities). To illustrate

These handy planning tools graphically illustrate the age and

the story-telling power of population pyramids, here is a

sex composition of a place (city, state, nation, whatever) in a

collection of them from real cities and counties that represent

simple, immediately accessible way and should be included

archetypes. See if you can match the paradigm to its polygon.

Military 85 plus 80 to 84 75 to 79 70 to 74 65 to 69 60 to 64 55 to 59 50 to 54 45 to 49 40 to 44 35 to 39 30 to 34 25 to 29 20 to 24 15 to 19 10 to 14 5 to 9 Under 5

Dying City

Boomer Town

-15,000

-10,000

-5,000 0 85 years plus 80 to 84 years 75 to 79 years 70 to 74 years 65 to 69 years 60 to 64 years 55 to 59 years 50 to 54 years 45 to 49 years 40 to 44 years 35 to 39 years 30 to 34 years 25 to 29 years 20 to 24 years 15 to 19 years 10 to 14 years 5 to 9 years Under 5 years

5,000

10,000

50,000

15,000 -6,000 -4,000 -2,000

That long arm of post-adolescent males should be a dead giveaway for a military town, in this case Onslow County, NC, home of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejuene.

20,000 2,000 4,000 6,000

The “normal” shape for a city, according to the Census, is a big bulge of baby boomers, narrowing to Gen X and widening again with Gen Y and the millennials. Marion County, IL, fits almost perfectly save for the large number of 85+ women.

5,000

In the boomer town, the Gen X’ers just don’t have many children and the younger populations stay flat. This one is Seattle, but Minneapolis is almost identical.

10000 10,000

5000

Spring 2010

5000

Seniors rule in Sarasota, Fl, but not the ones in high school. The high concentration of senior citizens puts Sarasota County Transit at among the highest demandresponse tripsper-fixed routetrip in Florida.

The overwhelming number of co-eds should instantly reveal the college town, this one the home of the Gators, Gainesville, FL.

20,000

10000 15000 20000 25000

10,000

-40,000 -20,000

The tourist town has little opportunity for young adults and they clear out as shown here in Narrangasett, RI.

20,000 40,000 60

Rust Belt cities in distress like Detroit and Flint, MI, and Youngstown, OH are characterized by irregularity. The example here is Camden, NJ, which has been identified as the most dangerous city in the US.

Population pyramids are rarely pyramid-looking but the one at left comes close. It takes lots of steady children to keep the bottom fatter than the middle. This is Salt Lake City and we can guess the Mormon influence has much to do with its appearance. Note the dip in late teens/early twenties when Mormons go on missions. Another college town, East Lansing, right, is an interesting case because the population of the city (45,000) is actually smaller than the Michigan State

Weird Ones

-60,000

10,000

85 years plus 80 to 84 years 75 to 79 years 70 to 74 years 65 to 69 years 60 to 64 years 55 to 59 years 50 to 54 years 45 to 49 years 40 to 44 years 35 to 39 years 30 to 34 years 25 to 29 years 20 to 24 years 15 to 19 years 10 to 14 years 5 to 9 years Under 5 years

Trip Planner Magazine

-5,000

Retirement

100,000 -10,000

Tourist Town

85 plus 80 to 84 75 to 79 70 to 74 65 to 69 60 to 64 55 to 59 50 to 54 45 to 49 40 to 44 35 to 39 30 to 34 25 to 29 20 to 24 15 to 19 10 to 14 5 to 9 <5

-100,000 -50,000

College Town

ars plus 4 years 9 years 4 years 9 years 4 years 9 years 4 years 9 years 4 years 9 years 4 years 9 years 4 years 9 years 4 years 9 years 5 years

Normal

-40,000

-20,000

20,000

40,000

60,000

Engaging, Innovative & Proven Multi-Modal Designs in Constrained Rights-of Way Corridor-Level Mode Shift Prediction Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities/Network Planning Travel Demand Management Incentives Pedestrian Mid-Block Crossing Designs Pedestrian Activity Prediction Mapping Latent Pedestrian & Bicycle Demand Analysis

www.sprinkleconsulting.com 813-949-7449

Bruce W. Landis, P.E, AICP Landis@sprinkleconsulting.com

Theo Petritsch, P.E., PTOE, LCI tap@sprinkleconsulting.com

How to build in Excel Begin by getting American Community Survey data from www.census.gov (use 2008 ACS 1-year Data). You want age breakdowns by five-year groupings. To build the population pyramid you will need just three columns: age ranges, males, and females. The pyramid is built on a zero axis. In order to get males and females on opposite sides of the zero, one of the sets of numbers must be negative. These examples all use females on the left 60,000of zero, so let’s continue doing so here. You could add a minus sign to each of the values but that is time consuming, especially if you will be doing several as part of a peer comparison. The easiest thing to do is to move the female data one column to the right and in the now blank column use an equation to multiply the female numbers by negative one (i.e. =D3*-1 where D3 is the 85 and over women. Drag down). Select your three columns (ages, positive male numbers, negative female numbers) and go to the graphing function. Choose a bar chart (the first one under 2D in 2007). Accept all the defaults and finish. In the 2007 version, select the 85 years plus University enrollment (47,000) 80 to 84 years 75 to which means not even all the79 years 70 to 74 years 65 to 69 years students live there. At far right, 60 to 64 years 55 to 59 years Dearborn defies description. 50 to 54 years 45 to 49 years Having one of the largest 40 to 44 years 35 toU.S. 39 years Muslim populations in the 30 to 34 years 25 to 29 years it is also in the economically 20 to 24 years 15 to 19 years hard hit state of Michigan and 10 to 14 years 5 to 9 years really does not fit a pattern. Under 5 years 10000

bars on either side of zero (click one bar and all should select) right click and select Format Data Series. Set Series Overlap to 100% and Gap Width to 10%. Then click on the age ranges in the chart and right click to select Format Axis. Under Axis Options chose the Specify Interval Unit button but leave the default (1). There are three drop-down menus that should read from top to bottom None, None, and Low. In earlier versions click on a bar, Format Data Series, Options overlap = 100, gap width =10. Click on a number, under patterns tab on the right hand side and chose none, none low. Under scale use all ones. Adjust the colors as you see fit and add a title. Lastly, you may want to change the negatives in the horizontal axis label to positive. Right click on it and choose “Format Axis.” Go to Number and chose custom at the bottom of the menu. In the “Format code” box type #,##0;#,##0. Close. Repeat. Have fun, but be careful; building these pyramids can be addictive.

5000

“. . . the spirit of Animal House was in full flourish.” 0

5000

10000 -6,000

-4,000

-2,000

2,000

4,000

Trip Planner Magazine

Spring 2010

6,000

The Terms-of-Art for the transit world

Fenestration

Frangible

Pork Chop

It’s a cross between fragile and tangible. Frangible means easily breakable (aka: brake-away). Use: A perforated bus stop pole is both helpful for blind passengers in differentiating it from other poles and frangible so it breaks if struck by a car. See page 11 for an example.

Car Card

They have been around since the streetcar days and you know them as the advertising panels placed in the channel above the seats and running the length of a bus or rail car. Car cards can be public service announcements or commercial advertising. They can also be counterproductive. PSAs will often describe rape and gang violence prevention services, voting rights restoration for felons, and HIV/AIDS testing. These can send a subtle message about the kind of people who use transit and should be limited. Commercial advertising that says anything like “Get off this bus for $699 at AJ’s auto sales” should be banned and expressly noted in contracts with outside advertising vendors.

