Grand River Transit

[Canard]

I'm not sure they aren't using small-caps Helvetica. All I can tell is that it's sans-serif.

...this should not be a thing.

Ever.

(...except the Stranger Things intro sequence)

[timc]

Now this is some beautiful work: https://www.creativereview.co.uk/type-de...right-bus/

[Canard]

I could live with that!

Those are lovely buses, too. I'd take those as a close second behind our Nova's. I really don't like the new buses.

[Pheidippides]

I stand corrected. Apparently there are no specific limitations on the signage in terms of font face, case, or minimum size. Some of those requirements are specified under the trails regulations though (e.g. must be a sans serif font). Best practices for AODA written documents are avoid use of all caps/italics/bolding/underline, use a sans serif font (like Helvetica/Arial), a minimum of 12pt, and row spacing of 1.15pt. With the new consistency and font it actually looks like they are moving toward greater compliance not less.
 
https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/110191#BK65
 
Signage
58. (1) Every conventional transportation service provider shall ensure that all of its transportation vehicles manufactured on or after January 1, 2013 to which this section applies display the route or direction of the transportation vehicle or its destination or next major stop.  O. Reg. 191/11, s. 58 (1).

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the signage displaying the route or direction or destination or next stop may include pictograms or symbols, but the signage must,

(a) be visible at the boarding point;

(b) be consistently located;

© have a glare-free surface; and

(d) be positioned to avoid shadow areas and glare.  O. Reg. 191/11, s. 58 (2).

(3) Every conventional transportation service provider shall ensure that the signage displaying the route or direction or destination or next stop,

(a) is consistently shaped, coloured and positioned, when used in the same type of transportation vehicle to give the same type of information; and

(b) has text that,

(i) is high colour-contrasted with its background, in order to assist with visual recognition, and

(ii) has the appearance of solid characters.  O. Reg. 191/11, s. 58 (3).

[Canard]

What about tones and chimes? I was told by an internal Rapid Transit team member that our trains for ion can't have a unique chime because there are very specific AODA requirements for this, and so they just wanted to stick with "the TTC chime*".

* - actually the UTDC chime - ask me why!

[Pheidippides]

Looks like a new platform for the 204 was poured at Queen and Homewood. I don't know what else it could be; the placement is quite odd. This is looking down Homewood with my back to Queen:
   

Also, after reading the discussion today about the GRT signage I was able to notice it on the way home. I definitely like the outside signs better, the inside signs not so much.

They have shortened the inside signs so there is no scrolling on the longer route names and stop names and thus it cycles faster through the "Next stop", "Stop Name", "Date/Time", "Route Name/Number." The problem I see is that the short forms are not always intuitive. I could figure out "Univ. v. Wsmt." pretty easily, but "Fairview v. W&C" took me a minute to unravel as Fairview via Weber and Connaught - and I ride that bus regularly.

Finally, has the GRT policy on children changed or just the wording?
It used to say:
"Children under 5 (maximum three children per paying customer) = FREE"

now it says:
"Children 4 years of age and under (maximum three children per paying customer) = FREE"

To me they mean the same (<5 years are free and you are considered 4 even if you are 4 years 364 days and 23hours old - you are still under until you turn 5), but to some it may not.

[timc]

To me they mean the same (<5 years are free and you are considered 4 even if you are 4 years 364 days and 23hours old - you are still under until you turn 5), but to some it may not.

I think that "under 5" means the same as "4 years of age and under". But it's mostly an honour system anyway, isn't it? Bus drivers aren't going to ask for ID. It's pretty hard to tell a 4-year-old apart from a 5-year-old. On the other hand, 6-year-olds and some older 5-year-olds are usually given away by their smiles. :-)

[Canard]

but "Fairview v. W&C" took me a minute to unravel as Fairview via Weber and Connaught

Courtland*

To further prove your point.  

That is horrible. Who thought that was a good idea?! New users and visitors to the city will be totally lost and confused. That is not how you build confident ridership!

This is why I don't like buses - way too confusing to figure out. Trains, dead simple.

[Pheidippides]

but "Fairview v. W&C" took me a minute to unravel as Fairview via Weber and Connaught

Courtland*

To further prove your point.  

That's pretty funny. Guess my brain was still booting up after an extra long weekend.

[timio]

The 7 confusion *should* be cleared up when the route is reconfigured with Ion. If that actually happens remains to be seen.

[kitborn]

To me they mean the same (<5 years are free and you are considered 4 even if you are 4 years 364 days and 23hours old - you are still under until you turn 5), but to some it may not.

I think that "under 5" means the same as "4 years of age and under". But it's mostly an honour system anyway, isn't it? Bus drivers aren't going to ask for ID. It's pretty hard to tell a 4-year-old apart from a 5-year-old. On the other hand, 6-year-olds and some older 5-year-olds are usually given away by their smiles. :-)

In the 70's the Kitchener Transit buses allowed free transportation for 'babes in arms ride free.' Lots of people picked up older children so the child could ride for free.

[jerryhung]

In Prague, they give 1 ADULT FREE Travel with infant (< 2 year old), that'd be nice

But yes, I read it the same. <5 is same as <= 4 ...
It's honor system anyway as one says

[Markster]

Mostly off-topic parking discussion has been moved to the Parking in Waterloo Region thread.

[Pheidippides]

Based on the upcoming GRT detours for the #7 it looks like SB Caroline at Erb will not be reopening the same time as the rest of the intersection:
http://www.grt.ca/en/resources/King-at-W...ept-21.pdf

[Pheidippides]

It looks like they are accepting feedback on the draft GRT Master plan simultaneously to the overall transportation master plan:

Public Consultation Centres - GRT 2017-21 Business Plan

September 14, 2016

An interim report on GRT's 2017-21 Business Plan was presented to the Planning and Works Committee of Regional Council on August 9, 2016. The 2011 Regional Transportation Master Plan set out an annual ridership target of 28 million rides by 2021. GRT's 2017-21 Business Plan will guide the planned improvements to the regional transit network and service levels that are required to meet the 2021 ridership goal.

Please join us at a pair of Public Consultation Centres in September to review and provide your comments on GRT's proposed 2017-21 Business Plan. Regional staff will be on hand to answer any questions you may have. More Public Consultation Centres will be scheduled for later this fall.

The 2011 Regional Transportation Master Plan set out an annual ridership target of 28 million rides by 2021. GRT's 2017-21 Business Plan will guide the planned improvements to the regional transit network and service levels that are required to meet the 2021 ridership goal.

You will have the opportunity to learn more about and comment on:
The proposed 2017 service plan
The planned 2018 and 2021 transit network
The new electronic fare system
The integration of ION into the GRT network

Thursday, September 22, 2016
Drop in anytime between 5 - 8 p.m.
Lions Arena
20 Rittenhouse Road, Kitchener
GRT Routes 3, 12, 22, 201 iXpress

Thursday, September 29, 2016
Drop in anytime between 5 - 8 p.m.
Waterloo Memorial Recreation Centre
2nd Floor, Hauser Haus, 101 Father David Bauer Drive, Waterloo
GRT Routes 5, 8, 12, 200 iXpress