Tranzit

Sadly, many people (especially the youth) have less respect for public property, and now even resort to harassing and intimidating other passengers--total strangers--on the bus, such as I witnessed today on the eastbound route 36. There is that notorious corner on Notre Dame near St. Remi where extremely rowdy and borderline-vicious schoolbrats (mostly fat, ugly girls, no less!) wait to board, and once they get on, they curse, shove, and intimidate everyone as much as they can get away with. It's a wonder drivers don't kick them off or don't even stop for them to begin with. This part of the route is a disaster just waiting to happen. One day someone is going to start punching or even pull a knife--or worse! Isn't this one of the obvious routes to add 36X and Ecole busses, and keep these uncivilized morons away from the rest of us?

It appears that way, although one of the drivers who regularly posts in this forum has yet to confirm what authority and access drivers have with their fareboxes. It stands to reason that if the 6-ticket magnetic cards and the OPUS card are in use, they must be able to work on all busses, even if not yet in all Metro stations. I have already confirmed that drivers don't have the key to open their fareboxes, and that many have yet to be trained with respect to the different codes available on the keyboard. It would be cool to get a hold of the user manual.

For those who may not realize it, evidently bus fareboxes are OPUS-ready with or without the OPUS sticker being affixed to them. Even hybrid 28-707 had no sticker when I boarded it. I presume the "sticker squad" has yet to complete its work. I can foresee a potential problem arising where a valid OPUS card is misread by a defective farebox scanner as "invalid", followed by the inevitable argument. Same predicament as: "But, officer. I wasn't speeding. Your radar gun must be wrong!"--a circumstance which has indeed often been proven in court.

What in the world...? But, hey, wait---they ought to play this hilarious video on the new trackside screens in the Metro! Yeah, I can just see the platform crowds laughing their heads off and even dancing to this amazing piece of propaganda! Too bad those screens don't include audio, though, as many other transit systems do.

Okay, so that does it: I'm bringing along cushions from now on! About Cuba: the other day a news report showed brand-new Chinese busses being used down there to replace those ludricrous, semi-trailer-type "busses" they'd been using. They looked worse than cattle trucks. Wonder what has become of the discarded New Looks we donated to them years ago? I'll bet many of them are still running.

Why not extend the very short route 101 which begins at Charlevoix Metro to its current terminus at the north end of de l'Eglise and then continue further west along St. Patrick to say as far as Dollard and then south to around Elmslie to link up with routes 123 and 195. In addition, the bus garage at the end of Elmslie could be utilized more efficiently by the 101. Employees working at the numerous industries along St. Patrick would then have better access to Charlevoix Metro on the east and other bus routes at the western end of that very busy industrial park. I've cycled around there extensively, and the potential bus patronage is obvious. Odd that no one has suggested this before. As it stands right now, route 101 carries few passengers. In fact, it may even be the STM's shortest, and least-patronized route--although route 13 along Christopher Columbus may have that distinction--not sure.

Does STM plan to completely scrap the first gen LFS's, donate them to Cuba, or store them for whatever salvageable parts can be used for the newer LFS busses--such as the seats, for example. I mention this because most first gen vinyl seats are more comfortable than the crappy cloth ones with the colourful "suns and swirls" design.

Climb? You mean that daredevil guy who climbed the outside years ago? Otherwise, taking the elevator up for $22.00 isn't worth it, since it used to be much cheaper. Now it's a typical tourist trap. What the CN Tower really should offer is this: http://www.skyjump.co.nz/

While it may be interesting from a "variety" perspective to see different bus types in Montreal, somehow I can't see the STM's mechanics looking forward to working on unfamiliar equipment, unless we are willing to give them the extensive training required. This subject has already been discussed in this forum, but obviously the argument to stick with the familiar Novabusses and Classics removes that issue. Having said that, I suppose it would be neat to see a couple of Routemasters in STM logo (!) on specific tourist routes--just like the red ones currently driving around. For those who may not be aware, just over the northeastern side of Monk Bridge, there is a bus garage containing these and various other types. As a matter of fact, if you look closely, there is even a burned-out hulk way in the back. Ouch! Remember this? http://www.palantir.co.uk/harryp.html