Trip Planner Magazine Spring 2010

P hoto: K ristin Smith

It is hard to imagine anyone painting lines on the pavement or pouring concrete referring to a right-turn triangular channelization island, or right-turn pedestrian refuge. Well, they don’t, opting for the more memorable Pork Chop.

The openings in the surface of a structure, specifically the placement of windows and doors. Fenestration aids in passenger comfort and security. Windows in a building allow people on the street to be seen (security) and give the feeling of being part of the surrounding environment (comfort). Standing beside a building with a blank exterior leaves a person feeling, and actually, exposed.

Silver Tsunami

The Easy Rider generation will be needing another kind of ride soon as eyesights fade, reaction times slow, and driver licenses are not renewed. This seismic demographic shift has come to be known as the silver tsunami and will be keeping transit properties very busy.

Property or Recipient? A Property is a governmental or commercial operator of public transit. A Recipient is a government or commercial public transit provider that accepts funding from the Federal Transit Administration. Becoming a recipient of the FTA is the transit equivalent of selling one’s soul to the devil; in exchange for funding the recipient is obligated to follow FTA regulations like Charter and Buy America, and endure Triennial Reviews. Most recipients receive only capital funding from FTA but mammon is hard to resist.

Anatomy of a Good Stop RTC in Reno is a great example of transit stops done well. Let’s break it down.

Ten-hut! Poles should stand erect. Buy long poles and drive them deep into the ground with a post driver (below right). To keep them standing proud, provide leaning bars (left) for your weary passengers for $100 to $200 bucks each.

Same sheet of music: The color scheme matches the vehicles, a visual cue that can be helpful to those with limited vision or the illiterate. The sign is part of the overall marketing effort, so it matches car cards, maps, and other details too. Those are the breaks: Frangible pole breaks or easily collapses when struck by a car. Reduces repair costs to car owner from $1,300 to $1,290.

Rear View: The back says “Bus Stop” too so that it can be seen from the other side.

Two of a kind: Sign widths are uniform, the colors match, and both are clean giving these blades a sharp appearance.

P hoto: Seth Morgan

Digits: Route numbers are not required by ADA but are very helpful, especially in dense downtowns where routes run on parallel streets that may be hard to identify on a transit map. Likewise, Braille is a great help to the blind.

Info at the most and least: Reno places information tubes like this one in Washington D.C. at major stops like hotels, but also at extremely minor stops where service is infrequent or interrupted for part of the day to keep passengers from waiting excessively. Trip Planner Magazine Spring 2010

11 11

All Together Now

ADA got the ball rolling on universal accessibility, but what really has to be done at the stop level?

by Samuel L. Scheib

“

Always do more than is required of you. General George S. Patton

Time was, some folks did not get

what transit agencies are required to do.

a pad. Let’s call a bench equipment.

out as much as they may have liked.

ADA has a few things to say

Are bus stops (that is, a pole in

Sidewalks were obstacle courses, park-

about the places where transit ve-

the dirt) equipment or otherwise cov-

ing lots deserts, and staircases moun-

hicles stop. The word “facility” is the

ered by ADA?

tains. Getting around could be very dif-

trigger; any time a stop is a facility,

are not specifically mentioned until

ficult for people with disabilities. They

the full complement of ADA acces-

appendix D of a 90-page document

got some relief with the Americans with

sibility applies.

From 49 CFR Part

(http://www.fta.dot.gov/documents/

Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), which re-

Part_37-PDF_all_10-1-07_edition.pdf).

There were requirements for transit

37, § 37.3, definitions, a facility is: all or any portion of buildings, structures, sites, complexes, equipment, roads, walks, passageways, parking lots, or other real or personal property, including the site where the building, property, structure, or equipment is located.

as well, namely that vehicles and facili-

This is a pretty clear definition

ties become accessible. Vehicle ramps

that still leaves two questions: what is

construction of a bus stop pad.

and wheelchair straps blossomed. Sta-

“equipment,” and where do bus stops fit?

Section 10.2.1(1) does not require

tions were adjusted and new bus shel-

Shelters, regional transfer centers, and

that anyone build a bus stop pad; it

ters were placed on improved concrete

metro stations are certainly “facilities,”

does specify what a bus stop pad

pads.

But nearly twenty years after

but there is no definition of equipment.

must look like, if it is constructed.

the landmark legislation went into ef-

Does a bench count? Well, benches

The further clarifying language in §

fect there are still questions about what

are specifically listed (at 4.37) in the

37.9(c) explains that public entities

is required at the lowly bus stop level.

ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG)

must exert control over the construc-

ADA is the source of some trepidation

and the requirement for a “firm, sta-

tion of bus stop pads if they have

here: it is a civil rights law and not to

ble, slip resistant surface” would ob-

the ability to do so. The Access

be trifled with. Let’s have a look to see

ligate a property to put a new one on

Board, as well as DOT, recognizes

quired bathroom stalls to have turn radii that could accommodate wheelchairs, elevators instead of just stairs, curb cuts on sidewalks, and perhaps most famously handicapped parking spaces.

Trip Planner Magazine Spring 2010

In Part 37, bus stops

Section 37.9, Standards for Transportation Facilities, provides some clarity: “The final Access Board standard (found at section 10.2.1(1) of appendix A to part 37) has been rewritten slightly to clear up confusion about the perceived necessary

that most physical improvements related to bus stops are out of the control of the transit provider.” [emphasis added]

and the short of it is, the Access Board realizes most transit agencies are not public works agencies and cannot be expected to build

This might be a good time to touch on the

sidewalks and pads for what could amount

difference between the ADA legislation and

to thousands of bus stops. Any influence the

the accessibility guidelines (ADAAG) from

transit agency does have, however, should

the Access Board. ADA is like a cookbook

be exerted in that pursuit and of course any

telling you what you can make from an ADA

improvements (called “alterations” and also

perspective; ADAAG is the recipes. Baking

covered in the definitions in the legislation) to

a light rail station? Sure, that is in the cook-

a stop require complete ADAAG accessibility.

book. ADAAG tells us you will need, among

If a transit property is expanding service

other ingredients, a ramp with a slope of no

to areas without sidewalks, that agency can

greater than 1:12, at least one ADA compliant entrance, a maximum gap of 3 inches between the platform and a stopped rail car, signs in Braille with raised letters located 48” above the floor from the center of the sign, and—common as salt—a firm, stable, slip-resistant surface. Combine all ingredients, let sit two weeks to dry, add light rail vehicle.

Bon appetit.

ADAAG does not tell you to build bus shelters, it tells you what to do if you decide to build one. ADAAG does not insist you place route numbers on bus stop signs, but tells you the sizes they would have to be if you decided to place them. (And you do not have to.

. . . ADA is the cookbook, ADAAG is the recipes

Clarification

from an FTA letter to the Memphis Area Transit Authority (May 13, 2009): “In fact, while not required by the ADA, including route numbers (that are sufficiently large as described in the ADA Accessibil-

do so by putting a sign in the dirt without build-

ity Guidelines) on the stop signs is helpful

ing pads or sidewalks. That is, however, a

to waiting passengers.”)

(FTA undersells

minimum standard. The better a stop is the

them here. They are extremely helpful, es-

better it reflects on the transit agency and ac-

pecially in downtowns where routes on paral-

cessibility benefits everyone including the el-

lel streets are difficult to discern on a map).

derly, parents with strollers, and able-bodied

This cookbook-recipe relationship is the

single individuals who would find transit more

cause of some confusion. Because ADA has

attractive if the trip did not begin with a wait in

so little to say about bus stops, it has been

the mud. The improvements targeted at the

hard for transit providers to know what they

disabled should have been there all along;

are required to have for accessibility. The long

ADA just got a good thing going.

