Presto problems?
With the rollout of Presto on the Lakeshore Line and the downtown subway stations almost complete, I'm wondering how people are finding the system. My first card was defective and wouldn't register, but I got a replacement card and haven't had a problem since. The system does have some quirks and limitations right now, and some (especially those on Urban Toronto) feel that this amount to a failed launch. I disagree, but I really want to know how people are finding it.
Please comment.
For more information on Presto check out
their website or
my Metronauts post from a while back.
Labels: fares, metronauts
Metronauts.ca roundup
Two months after going live, there is no question that
Metronauts.ca has been very successful at advancing the discussion of transportation and sustainability issues in the GTHA. Though there have only been about fifty posts published, 600 comments have been left by readers eager to discuss and debate ideas being floated by professionals and amateurs alike.
Here's a rundown of some of recent post that I've contributed:
In the spirit of the new school year,
U-Pass go, collect student fares talks about some of the existing opportunities for students to save on transit, and what other programs are being proposed to provide relief. It's worthy to note that one comment suggested that since higher education tends to require the financial support of a middle class family, there are other groups who could benefit more from discounted transit. While the comment completely ignores the financial reality of most students, it is an interesting take on the situation.
Confronting the elephant, Metrolinx and local transit talks about the often controversial issue of local transit lines under a regional plan environment. In less diplomatic terms, I dare to ask the 'should Metrolinx take over the TTC and others' question. While a regional provider of local transit service could more easily ensure the neighbourhood buses and regional rapid transit form a coherent network, local planners know the neighbourhoods dynamics and know best which streets buses should run on. Regardless of where one stands on the issue, its clear that a shiny rapid transit network will be totally reliant on parking lots unless local buses can bring passengers to the stations.
Stick to the surface is a bit of a departure from what I usually write, and examines the odd romance of taking surface routes like the 97 YONGE instead of the subway.
The cyclist paradox examines a situation I saw one day while downtown. Barrier-free access to a certain downtown subway station is provided through agreements with the property management company of a mall, but malls tend to frown on bicycles being taken inside. At the intersection between public need and private space, how do we resolve these sort of conflicts?
Expect more posts to come, and be sure to visit the site to read posts by many other talented contributers. In addition, don't forget to check out the ways you can contribute in the discussion towards a sustainable urban future.
Labels: metronauts
Metronauts.ca roundup
After a few weeks of going live, I am happy to announce that I have three posts published on
Metronauts.ca.
Dude, where's my sidewalk? gives a general overview of life in the 905 and how difficult it truly is to choose transit. Bus frequency is an issue, of course, but problems like no sidewalks and poor land-use planning must be addressed if we want to reduce our dependency on the automobile.
Barrier Free Future examines accessibility on transit, and how it isn't always as easy as building more elevators and buying low floor streetcars. With the REX service getting a lot of favourable comments in the community, I examine how the most cost-effective way of implementing the service might make it more difficult for those in wheelchairs and mobility devices to use the service.
The Endless Waltz examines the bitter debate between station placement and urban design. Subway lines tend to be built with stations spaced further apart than light rail lines, and many believe that this will cause areas of low-density to remain in between stations. But, is there any truth to this argument? I travel to Sheppard Avenue to find out.
Also, you'll find articles by many other contributers. Sameer Vasta has well-commented articles about
congestion charges and
park & ride lots, while Kate Kusiac introduces a series on the
human experiences of transit. Karen Smith talks about making the city
a bit more bicycle friendly, and Rannie Turingan has several photos of life in the GTHA and some
car-free ways to get to the CNE.
Labels: metronauts