As I previously mentioned in the hybrid bus thread, I thought that today would be a most appropriate time to use the OPUS card for the first time--on one of the new hybrid's; in this case, 28-707. New technology on new technology, as it were. For those who are not aware, when you place the Smart Card on the sensor, there is a momentary delay, the two panel lights turn green and there is a beep. Presumably, an expired card will get red lights and a snarl from the driver, but I won't speculate further. Anyway, after arriving at Guy Metro, I decided to try some oddball routes for a change, so, using OPUS again, I transferred to a grimy 15-XXX on route 57 through the Pointe to Charlevoix Metro, after which I killed some time walking up to the canal to enjoy the bright, sunny afternoon. Then, 15 minutes before my two-hour transfer time was about to expire, I jumped on the very oddball route 101 along St. Patrick: a mostly empty bus serving the industrial park only during rush hours. When I got off at the terminus at the top of de l'Eglise, the driver called me back and asked me about the OPUS card. Apparently, I was the first one ever to use it on his bus and he evidently knew very little about it. He wasn't too clear about how the old equipment would be phased out, but he did raise a very valid question: when the existing bus transfer machines are removed, how will a cash-paying passenger be able to transfer to another bus or Metro? Hmmm! Anyway, he asked me if I liked the new Smart Cards, and I said that I did, at which point the 37 showed up and I boarded it, but this time I used my 6-ticket cardboard card, inserting it into its designated slot, and---nothing happened! It popped out and the lady driver told me to try it again and this time--beep--green flash--the card registered with a printout on the back, showing the route 37 and boarding time. But, wait--the real fun began at Vendome Metro where I next boarded the 124. The validator took my 6-ticket card okay, but swallowed it! Gone forever, I thought! Nope---wait: the flustered driver gave me a regular transfer, saying he was sorry he could do nothing about it, but I informed him that I still had 5 valid tickets on that card, so he got on radio to HQ who took a few minutes getting back to him and telling him to simply press the green button and the C button on his keyboard--which miraculously returned my ticket to me! Hooray! The driver said he hadn't been trained on the new validators yet. Lesson learned: if your ticket gets swallowed, tell the driver what buttons to push to retrieve your ticket! Ah...the joy-ride continues...

A very enlightening and educational day today. Waited for route 166's 28-707 to arrive at its northernmost terminus. It arrived early and I chatted with the driver before we left for downtown. He was quite impressed with his vehicle, describing its various "green" assets, etc. Mentioned that the 707 has 280 HP while others will have 250 HP, which evidently the STM figures will be adequate. Hope they're right. He also said these busses have already been extensively tested in all types of weather, although he didn't elaborate where or when. He also showed me his OPUS card with his photo on the back and its 2015 expiry year! Cool! Some old ladies were also there to board, so I pointed out to them the fact that it was "bio bus", and they said they had already read about it. I decided that this would be the appropriate opportunity to use my own OPUS card for the very first time, so, placing the card on the sensor, I watched as it took almost two seconds for the two green lights to come on and the beep to validate me. (Wow, I've finally been validated! ). That means somewhere in Central Control's "Deep Space Nine", I am presumably being registered and tracked as one of the apparently few "road-runner, guinea-pigs"! Such a comforting feeling, eh, wot? ) Anyway, we departed at 1:30 p.m., and I sat on the rear wheel-well seat and for the entire ride downtown. There were never more than about a dozen passengers on the bus for the whole trip, who I'm sure had no clue what they were riding on. In any event, I was impressed yet again with the bus's power and fast acceleration capability from a dead stop--although it seems to me now that the suspension is not much different than most of our other newer LFS's, however, this could for the most part be attributed to our appalling pavement. I must say, though, that the seats are just as uncomfortable as those on on our other LFS's. This is something the STM definitely needs to improve on! I'll continue with the rest of the day's experiences in the Smart Card thread where they will be more relevant.

Ah, yes...very familiar locations, indeed! I must have crossed that bridge a hundred times by bus, train, taxi, on foot. There is even a bridge climb which I've promised myself to do next time! See: http://www.bridgeclimb.com.au/ Hey, why don't we have such a thing in Canada? (probably insurance company paranoia, no doubt!)

Ha! In 20 to 25 years, Joel Gauthier will be a distant memory and we'll still be haggling about proposed highway extensions, high speed trains to the airport, water fluoridation, the high cost of fuel, etc., yadda, yadda, yadda. Haven't they been singing that song long enough? Action already! Build the damn things!

Reminds me of the nonsense regarding Cavendish Blvd. in Cote St. Luc--it boggles the mind! Imagine wanting to get to your home--either by bus or by car--from Cavendish to Toupin north of H. Bourassa and then find you are forced to turn right, eastbound on H-B, or left, westbound and then have to find somewhere else to turn around and/or backtrack to Toupin. Where does the madness end? Road extensions and intersections are supposed to be simple, not complicated, and all this just to please some pressure group in St. Laurent, whose neighbourhood didn't even exist up until a few years ago. The obvious solution: impose strict speed limits. Hey, why don't they build every major intersection in Canada and the U.S. exactly like the one they're showing here? After all: we hate pollution too, and definitely don't want those nasty, dirty, smelly cars and busses in our neighbourhood, now, do we? Oh, I forgot: in 100 years we will all be driving clean, quiet electric cars and riding solar-powered busses and trams. Hell, I better take my vitamins if I am ever to live long enough to see such a brave, new world. Let me guess: this plan is all of part of some back-room, compromise deal made to placate St. Laurent for agreeing to the merger with Montreal. Naw...surely not?