Trip Planner Magazine Spring 2010

13 13

Preemptive Strike P hotos: Nelson Nygaard

by Paul Jewel

Shopkeepers who want to mind

the store better mind the door.

sponsible for what happens at the door.

That

In April 2003, the California Supreme

rhyme is inspired by a 2005 study by the

Court ruled that a transit agency could be

National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI),

held liable for placing a bus stop in a haz-

which found the primary cause of ac-

ardous location. In the case of Darlene

cidents to employees and customers

Bonanno v. Central Contra Costa Transit

at grocery stores was falls at the en-

Authority (30 C4 139), the Court agreed

trance. Supermarkets pay out $450 mil-

with the plaintiff’s argument that her inju-

lion each year for legal expenses and

ries were partially the result of the Central

claims for injuries—and a store will typi-

Contra Costa Transit Authority (CCCTA)

cally have only one or two doors at most.

having placed a bus stop in a hazardous

If you think of bus stops as the “front

location on Pacheco Boulevard near its in-

door” to a transit property, even a me-

tersection with DeNormandie Way. At the

dium-sized agency will have as many

time of the accident the plaintiff had been

as a thousand or more of these access

trying to cross the street in the crosswalk

points and that represents a lot of legal

to reach the bus stop on the opposite side.

exposure. At least one court in recent

This intersection did not have any

years has found transit agencies are re-

traffic control devices. A vehicle that had

Trip Planner Magazine Spring 2010

The Court found CCCTA to be liable for only 1% of the damages. In this case however, 1% equals $1.6 million!

A transit stop inventory and improvement plan can stave off lawsuits and make transit’s most common asset a bit less common.

The photo at left shows a stop that is unattractive and even dangerous.

At right is a stop that belongs. Even the

pavement announces this as a transit space

stopped to wait for the plaintiff to cross

short-term it’s certainly possible some

have a positive impact on ridership. Af-

the street was rear-ended by another

transit agencies might revisit their pol-

ter all, if the stop is your front door then

vehicle and subsequently pushed into

icy about where they place their bus

you should maximize the curb appeal

the plaintiff, causing massive injuries.

stops. More specifically, they’ll be ask-

of your property, as real estate agents

The Court ruled that given the peak pe-

ing themselves whether they should

have advised their clients for decades.

riod traffic volumes on Pacheco Boule-

remove any stops placed on arterial

The question is how to get started.

vard and the condition of the roadway

roadways in locations not immediate-

A typical medium-sized transit system

shoulder (no sidewalk, which limited

ly adjacent to traffic control devices.

has between 500 and 2000 stops.

access to the stop), CCCTA should

Is there a silver lining to this ruling?

Many of these systems simply do not

have recognized a dangerous condi-

The answer is quite possibly yes! The

have the staff to tackle this issue all

tion and moved the bus stop closer to

concern about bus liability should be

at once, and so they often default to a

a traffic signal located about a block

encouraging many transit systems to

position of improving individual stops

away. The Court found CCCTA to be li-

take a fresh look at everything in and

one at a time in response to com-

able for only 1% of the damages. In this

around their bus stops including ameni-

plaints or requests from customers.

case however, 1% equals $1.6 million!

ties, access, information displays, etc.

There’s one way your agency can

It’s hard to predict how this rul-

Improvements in one or more of these

get out in front of the bus stop im-

ing might impact long-term issues

categories will make the stops more

provement issue - create a Bus Stop

related to bus stop liability. In the

customer friendly, which in turn will

Database/Inventory and Improvement

Trip Planner Magazine Spring 2010

Preemptive Strike (cont.)

Florida DOT offers this ATSIM inventory system with one HP pda to all Florida properties free of charge. The system has several “pages” for collecting information about

Plan. Take a moment to consider how

a customer-oriented approach. The

have flat land with ADA-compliant side-

you, or someone else at your agency,

tiers are listed here in priority order:

walks, at least 40 boardings per day,

might answer the following questions: •

you

know

the

loca-

1. Passenger

Information,

Ac-

and are served by at least two routes

cessibility and Operational Feasibility

for placing a new shipment of shelters.

tion, condition, and level of ame-

2. Lighting

and

Security

Having a Bus Stop Inventory and

nities at each of your bus stops?

3. Shelters

and

Benches

Improvement Plan won’t completely

4. Advanced Passenger Systems

protect your agency from liability, but it

tion available in a format that is us-

5. “Gateway”

Thematic

will certainly put you in a better position

er-friendly,

and

This tiered approach has helped

of understanding your strengths and

easily shared with other municipal

NTS and other agencies avoid the in-

weaknesses both at the individual stop

agencies (DPW, Police, Fire, etc)?

efficient, and often frustrating, process

and system level. More importantly

of dealing with improvement issues

though, an Inventory and Improvement

implement

“one stop at a time.” It provides a plan

Plan provides an excellent tool for iden-

improvements

for making system-wide changes in a

tifying those critical capital improve-

in a logical, system-wide manner?

rational manner, beginning with poli-

ments at bus stops which can help you

For most small- and medium-

cies regarding the physical condition

capture new riders and retain existing

sized transit agencies the answers to

and location of bus stops. NTS has

ones.

these three questions are probably:

already used the database and tiered-

•

• place

Do you have this informa-

Do that

easily

you

accessible,

have

helps

customer-oriented

you

plan

•

Not really

approach to identify several hazardous

•

conditions and is now in the process of

•

No - We make improvements

developing a plan for improvements.

on a stop-by-stop, or complaint-by-

To make the database GIS com-

complaint basis

GPS point, and has a camera.

patible, NTS recorded the geographic

By way of example, the Norwalk

coordinates of each bus stop using a

Transit System (NTS) in Los Ange-

Geographic Positioning System (GPS)

les County had a Bus Stop Inventory/

and geocoded each coordinate to its

Database developed using GIS and

corresponding bus stop. Incorporating

Microsoft Access. With the help of a

this GIS component into the database

consultant, NTS then used the da-

makes it possible for transit staff to vi-

tabase to create a “tiered” bus stop

sually explore the relationship between

improvement plan that prioritized ac-

routes, boarding activity and bus stop

cess, safety and amenities improve-

conditions.

ments throughout the system using

sort the database to find stops that

Trip Planner Magazine Spring 2010

For example, staff could

Paul Jewel, Principal and Chief Operating Officer, has been with Nelson\ Nygaard seventeen years, and is one of the leaders of the firm’s public transit practice. His primary areas of expertise include planning and operational needs assessments for fixed route systems, Bus Rapid Transit studies and the evaluation of Transit Centers. Paul also focuses on assessing the need for improved passenger amenities both “on-street” and within facilities. He has done work across the United States (large and small systems) and in the United Arab Emirates.

P hoto: Samuel L. Scheib

stops, takes a

Like Peas and Carrots Day care in bus stations, libraries over bus bays, transit goes better as part of a pair.

by Seth Morgan

Shoppers could always tell when

the train arrived by the sound of 700,000

trip

incorporated Things change.

with

transportation.

Today the Read-

pounds of steel laboring to a halt a few

ing Terminal Market is still bustling cen-

dozen feet overhead.

