I've got a question about one part of the upcoming GRT fleet of buses.
They've ordered some Nova Bus LFS Artic buses set to enter service next year so maybe this hasn't been answered by GRT yet, but do we know whether or not they will be allowing rear door boarding? Or are they just going to have people enter by the front, then wander 60 feet to the back? They'll be running these on the busiest lines to start so to me it would make sense to allow passengers to enter in through the back doors and tap their card on a machine by the door (or wander to the front to pay with coins, if needed).
This is how many cities around the world who have busy routes and articulated buses work. In fact there are even some out there where you are allowed to board via the back door on a regular old bus as well. Of course allowing this would operate on trust...does our region trust us enough, I wonder? I just kind of hope you can hop on via the back door and tap your card once you're in there, rather than a slow ass single file line. Even now on regular buses, you can get held up a good while if you've got someone who has a card that barely works or an old lady paying entirely in nickles. Allowing more people to board at once and validate the payment after the bus is moving would allow for much greater headways, since you wouldn't have a line of people on the sidewalk all taking turns tapping their card while the bus driver waits to for everyone to get in so they can move.
They've ordered some Nova Bus LFS Artic buses set to enter service next year so maybe this hasn't been answered by GRT yet, but do we know whether or not they will be allowing rear door boarding? Or are they just going to have people enter by the front, then wander 60 feet to the back? They'll be running these on the busiest lines to start so to me it would make sense to allow passengers to enter in through the back doors and tap their card on a machine by the door (or wander to the front to pay with coins, if needed).
This is how many cities around the world who have busy routes and articulated buses work. In fact there are even some out there where you are allowed to board via the back door on a regular old bus as well. Of course allowing this would operate on trust...does our region trust us enough, I wonder? I just kind of hope you can hop on via the back door and tap your card once you're in there, rather than a slow ass single file line. Even now on regular buses, you can get held up a good while if you've got someone who has a card that barely works or an old lady paying entirely in nickles. Allowing more people to board at once and validate the payment after the bus is moving would allow for much greater headways, since you wouldn't have a line of people on the sidewalk all taking turns tapping their card while the bus driver waits to for everyone to get in so they can move.