Regarding transaction codes or any other codes which appear on Metro ticket vending machines: I haven't done any research into it, so your guess is as good as mine at this point. We will all have to share information as to which machine where issues what number, etc., to determine any potential patterns. I suppose a dedicated student or individual employed inside the institutions involved will eventually leak whatever information is relevant. Meanwhile, to reiterate, everyone should hold on to all receipts. It's just good business sense, and I would hope that, unlike some ATMs, there will always be a receipt available from every machine in use. Of course, it will be up to whoever is responsible for maintaining those machines that they be kept loaded with receipt paper rolls and be free from glitches and gremlins. I am leery of using vending machines of all kinds--especially when there is no one around in authority to refund you or at least report to should anything go wrong. I suppose the worst case scenario would be using a bank's ATM which jams or swallows your card on a weekend! Who ya gonna call?! In fact, I've actually seen this happen to someone. Fortunately for them, it was on a weekday during banking hours, so the lady had to tell a stranger waiting in line behind her to guard her place while she went into the bank to have employee open up the ATM from the rear and retrieve her card. Not a pleasant experience, to be sure. As for my OPUS card, I was unexpectedly handed a free, loaded card and 6-ticket card during the seminar prior to the recent press conference. About a dozen cards were given out at random and questions taken. At first I thought it must surely be no more than a sample, "demonstrator" card with an inactive chip, but my venture to Viau yesterday confirmed its validity, since up until then I had yet to find an actual, working vending machine. In addition to those OPUS cards already in use by STM employees and, presumably, by the manufacturer's agents, about 1000 additional cards are reportedly now in circulation, I imagine there would be no harm for you to approach someone at the STM if you really want one right now. It may be easier if you're a student, since they will be test marketed first. It will be interesting to see what happens when I use my OPUS card within two hours after exiting Jean Drapeau Metro and then attempt to board the 169 back over the JCB. As you may or may not be aware, that particular transfer connection has been a subject of controversy within this forum, with no clear answer as to its "legality"--despite the fact that the exact opposite--169 transferring to Jean Drapeau Metro--is unquestionably permissible. Anyway...the adventure continues, and, giving credit where credit is due: thank you, STM, for increasing the transfer time to two hours. Now, if you will kindly give us a discount (even if it's only $10) as a incentive for reloading our OPUS cards for 3 months and longer, well, that would surely increase bus and Metro usage.

Sure: it means that Big Brother is watching! My guess it's a tracking code registering your MasterCard transaction within the system, so keep all receipts! Having said that, read this sobering information from Wikipedia's site concerning Hong Kong's Octopus Smart Card: EPS add-value glitch In February 2007, it was found that when customers added value to their cards at self-service add-value points located in MTR and KCR stations, their bank accounts would be debited even if the transactions were cancelled. Octopus Cards Limited claimed that the fault was due to an upgrade of communication systems. Initially, two cases were reported. The company then announced that the use of the payment system, Electronic Payment Services (EPS), in add-value service points would be suspended until further notice, and had started investigation of the system's mistake. On 27 July 2007, a report was announced that the wrong transactions could be traced back to 2000, and a total of 3.7 million Hong Kong dollars was wrongly deducted from 15,270 cases. The company reported that there may be cases dating before 2000, because only transactions from the past seven years were kept. It stated that it would co-operate with EPS Company Limited, operator of Electronic Payment Services, and banks to contact customers involved and arrange a refund within ten weeks' time. On 21 December 2007, the company announced to permanently cease all transactions completed using EPS because they cannot guarantee such events from happening again.