The Reading

ter of trade where fruits, vegetables,

Terminal Market was a natural expres-

meats, and cheesesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;real foods, not

sion of commerce when it opened in

boutique fareâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;are sold, but the trains

1893 in downtown Philadelphia. People

are now SEPTA heavy rail and operate

coursed through the ground level col-

underground (the last train ran in 1984

lection of shops on the way up to the

and the old station is now a convention

train platforms, a convenient shopping

center). Elsewhere, however, transit and

For more than 100 years the R eading Terminal M arket has been the grocer, deli, cheese shop, bakery, and so much else to commuters in Philadelphia. Steam locamotives once stopped overhead but

R eading is served underground by SEPTA. now

Trip Planner Magazine Spring 2010

Like Peas and Carrots (cont.)

commerce have largely parted ways.

cilities with other land uses can make

cite trip chaining (being able to run er-

Rail systems have had a long histo-

transfer facilities more useful to pas-

rands on the way to or from work) as a

ry of supporting surrounding land uses,

sengers and perhaps also generate

major advantage of driving over transit.

of creating walkable districts around

extra revenue for the transit agency.

In a car it is very easy to drop off or

stations where commercial develop-

Most successful transit companies

pick up children at day care, whereas

ment naturally congregates. But slight-

see themselves as being in the busi-

accomplishing this same task by bus

ly less common, even in rail-based sys-

ness of providing travel, and as such

would likely require two otherwise un-

tems, is the inclusion of services within

their facilities are focused narrowly on

necessary and time-consuming bus

the station itself. Some American sys-

providing transportation. Up until the

transfers. This makes public transpor-

tems include newsstands, food ven-

late 1990s FTA all but assured this

tation extremely unappealing for the

dors, and other retail outlets in station

by allowing its funds only to be used

working parent. But many errands en-

mezzanines, but this is usually the limit

on projects â&#x20AC;&#x153;physically or function-

countered in auto trip chains could eas-

of co-location inside transit facilities.

ally related to transit,â&#x20AC;? which was nar-

ily be incorporated into bus transfer sta-

Transfer stations are often utilitar-

rowly interpreted to mean transit sta-

tions such as child care, banking, and

ian and very basic in design in keep-

tions and parking lots. In 1997, as a

dry cleaning. Such designs represent

ing with the cost-cutting ethos of

result of petitioning by several transit

a two-fold benefit to transit companies:

modern local government, especially

properties, FTA clarified its position al-

extra revenue collected from amenity

among bus-based American transit

lowing for mixed-use development on

operators can provide supplementary

systems. There may be vending ma-

FTA funded sites, a major shot-in-the-

income to the agency, and newly avail-

chines or even a coffee stand, but little

arm for transit oriented development.

able transit trip chaining opportunities

Some transit

FTAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s position change means few-

encourage new choice riders to try

authorities, however, have begun to

er missed opportunities. Commuters

transit.

recognize that co-locating transfer fa-

who drive rather than use transit often

benefits of such strategies to transit-de-

other trade happens.

There are also considerable

Fixed route buses board at the front of the

Linden Transit Center, but a Linden area circulator route serves the rear where the playground can be seen behind the fence.

The

facility has child care, medical services and a bank.

Trip Planner Magazine Spring 2010

pendent riders, who will no longer need to make special trips to access services now available in the terminal, thereby increasing customer satisfaction. A federally-funded transit project that includes amenities, however, can face some regulatory hurdles.

The

Federal Transit Administration offers lengthy and in-depth guidance for the requirements of “joint developments,” generally seeming to favor the concept of co-location.

However, if the

feds fund the project, there are certain complications that arise.

Some

of the restrictions are fairly straightforward; for example, the joint development project can not result in a net loss to the agency in terms of both monetary and nonmonetary benefits. Depending on which federal grants are funding the project, Buy America clauses may apply to the steel used for facility construction.

In some cases,

it may even be necessary to ensure foreign-made construction materials arrive in this country on US-registered cargo ships. And the structure needs to be certified as meeting “seismic safety standards,” which probably makes a

P hoto and graphic: Wendel Duchscherer

lot of sense for projects on the Pacific coast, but perhaps not elsewhere in the

day care owner seeking to open a new

nation. Furthermore, if FTA dollars are

facility would not normally be required to

used to help construct a for-profit sec-

satisfy the Buy America act, and might

tion of a transit facility, such as a retail

be put off by such complications and

shop, then the transit provider needs to

possible added expense.

return a reasonable share of the lease

just some of the hurdles that may be

income on that space to the FTA.

discouraging more transit co-location.

Above: A computer rendering of the Multimodal Transit Station in Petersburg, VA. The station will include child care.

These are

Trip Planner Magazine Spring 2010

19 19

Like Peas and Carrots (cont.)

Despite these complications, the

an empty, uninviting swath of concrete

more pleasant and vibrant urban en-

co-location model seems to be gaining

which does nothing to promote urban-

vironment near the transit station. By

in popularity. Some American transit

ism.

Mixing uses within the transfer

building facilities together in a single

systems have successfully embraced

facility helps encourage a consistently

project, both the library system and the

this approach, and many proposed

pro-urban environment near the transit

transit network are making more effi-

projects include amenities as part of

station. The children playing in a day

cient use of land and site-level capital

the design. The Central Ohio Transit

care center playground bring life to the

costs (the county is eligible for federal

Authority (COTA) Linden Transit Cen-

street at all hours of the day, and a farm-

funds to build the library that the transit

ter incorporates a bank, daycare, chil-

ers market planned for the public square

agency could not get on its own). Plus,

dren’s hospital, the Columbus Health

in front of the Petersburg facility might

transit riders will have the opportunity

Department and a Planned Parenthood

even bring people to the transit station

to check out or return books as a part

office. The 39th & Troost MetroCenter

who would never have considered us-

of their transit trip, increasing the util-

in Kansas City, Missouri, has a satellite

ing the transit system in the first place.

ity of the transit line to potential riders.

police station in the same building as

Another good example of this

As transit providers continue think-

transit and childcare. A new transfer

trend can be found in a new remote

ing of transportation as part of a wider

center in Petersburg, VA not only in-

bus transfer facility planned for Talla-

urban system, more opportunities for

corporates a day care center, but also

hassee, Florida. A New Urban com-

co-location will present themselves.

includes the local Greyhound station

munity in the southeast quadrant of

Transportation is not something that

and a downtown parking garage. The

that city has brought thousands of jobs

can or should be considered as sepa-

city views the new transfer station as

and residents to an area that was com-

rate from the daily lives of its users.

a key step towards redeveloping the

pletely vacant just fifteen years earlier;

There is a close relationship between

central area. Indeed, the inclusion of

as new bus services were introduced,

the transit trip and the life of the user

tenants and uses beyond transporta-

it became clear the neighborhood was

who makes that trip. Transit riders do

tion alone could very well help Pe-

a prime location for a new bus transfer

not demand transit in and of itself; they

tersburg’s new transit center breathe

facility. At the same time, the popula-

demand it as a means of accessing

life

downtown.

tion growth also merited a new branch

work, home, recreation or shopping.

In smaller systems that “pulse”

library in the same area. Rather than

Co-locating amenities with transit is a

timed-transfers, a transit only station

build a library and transfer center sep-

means of improving the utility of transit

can make surrounding areas less ap-

arately, they are planning to build the

as a means of access for its users.

pealing.

