It seems that many TTC busses are sporting a bunch of metal strapped to their prows. Cow catchers? Jay-walker catchers perhaps? On closer inspection, and some research, it appears that these things are bicycle racks. To hold 2 bikes. Most busses seem to hold 30 - 50 passengers. Where do the other 48 put their bikes? Or do they wait for the next bus? How long does it hold up the bus to mount your bike? What if yours is the first bike I? do you take down the other person's bike? and do what with it while fiddling with yours? What id you get off with the crowd and the bus drives off before you can get though to unhook your bike? What were they thinking?The initial lot of 110 busses were outfitted for a cost of $202,000 in 2006 after an initial estimate of $155,000 . That is almost ONE QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS. Now Metrolinx wants to spend another $ 1.183.000 on more racks on TTC buses, about $1,200 per rack. ONE POINT TWO MILLION DOLLARS
I have yet to see a bike on any bus in any part of the city, sun or shine or snow, at any time of the day. If I ever do see someone actually putting a bike on there, I will videotape them to see how long it takes ;-)
Figures from TTC and Toronto websites, Metrolinx press release. Correct me if wrong.
4 comments:
I saw a bike on route 62 Mortimer this morning, and a woman getting a bike off the same route (in the opposite direction) yesterday.
cool - 6 visits from someone inside GO transport. Just saw another of many empty bike racks on a GO bus this morning as well.
George
@ Toronto Media Photo Video Guy -
I live in Ottawa and we have had these racks for years now they work well and are heavily used. I used them everyday for years. They are also very common in other cities the only reason they aren't used in Toronto is that the Media types there don't seem to be able to pick up on trends and highlight them. There also has never been an acident involving them either.
Either for some reason My comment did not go through or you chose not to print it, because it disagreed with your point.
Whichever it does not matter in other North American cities these racks are well used, they aren't a waste of money by a long shot. Could it just be people in Toronto are just not smart enough to use them?
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