At Viau Metro today, I approached one of the PR officials who at first told me that my OPUS card wouldn't work until May 1. But then a second Metro official intervened and so to double check we all went over to the first validator/vending machine that I've seen so far that hasn't said out of service on the screen, stuck the card in the slot and, voila, it registered ready with "6 jetons" already pre-programmed (that translates to "6 tokens" when pressing the English button). (So, we're back to tokens, eh? Just like Toronto and NYC!) :-) These PR guys were almost dumbfounded to see that my card was "alive", as though I were the first "civilian", non-STM employee to show up with an OPUS card thus far, but anyway they were glad to be of assistance and answered a few questions I had, such as for example: what happens if you touch your OPUS card to the reader twice: are two fares unfairly deducted from your card? The answer is no, because when you touch it to the reader once, every turnstile reader in that specific Metro station then registers a 20-minute delay during which period any further usage is declined--this in order to prevent card-sharing, of course. Furthermore, they claimed the chip in the OPUS card (and presumably all such RFID-type Smart Cards) cannot be de-magnetized accidently, as is the case with the current CAM cards and tickets. Card holders can verify their OPUS cards'status or balance simply by placing their cards in the validator/vending machine, and not have to find out "the hard way" at the actual turnstile when people are lining up and shoving impatiently behind you. I also asked what happens when you board a bus without realizing that your OPUS card has no remaining ticket fare programmed into it. In this case, you have to pay by cash or ticket, otherwise you must disembark. No free rides, sorry. It is the cardholder's responsibility to keep his or her OPUS card "account" from showing "NSF" as it were. In the early going, I can see this becoming a potential problem when, say, loud groups of friends are getting on a bus after leaving a bar or club and maybe one or more of them with tapped-out cards and then having to ask around for cash or available tickets. Therefore, everyone will be obliged to top-up or reload their OPUS cards at Metro stations and participating retail outlets. As I've previously mentioned, some other transit systems do permit card-reloading on the bus as well--but not here. Not sure if that will ever be a future option in Montreal, but who knows?

I got my kicks on Route 66 today after boarding northbound 28-703 at 14:52 from Guy Metro. Smooth, quiet ride indeed, although not as quiet as an exclusively battery-powered bus, I must say. Took the hill like a charm, but didn't have to exert much effort anyway as there were were only about 6 or 7 passengers aboard. Let's see what happens on a hot, humid day, fully-loaded. The real "torture test" awaits! From every seat on and behind back wheel-well, it was virtually impossible see out of the windows due to the rain blocking the tiny holes of the Bio advertising wrap, so I moved forward to one of the single seats. I suggest anyone riding in the rain to do likewise if you want to see where you are! Actually, more and more I'm finding those view-obscuring ad wraps a nuisance. I'd swear they're making those holes smaller. The young, black, female driver gave me a big, toothy smile when I asked her if she liked the bus. Not sure if drivers are assigned their busses on a first-come-first-served basis, or simple luck-of-the-draw, but she did look pleased. I'll bet she's told all of her friends and relatives already! In fact, she obviously knew and was chattering with one of the first group to board. As usual, most, if not all the passengers had any clue that they were riding something brand new and different to Montreal, although I did make a point of informing one woman before she boarded. This, and a few other loose ends I managed to tie up today made an otherwise dreary afternoon into an interesting experience. Oddly enough, I haven't had to go seeking out or chasing after anything yet.

Bonne idee! And by all means let us call it Systeme Metropolitain Urbaine de Transport, or S.M.U.T. for short. (but which really means Support Montreal's Unbearable Taxes!) ;-)

Very helpful news. Since you actually work the for the STM, can you inform us if drivers have complete control of the farebox/validator, or if they must notify an inspector or other supervisor to unlock certain functions? I ask this, because somebody in this thread posted an incident whereby an STM employee simply held his card up for the driver to look at and didn't actually touch it to the reader. I can only assume by this that the driver was either not authorized to engage the OPUS reader by himself or wasn't told how to do it. On another aspect of validators, the similar Washington D.C. bus validators allow passengers to reload their "SmarTrip" smart cards. I wonder if this will also become possible at a later stage on busses here in Montreal. The downside is that it would slow down boarding. See: http://www.wmata.com/riding/smartrip_adding_value.cfm