During transfers the station

library and support offices over the

Write the author at:

may be full of life, but when those five

transit waiting area, thus making more

s08.smorgan@wittenberg.edu

or ten minutes are over it is becomes

efficient use of space and ensuring a

into

dilapidated

Trip Planner Magazine Spring 2010

Transit Marketing Ad 02.pdf

2/23/10

11:53:13 AM

I arrived at my first transit job convinced the transit agency’s slogan should be “Going Your Think 3% Smart 3% Way.” It was very clever, I thought, but the sugThink Blue, Think Green, Smart Move Think GET (Valley Metro) gestion was met with a shrug and I soon found (GET) Think Smart Way 9% out why. Looking for something in storage I found Think Smart (SMART) The Best Way to Connect (SMART) a Paleozoic-era farebox, one without a touch (Lane Transit District) The Way to Go More 1% screen, without a GPS, without an electric motor It’s More Than a Ride (WRTA, NJ Transit, El of any kind. It didn’t even have a button to record (KAT - Knoxville) Metro, Pierce Transit) The Way to Really Fly ridership. But what this farebox did have was an (Metra) Rolling 1% ancient piece of paper glued to its side with the We’re Rolling for You (Jefferson Transit) fare price and the words, “Going Your Way.” It is hard to do anything original in transit Move/ Connect(ing) 7% because there are so many places with similar Motion 9% Connecting Communities through The Ride on the Move circumstances and challenges. Here we have Public Transportation (Denver RTD) (Palm Tran) We Move People collected slogans from around the country and Connecting the Community (NCTD) extracted thematic words: Go/Going, You/Your, (CT Transit) Metro’s on the Move It Connects Us All (St. Louis) Life, Taking, Where, There, Way, and so forth. (CARTA) Smart Move The Best Way to Connect The percentage shows how often a word ap(Valley Metro) (Lane Transit District) Life in Motion pears in the complete list of themes (they don’t Your Community Connection (GRTC) (Gold Coast Transit) Tempe in Motion sum to 100% because one slogan may deploy (City of Tempe) multiple themes. Often do). The thickness of We’re Moving Ahead (IndyGo) the band shows the strength of the relationship between two themes: “You” and “Ride” are among A Ride With a View (Long Beach Transit) the most common themes but only occasionIt’s More Than a Ride We(’re/‘ll) 17% ally used in combination, whereas “Where(ever)” (KAT-Knoxville) Relax and Ride We Drive and “You” are rarely found apart. In fact, “Ride” (Nashville MTA) (Foothill Transit) Ride Blue, Go Green is used in 21% of the slogans, but is infrequently We Drive a Great Bargain ` (Big Blue Bus) (Votran) paired with any other themes. Common but Ride On We Go Everywhere (Montgomery County Transit) lonely. “You” on the other hand, gets around. (Tri-Delta Transit) Ride On KRT We Go Where You Go This graphic is not intended as a criticism. We (Kanawa Valley RTA) (BC Transit) Ride the Rapid use lots of common phrases and that is fine. And We Go Wherever Life Takes You (The Rapid) (Citibus) what passenger really cares if his agency’s slogan Ride the Wave We Move People (Wave Transit, Sound Transit) is used by another? Besides, there is a danger (NCTD) Ride with Us We’ll Take You There to being original; “A Hub for Regional Travel,” (PVTA) (DART - DeMoines, See Why Everyone’s Riding Detroit People Mover, “A Safe Choice,” and “Commute by Bus” were (CyRide) CMRTA) The Ride on the Move each used by only one agency, had no common We’re Moving Ahead (RTD Denver) (IndyGo) themes, and blaze a path of tedium. So, take Time to Ride We’re Rolling for You (Greater Bridgeport TA) this as a call to come up with something new and (Jefferson Transit) We’ve Got Your Ride We’ve Got Your Ride unique, or just use the words on this page to cre(Omnitrans) (Omnitrans) Your Ride is Here! ate your own exciting combination, but be careful: (Leetran) the wrong mix and you may ask an embarrassing question (Going Way More?), endorse graft (Metro’s on the Take!), promote manslaughter (Taking Like Wherever We Go!), or even worse, encourage single occupancy commuting (Drive There Your Way!). If you get stumped, we suggest “We Go Wherever Life Takes You Directly Moving Forward into the Future. That’s More Smart Thinking!”

Ride/Riding 21%

Editor

Trip Planner Magazine Spring 2010

Slogans You/r(self) 33% . . . And You’re There (BART) All Around Town, Max Gets You Where You Want To Go (Modesto Area Transit) Moving Forward For You (Texas A&M Transit) Ready to Drive You (RTC Reno) See Where it Takes You (TriMet) Set Yourself Free (Your Life, Your Train) (PATCO) Taking You in a New Direction (StarMetro) We Go Where You Go (BC Transit) We Go Wherever Life Takes You (Citibus) We’ll Take You There (DART - DeMoines, Detroit People Mover, CMRTA) We’re Rolling for You (Jefferson Transit) We’ve Got Your Ride (Omnitrans) Where the Good Life Takes You (Santa Clarita Transit) Wherever Life Takes You (Bloomington Transit, CityBus, Transpo, MTA (Flint), EMTA) Wherever You Go, Go Metro (Metro Transit) Your Community Connection (Gold Coast Transit) Your Ride is Here! (Leetran)

Go(ing) 17% All Around Town, Max Gets You Where You Want To Go (Modesto Area Transit) Go Metro (Southwest Ohio) Going Places (Houston Metro) Ride Blue, Go Green (Big Blue Bus) The Way to Go (WRTA, NJ Transit, El Metro, Pierce Transit) We Go Everywhere (Tri-Delta Transit) We Go Where You Go (BC Transit) We Go Wherever Life Takes You (Citibus) Wherever You Go, Go Metro (Metro Transit)

A little nationwide peer review

Life 13% We Go Wherever Life Takes You (Citibus) Where the Good Life Takes You (Santa Clarita Transit) Wherever Life Takes You (Bloomington Transit, CityBus, Transpo, MTA (Flint), EMTA) Life in Motion (GRTC) Set Yourself Free (Your Life, Your Train) (PATCO)

Take/Taking 16% See Where It Takes You (TriMet) We Go Wherever Life Takes You (Citibus) We’ll Take You There (DART - DeMoines, Detroit People Mover, CMRTA) Where the Good Life Takes You (Santa Clarita Transit) Wherever Life Takes You (Bloomington Transit, CityBus, Transpo, MTA (Flint), EMTA) Taking You in a New Direction (StarMetro)

Future 1%

Driving into the Future (AVTA)

Drive 4%

Ready to Drive You (RTC Reno) We Drive (Foothill Transit) We Drive a Great Bargain (Votran) Driving into the Future

Forward 3% Moving Forward (LANTA Metro) Moving Forward for You (TAMU Transit)

Direction 1%

Taking you in a New Direction (StarMetro)

Where(ever)17% See Where it Takes You (TriMet) We Go Everywhere (Tri-Delta Transit) We Go Where You Go (BC Transit) We Go Wherever Life Takes You (Citibus) Where the Good Life Takes You (Santa Clarita Transit) Wherever Life Takes You (Bloomington Transit, CityBus, Transpo, MTA (Flint), EMTA) Wherever You Go, Go Metro (Metro Transit) All Around Town, Max Gets You Where You Want To Go (Modesto Area Transit)

There 6% . . . And You’re There (BART) We’ll Take You There (DART - DeMoines, Detroit People Mover, CMRTA)

Trip Planner Magazine Spring 2010

Cutting the Cord (cont.)

Brought to You By. . .

by Samuel L. Scheib

Off-site advertising bans make ad-sponsored shelters tricky. Why the California 9th Circuit Court of Appeals might be the new BFF of JTA.

The video is excellent.

Mike Miller, Jacksonville

an advertising contract that could go up to 80 per year.

Transit Authority Director of External Affairs, has been

The JTA bus stop design guidelines have very specific

showing it to citizen groups, neighborhood associations,

requirements for shelters in the historic districts of Avondale,

civic organizations, elected officials and others.