And this is just the "Blue Box"! Wait until you see the "Black Box"--which is where they'll haul kicking and screaming fare-evaders in order to beat the crap out of them! Anyway...yesterday at the Radisson Metro there was an STM employee handing out French-only pamphlets and answering questions. The largest of the two describes the 6-ticket/transfer combo and how to use it, etc. The other one is called the "Guide d'utilization de la distributrice automatique de titres", and covers the vending machine procedure. It mentions that all transactions more than $80.00 will have to be made by either a credit card or debit card--not cash. Just as with ATMs, a user will have the option to obtain a receipt or not. I would think that opting to take a receipt would be the wisest choice should there ever be any irregularities--mechanical or otherwise. One section I'm not too clear about is where it says "Choix du nombre de titres à acheter", "Pour choisir le nombre de titres, appuyez sur le bouton correspondant", then it says "Billet - Article 17", and underneath corresponding buttons marked: "1 titre $7.00"; "2 titres $14.00"; "3 titres $21.00"; "4 titres $28.00"; and "5 titres $35.00". I should have asked the fellow. One thing he did say was that I will be able to load my OPUS card on May 1. We shall see. I can easily imagine some uninformed bus drivers questioning its validity if for some reason their validator hasn't been switched on to "OPUS-ready". Indeed, I'm not even sure if drivers themselves will be authorized to program and manage every feature of their validators. There will surely be security issues in the early going at least. Ah, well...the life of a "guinea-pig" is fraught with adventure, n'est-ce pas? Interestingly, some newspapers articles have speculated about the potential for special discounts and alternative usage to be offered to OPUS cardholders in the future. Clearly, it would only be a matter of configuring the vending machines accordingly. Indeed, London Transport's Oyster Card can be pre-ordered/prepaid online and is very customizable depending upon the usual factors of duration and age group. The possibility of someday using an OPUS card to access hockey games, theatres, and other specific shows, for example, is interesting. Anyway...one step at a time.

Stuff which gets "handed out" usually gets thrown away, so it's wiser policy to give them out only to those who specifically ask.

That equipment out in the open looks awfully vulnerable to potential vandalism, so it's no stretch of the imagination to expect unruly gangs of school kids taking advantage of it whenever they get into their afterschool "mob mentality", not to mention by cretins late at night when they "get bored", so would-be passengers shouldn't be surprised to find it out of order--and just when they need it most, of course! Such equipment ought to be within viewing distance of changeurs or other staff. Cameras are unlikely to deter such malicious behaviour to any great extent, unfortunately. Sadly, there's a lot of anger out there, and guess who suffers the consequences.

One of the main purposes of Transit Inspectors is to keep you guessing. You never know when they'll pop up. I know this from personal experience. Indeed, the very first day I rode the Paris Metro, I was stopped as I neared an exit. A man and woman blocked my path and for a fraction of a second I thought they might be muggers, but when they asked for my ticket I showed them my weekly pass and continued on. They didn't carry portable validators with them that I saw anyway, but ours definitely will. The various Australian and NZ validators I'm familiar with were mainly for the purpose of keeping your ticket up to date so that over the course of a day (for a Day Ticket) the central computer maintains its validity. If you forget or don't bother to validate your ticket when boarding a bus or train for example, it doesn't make your ticket worthless since it still has the current date printed on it for a potential inspector to spot check. Thus the importance of maintaining printed information and not relying totally on a magnetic strip or embedded chip. Some systems require you to validate your ticket or pass and also take a receipt from the bus driver. Transit Inspectors making surprise spot checks on busses then ask everyone for their receipt. Transit Inspectors checking crowded train carriages will often only check some of the passengers tickets in that carriage, and then disembarked the train onto the platforms of stations to presumably spot check elsewhere. This, I assume, to avoid becoming "predictable" to seasoned fare cheats. On one occasion, a schoolgirl chattering with her cellphone stuck to her ear boarded my bus without paying and sat down. The driver shouted at her, but she said she didn't have any money and the driver continued shouting as to how bad an example she was setting, etc., but he didn't make her get off. I'm sure a Transit Inspector would have, however. I imagine such scenarios depend on driver discretion--as is the case here at home. Downunder, Transit Inspectors are authorised to demand your identification, and they can even detain you for the police if necessary. I've since learned that some transit systems allow students to ride free during school rush hours as a way to not only encourage transit usage by students, but as a way to remove some of the burden from drivers having to deal with rowdy kids. Hanover was strange. My Expo2000 passport included unlimited bus and light rail travel which was all on the "honour system". I never saw a single Transit Inspector the whole week I was there! Later a cab driver told me the reason was probably because the authorities didn't want to ruffle any tourist feathers during Expo. Dankeshoen! I imagine a lot of fare cheats feel that they'll never get caught. It's probably a great thrill for them, but is it worth the risk? I know I would feel pretty stupid as a tourist to try it in an unfamiliar city and country. Having said that, I've found Downunder transit personnel friendly and understanding when I've made a mistake by boarding the wrong train or whatever. They hear my foreign accent and let me through without a hassle and gave me directions. After all, some transit systems can get pretty confusing (such as Tokyo!) if you don't pay attention. Anyway, it's all part of the fun. I'd rather take transit than rent a car anyday.

No doubt the STM cleaning crews must watch our new busses and Metro cars leave their depots with much trepidation, wondering in what condition they will return. Not sure I'd enjoy such an occupation. That being said, I'll bet it's worse in other cities.