“Many,

San Marco, and Springfield, mission-style, site-built struc-

of course, were not transit users,” he says of his audi-

tures that have the name of the neighborhood on them, not

ences, “but many were more receptive after seeing what it

unlike at a train station. These historic areas are off-limits to

was like for passengers waiting in the rain and sun,” with-

shelter advertising, but the rest of the city is fair game. And

out shelter. JTA adds about 20 shelters a year to a stock

“city” here has a special connotation because it is almost

that is currently up to about 400. That’s 400 shelters in

exactly the same size as Duval County as a result of consoli-

a system with 6,600 stops, right at 6%. With the help of

dation in 1968. Since nearly everyone living in the county

Trip Planner Magazine Spring 2010

Anyone who has driven on a Vermont interstate can attest to the glory that is a billboard-free environment. also lives in the city limits, Jacksonville

JTA bills an advertising contract as a

self, enacted a sign ordinance gener-

is the most populous city in Florida.

way to increase the number of shelters

ally banning off-site advertising. The

In terms of land area, it is the largest

for passengers. Really, that only tells

reason for the ban was traffic safety

city in the United States, a sprawling

part of the story: shelters are a capital

and aesthetics, but at the same time

mess in a very hot, humid, rainy, cli-

expense that can be raised from state

the ban excluded transit shelters.

mate that badly needs those shelters.

and federal governments or, for exam-

An outdoor sign company, Metro

Anyone who has driven on a Ver-

ple, from new development. Building is

Lights LLC, sued on First Amendment

mont interstate can attest to the glory

easy; maintaining is difficult and JTA’s

grounds and the district court agreed

that is a billboard-free environment;

maintenance costs are $800 per shel-

that “[t]he City cannot, on the one hand,

they are banned in Vermont and three

ter annually, or $320,000 out of the op-

preclude Plaintiff from displaying mes-

other states: Maine, Alaska, and Ha-

erating budget, a harder pot of money

sages on its off-site signs as a sup-

waii. That those states are known for

to fill. The way these ad contracts are

posed legitimate exercise of its police

their scenic beauty reflects the de-

usually structured, the responsibility

powers while, on the other hand, au-

sire of many people and municipali-

for building and maintaining the shel-

thorizing its Street Furniture contractor

ties to get control over what is known

ters falls to the ad company and that

to erect off-site signs in or near the pub-

as off-site advertising, or ads located

is very attractive to a transit agency.

lic rights of way throughout the City.”

on property not owned by the adver-

There is opposition to the plan

But on appeal the 9th District court

Basically, it means billboards.

based on law and aesthetics. The le-

reversed the lower court’s opinion. The

Advertising bans have grown in

gal concern is that allowing this one

court deemed limiting the rights of com-

popularity as a way to remove visual

exception will open the advertising

mercial free speech acceptable as long

blight. The Jacksonville city council

ban to other challenges from ad com-

as the city could show “with plausibility

acted in 1987 to limit the number of bill-

panies. Attorney William Brinton (see

sufficient to merit the deference of Me-

boards in the city and later the same

following story) is particularly con-

tromedia that the Sign Ordinance, even

year the voters passed an amendment

cerned with this. He has been work-

coupled with the [agreement], advanc-

to the city charter banning new con-

ing for 20 years to put limits on out-

es the City’s interests and is narrowly

struction of the signs while mandating

door advertising in Jacksonville and

tailored.”

the incremental removal of existing

naturally he does not want a setback.

signs. El Paso, Jersey City, and Dal-

But Jacksonville recently got a little

las have similar bans. Houston, Texas,

help on this point from the left coast.

has a law starting this year banning in-

In 2001 the City of Los Angeles

flatable gorillas and other balloons on

entered into a contract with CBS to

rooftops as advertisements.

place bus shelters in the public right-

tiser.

In a somewhat contradictory move,

of-way in exchange for exclusive ad-

a few cities that have off-site advertis-

vertising rights on those shelters.

ing bans have amended those statutes

Five months later that same city gov-

to allow advertising on transit shelters.

ernment, seemingly contradicting it-

That was in June, 2009.

In the suburban setting shelter ads are likely to be in front of a strip mall or big box retailer whose own contributions to aesthetics could charitably be described as modest.

Trip Planner Magazine Spring 2010

... In an urban environment shelter ads blend in as seen here with this clear bus shelter.

A man enjoys a seat and a coffee, neither at tax payer expense.

P hoto: M atthew M aaskant

As for aesthetics, a bus shelter ad-

cent that goes to building or maintain-

members. Two were absent and six

vertisement is a very different animal

ing shelters comes from the public,

were opposed.

from a billboard or giant gorilla, what

from taxes. Even capital money that

Jones was the original sponsor of the

is known as an “attention-getting de-

comes from FTA could be applied

amendment. He voted yes as did 10

vice.” In a dense urban environment

to buses instead of shelters, so if we

other members who also happened

shelter advertising shares space with

can have private firms take on the tax-

to be co-sponsors. That’s how much

street signs, garbage cans, display

payer costs in return for a small ad on

they wanted the shelter deal. “Make

windows, and lots of people and cars,

a shelter, that is small price to pay.”

sure,” recommends Miller, “existing rid-

no more obtrusive or attention-getting

George Jupp, chief operating offi-

ers know of the issue. They have the

than a window dressing of manne-

cer of Streetscape Media Inc., a com-

most to gain and are most likely to get

quins in bikinis. In the suburban set-

pany that provides shelters with adver-

involved. Put car cards up letting pas-

ting shelter ads are likely to be in front

tising, agrees. “In a time where funding

sengers know the issue is on the table.”

of a strip mall or big box retailer whose

is in such short supply it surprises me

For transit users and parts of the

own contributions to aesthetics could

that the opinions of a few continue to

public, shelter advertising seems like a

charitably be described as modest.

prevent a good thing for people. Right

fair trade, even a really good deal (the

The main contrast between shel-

now, Jacksonville has a chance to pro-

Florida Times Union newspaper edito-

ter ads and billboards, of course, is

vide additional amenities by using bus

rial board has published several pieces

that a shelter advertisement comes

shelter advertising, saving tax dollars

in support). For others, providing shel-

attached to a shelter, giving this form

for other projects. In addition revenue

ters is part of the transit agency’s mis-

of advertising a public purpose. Adver-

sharing programs will likely be available

sion and should not be put off on the

tising provides free broadcast televi-

to fund new, greener buses and even

private market in order to put more ads

sion, free radio, and free Trip Planner

more amenities. It’s a winner for the city.”

in the public domain. With elected offi-

Magazines in exchange for the public’s

Miller had a convincing argument

cials on their side, JTA feels they are

eyes and ears. But outdoor advertising

that he took on the road. Transit us-

on safe ground and are moving forward

is largely a one-way street: the public

ers “showed up at the meetings and

with the RFP as early as February

gets big, ugly signs, the advertising

had a big impact on the 11 members

2010. Their passengers may not have

companies get paid. Shelter ads are

of the council” that voted for the adver-

that

a corrective. Mike Miller says, “Every

tising contract. There are 19 council

Trip Planner Magazine Spring 2010

much

Councilman Warren

longer

wait.

On the Other Hand An Opponent Explains Why Placing Ads on Transit Shelters is Not so Great by William D. Brinton The citizens of many cities in

initiative to halt further billboard con-

that opportunity? One does not need

this country desire to improve their

struction. It should be no surprise that

to diminish roadside beauty to im-

communities’

Keep Jacksonville Beautiful, Green-

prove transportation amenities.

reduce sign clutter along roadways. In

scape, The City Beautiful Coalition,

a false choice.

November, an overwhelming majority

Inc. and other visual enhancement

and streetscaping are part of sound

of voters in San Francisco approved

and neighborhood organizations vigor-

transportation planning, street furni-

a ballot initiative to halt the placement

ously opposed plans to place advertis-

ture should also be taken into account

appearances

of ads on transit furniture.

and

Cities

It is

Just as landscaping

and not made into the Yellow Pages.

like Houston, TX, and Arlington,

Thomas Jefferson is reported to

VA, hard at work in improving their

have said that cities should be sur-

communities’ appearance, do not

rounded continuously by a maximum of

allow advertising on transit furniture.

beauty. The battle for beauty repeats it-

While some cities do allow curb-

self over and over as citizens struggle to

side advertisements that target pass-

improve their communities. Transpor-

ing drivers, the fact is that the ads

tation planners and agencies must pay

distract drivers from the task of driv-

close attention to this struggle, and re-

ing, diverting their attention to ads for

ject any scheme that does not advance

fast food, personal injury lawyers, and

both beauty and transportation. They

an array of commercial products and

are not mutually exclusive. In his last

services. In 2008, an expert for Clear

public appearance before his death, the

Channel Outdoor noted the distraction

late Charles Kuralt spoke these words:

caused by such advertisements be-

“America does not belong to the

cause they force drivers to read them

franchisers and the developers and

at shorter distances than billboards.

ing on bus shelters that will admittedly

spoilers who do not give a damn about

The City of Orlando still prohibits

“target” Jacksonville residents and

their country. The land is ours. Or-

advertisements on downtown shelters

drivers. JTA’s Board Chair acknowl-

dinary Americans, I am persuaded

because city leaders know that beauty

edged that these ads will increase vi-

of this with all my heart, ordinary

is good for business. There is no doubt

sual clutter, and opened the door to

Americans want a beautiful country.”

that roadside ads erode a community’s

discussions to find alternatives. This

Here is an open question for the

interest in visual enhancement. In De-

was a good sign (pardon the pun).

transportation community: will you give

cember 2009, a federal court in New

Some neighborhoods were ex-

ordinary Americans a beautiful country

Jersey observed that a city’s interest in

empted from the controversial scheme,

or one that is awash in clutter and vi-

aesthetics was diminished by allowing

while other neighborhoods were not

sual pollution?

an exemption for bus shelter advertising.

spared.

But if some parts of a city

In Jacksonville, voters went to the

are free to advance the goal of beau-

polls in 1987 to approve a citizens’

tification, shouldn’t all parts have

William D. Brinton, Board member, Scenic America (www.scenic.org). Photo by author.

Trip Planner Magazine Spring 2010

Put the Met in Metro Art is not just for museums . Transit helps get it on the street.

by Alex Bell

Art has historically been public, civic - both a

have been replaced in critical art creation by the painted

product of and contributor to collective identity. From Egyp-

canvas and bourgeois sculpture in private collections, galler-

tian glyphs to idealized Greek athletes, from Roman trium-

ies, and museums. Art and all things cultural seem to have

phal arches to intricate altar pieces, art condescends to tell

become matters of personal evaluation and interpretation.

us something about who we are, where we are, and how

This is exactly the condition to which the minimalist art

we relate to others both within and beyond our own soci-

of the 1960s and performance pieces of the 70s respond-

ety. Since the Renaissance, however, the locus of art and

ed, the latter especially aiming to restore artâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s role in public

its relationship to its audience has shifted to more private

life. In the past decade or so, as Americans have begun

arenas. Frescoes and grandiose statues in the public eye

to return to urban centers, cities across the country have

P hoto: JoA nn Sieburg -Baker

P hotos: Samuel L. Scheib

Two of 11 shelters by artist Pablo Tauler line Chestnut Street in Philadelphia, above. Opposite, Tejuola Turner created imagery that is etched into the shelter glass for the new Sprinter bus line from uptown to the airport. one of many art-inspired shelters in the great emerging transit city of Charlotte, NC.

begun to emphasize the arts and un-

tified by the mutualistic art-transit re-

recommends that a defensible selec-

dertaken high profile public art projects

lationship and the benefits it conveys

tion process be employed that ensures

as civic amenities and marketing tools.

to cities.

In a funding environment

equal opportunity is granted to all ap-

This bodes well for programs that

that focuses on cost-effectiveness

plying artists or teams of artists. More-

incorporate public art into transit proj-

and ridership, art-in-transit projects

over, the selection of the artist must

ects.

The seemingly incongruous

represent a small but significant de-

be made by a committee of qualified

spheres of transportation and art find

parture into a realm less tangible.

art and design professionals with the

harmony in transit that is unattainable

It is a realm that emphasizes nar-

participation of the local community.

on highways.

rative,

A person waiting for

identity,

and

relationship.

For proposed artworks to be fund-

transit has the luxury of being able to

The Federal Transit Administra-

ed, the FTA emphasize the following

take in and engage her surroundings;

tion (FTA) provides funding and guid-

criteria: quality of art or design; the

a person caught in traffic really ought

ance for including art in transit proj-

impact on transit patrons; a substan-

to be watching the vehicle ahead.

ects.

While artist selection and site

tive and/or formal relationship to the

The allocation of transportation

treatments are left to the discretion of

site and surrounding area; a fitting

funds to art-in-transit programs is jus-

the local implementing agency, FTA

and safe scale suitable for the site; the

Trip Planner Magazine Spring 2010

Put the Met in Metro (cont.)

use of durable materials; resistance to

the heart of the city on Chestnut Street.

The materials were selected to stand

vandalism; and ease of maintenance.

The broad, bustling sidewalks of this

up to the elements and potential van-

In addition to the FTA program,

downtown thoroughfare are lined with

dalism without creating a maintenance

many cities and counties also have

custom bus shelters of stainless steel

nightmare.

Percent-for-Art

estab-

and tinted glass. Each shelter has a

were sustained – a shattered pane of

lished by ordinance that call for one

unique design that echoes the city’s

glass, for instance – the costs to re-

percent of the cost of public build-

architecture and history, from colonial

store the shelter would likely be sig-

ing projects to be allocated to the

motifs to art deco patterns. Artist Pablo

nificantly higher than a similar repair

provision of public art. Transit prop-

Tauler sought to give the 11 shelters the

on a stock shelter. The shelters were

erties can coordinate with these en-

same dynamic mix of styles as that seen

installed in 2000 as part of the city’s

tities to implement arts projects sepa-

throughout one of the nation’s oldest

effort to revitalize Chestnut Street.

rate from or in conjunction with FTA.

and most historically significant cities.

In Charlotte’s Cherry neighbor-

Philadelphia adopted the first mu-

The steel friezes, crowns, and

hood, Susan Harbage Page created

nicipal Percent-for-Art ordinance in the

frames and one-inch thick colored

custom bus shelters that act as an

country in 1959. One of the over 200 art

glass create a stimulating visual envi-

archive of community history. Cherry

projects funded by the Percent for Art

ronment and are intended to ensure

program since its inception is found in

the longevity of the city’s investment.

neighborhood adjacent to Uptown’s

programs

Trip Planner Magazine Spring 2010

However, if any damage

historically

African-American

Second Ward.

Page collaborated

ic-feeling photos and the cold, pristine

A series of discs, 18 feet in diameter,

with the Cherry Community Center

gleam of Metropolitan gives added

stand upright on either side of the

and collected photographs from local

weight to the shelters’ significance in

tracks that run in the median of South

residents to incorporate into the shelter

the community. They serve as a re-

Boulevard. Their situation seems pre-

design. Five unique shelters were cre-

minder to transit patrons and other

carious as the discs appear set to roll

ated with black and white photographs

passersby of the origins of this commu-

away, or be blown over by a gust of

printed on the large panes that form

nity, a sort of spiritual tie to the history

wind, or simply crumble since they look

the backs of the shelters.

The pic-

and identity of the place that transcends

like they are made from the surround-

tures portray scenes of community life,

the looming changes to be wrought by

ing earth.

family ties, and educational achieve-

redevelopment. The title of the series

steel and concrete (and Carolina clay)

ment and reflect the sentiments of lo-

emblazoned on each shelter reinforces

and weigh 11 tons each.

cal residents about their neighborhood.

this theme: “Coming Home to Cherry.”

designed to withstand the elements,

The shelters were installed in

Also in Charlotte, along the LYNX

2008, about the same time that a prom-

Blue Line light rail, the approach to

The artist, Thomas Sayre, intend-

inent mixed-use redevelopment project

Scaleybark Station feature conspicu-

ed the sculptures to resemble harrow

called Metropolitan Midtown was com-

ous sculptural works that elicit an opin-

discs, agricultural implements towed

pleted. The juxtaposition of the histor-

ion from everyone who travels there.

behind a plow to cultivate the soil. The

despite

In fact they are made of

their

fragile

They are

appearance.

The many faces of the Cherry Neighborhood in Charlotte, NC. The shelters were created by artist Susan H arbage Page using old photographs of A frican A mericans from the area where the shelters now stand.

They are

beautifully rendered here by architectural photographer

JoA nn Sieburg-Baker. Left to right: Baby Twins, Three Friends, Morgan School, M arried Couple, and Girl in a Polka Dot Dress.

Trip Planner Magazine Spring 2010

Put the Met in Metro (cont.)

piece is called “Furrow” and was com-

portive: they are both generally and

probably have little practical relevance

pleted in 2007 as part of the light rail

most naturally public in their orien-

to daily operations in the transit in-

construction, paid for in part by Federal

tation.

This would seem axiomatic

dustry. However, the notion that art

Transit Administration funds. They al-

for transit, but if the concept is ex-

and transportation share a common

lude not only to an agricultural past but

panded to include transportation as a

public character is pertinent, and

to the rhythm and character of the natu-

whole, greater exploration is required.

the role that they play in public life

ral environment. Shadows shift on the

For the motorist, gently nestled

is influenced by industry practices.

ground and on the curves of the con-

in her auto-cocoon, transport seems

As transit and public space be-

vex discs as the day wears on and it is

private, at least in the same way that

come increasingly important in daily

hard not to feel the dirt in your hands as

an office or a living room is private,

urban American life, transit properties

you study the texture of their surfaces.

visible from the outside but only avail-

will have a significant impact on both.

While “Furrow” is not universally

able to an accepted, intended few.

Beyond providing a service to move

popular, it is universally recognized

The vehicle, however, occupies an

people from place to place, transit for-

in Charlotte.

One of its great suc-

explicitly public space, and the move-

mally and culturally shapes those plac-

cesses is that it is instantly identifi-

ment of people and goods has always

es. The industry has the opportunity

able, giving the area a landmark and

taken place in such collective venues.

and the fiscal capacity through art-in-

promoting a sense of place. Equally

Likewise, art is often considered to

transit and other public art programs to

admirable is the fact that the piece

be private, with each individual bring-

do so in a way that is relevant and con-

almost compels anyone who sees it

ing a unique interpretation to a given

structive

to explore the significance of these

piece. But as was noted at the outset

strange discs and thereby puts them

of this article, art has a longer history

in touch with the roots of the area.

in streets and squares than in con-

The

examples

dem-

templative museums and galleries.

onstrate that art and transit share

A discussion of the philosophies

something deeply significant in com-

and theories that impact evolving ar-

mon that makes them mutually sup-

tistic conditions and reactions would

Graphics Division Sales Support: 866.528.2175 www.pride-enterprises.org

above

• Transit Schedules • Route Maps • Fare Guides • Pamphlets • Brochures • Newsletters • Guide Books

“Your Trip Planner Magazine Printer”

the

community.

Alex Bell studied art history as an undergraduate before earning his master’s degree in urban and regional planning. He is a planner for Reniassance Planning Group.

United Streetcar provides modern, efficient safe and reliable American-produced streetcars. Our streetcars are fully Buy-America compliant.

www.unitedstreetcar.com

This synthesis is an update to one done in 1994; 56 agencies responded to the online survey that was the basis for this report.

Bicycles

were

first

formally

rare and will not be discussed here.

bikes mounted on the front of a bus but

integrated with transit on ferries in the

Bike-on-bus provides “the con-

some systems have experimented with

1940s and 1950s, spread to buses in

venience of riding a bicycle to a bus

accommodating more bikes. PSTA in

the 1970s and rail in the 1980s.

stop and to the final destination and

Clearwater, Florida has added three-

the late nineties and early years of

the flexibility to take the bus in bad

bike racks to its buses and one system

the 2000s these programs became

weather, after dark, or if a bicyclist

has reported having racks that hold

widely adopted and expanded. “Local

needs to travel through an area with

five bikes, but don’t get your hopes up.

transit agencies spent approximately

steep hills, heavy traffic, or other areas

Mountain Express in Crested Butte, Col-

$28 million of federal transportation

that are barriers to bicycling.” In other

orado has a very specific service cater-

funding for bicycle-related projects

words, bike-on-transit programs help

ing to getting mountain bikers to moun-

between fiscal years 1999 and 2004.”

cyclists avoid actually riding a bike.

tains, as its name implies. These racks

Some of the key reasons given for

Buses typically have a rack for two

are rear-mounted, used primarily in the

having bike-on-transit programs are extending the range of transit and increasing the flexibility of passengers to reach destinations, offering an “amenity” that makes transit more attractive; integration of two modes, thus increasing the number of multimodal trips made in a community and removing auto trips and improving quality of life of a community; and improving the image of transit. Bike-on-bus is, naturally, the most common bike and transit combination because bus routes operate in so many more cities and on so many more routes than other modes, but bike-on-rail and bike-on-ferry are still common. Bikeon-Demand Response was also part of the survey, but occurrences were P hoto: Buchanan-H ermit

Trip Planner Magazine Spring 2010

Great reports writ short

summer, and have security cameras

the bike up or down a staircase, es-

spaces near the rear doors.

focused on them. Oh, and Mountain

calator, or elevator and through some

times they are allowed to use wheel-

Express makes the racks themselves.

type of turnstile,” to access a platform.

chair fasteners to secure the bikes.

Front-mounted racks are the most

For bicyclists using rail, light rail is

On commuter rail, cars are gener-

commonly used because rear racks

the easiest because cars can either be

ally accessed from an open platform

pose safety risks to passengers remov-

accessed from a platform or the street

and bikes are accommodated in a vari-

ing bicycles when operators cannot see

so the cyclist does not enter a station.

ety of ways: in designated floor areas,

them, security risks from theft, mainte-

Newer light rail cars have bike hooks,

in storage closets or bicycle racks, or

nance problems because the racks can

racks, and/or some designated placed

in a specific rail car designated for bi-

block the engine compartment, and

for the cyclist to stand with a bike.

cycle storage.

Some-

In rare cases entire

cyclists report the exhaust getting the

cars are dedicated to bicycle use.

bikes dirty. Some commuter services

Rail is not immune to the

that use over-the-road buses allow bikes in the luggage storage compartment on the underside of the bus. The dread of transit agencies vis-

TCRP SYNTHESIS 62

à-vis bikes-on-buses is having to turn passengers with bikes away because of insufficient capacity. Greater ca-

TRANSIT COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM

ever. WMATA (Metro) only allows two bikes per car on weekdays (four on weekends) and most rail