ACT Bus Forum

Discussion => News => Topic started by: Barry Drive on April 28, 2015, 08:43:50 PM

Title: More bike racks?
Post by: Barry Drive on April 28, 2015, 08:43:50 PM
Minister Rattenbury tonight gave a presentation on Canberra's Transport Future.

A report on twitter states he has committed to installing bike racks onto artics and 14.5m Scanias.



Another report states that 409 buses will have racks.

Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: King of Buses on April 28, 2015, 09:21:27 PM
Not my artics!!!

Take it the darts still won't get any?
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: The Love Guru on April 28, 2015, 10:49:29 PM
Won't be able to do so without a change of legislation unless we plaster the back of the long buses with oversize stickers.
Typical green, big on ideas, small on the logistics of making it happen.
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: ajw373 on April 28, 2015, 11:46:44 PM
Quote from: The Love Guru on April 28, 2015, 10:49:29 PM
Won't be able to do so without a change of legislation unless we plaster the back of the long buses with oversize stickers.
Typical green, big on ideas, small on the logistics of making it happen.

Um, they are the Government, who can change the legislation, so one would think they know what they are doing. Whether you agree is another matter, but cheap shots like this one are not helpful.
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: The Love Guru on April 29, 2015, 10:04:15 AM
When the bus exceeds maximum length allowed by law it's a big issue. It's all well and good to want a bike rack on a bus, but there is no consideration of the practicalities of operating an over length vehicle. I think they will struggle to get approval to put racks on the long buses. As i said, big on ideas but no idea on how it'll work in the real world.
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: ajw373 on April 29, 2015, 10:43:30 AM
They are the government, they can change the law! So they change the law then the maximum length would now longer exceed the law. Job done. Or offer up an exception, simple job done.

Big on complaints, cheap shots, but no idea on how the real world works.
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: The Love Guru on April 29, 2015, 11:05:33 AM
Showing your lack of knowledge on the subject of transport once again i see.

You can change as many laws as you like in the ACT, fact is the road network can not handle 14.5m and artic buses with bike racks on them. I can think of numerous intersections that would be impossible to negotiate in them if a bike rack was in use.
The ACT would require NTC approval to operate oversize vehicles outside the national guidelines.

Then there is the issue of drivers, who are not paid to operate vehicles that are over dimension. This will require negotiation with the drivers union and ultimately will cost more coin.

So over here in my real world as a driver of the vehicles, the Greens can think up any policy they like, in practical terms it is impossible to achieve without significant investment in adjusting road infrastructure and payment of additional wages to operate over dimension vehicles.
Please feel free to resume your personal attack on me, coming from all your years of professional driving experience.
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: Barry Drive on April 29, 2015, 11:09:09 AM
I'd have to assume (or at least hope) they've done their homework this time.

So far nothing coming up on a Google search about this, and nothing on any official government websites.

Hoping that someone who was there (Skitube / route56 ?) can provide more details. Was it "we are investigating how ?" or "we will do this by 31 Dec ?".

I'm still dubious about the logistics of a bike rack on a 14.5m rigid bus (nevermind the legalities), but they will be fine on artics.

Now if only the Minister had something to say about achieving the DDA target of 80% low floors by 31 Dec 2017.
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: Barry Drive on April 29, 2015, 11:20:05 AM
We have a reply:

Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: The Love Guru on April 29, 2015, 11:57:14 AM
Hahaha, don't worry about the National Vehicle regulations ACTbusspotter, they don't apply when Mr Rattenbury wants to push his ideology.

No matter the approval, you can't fit a square peg in a round hole and that is what they are asking. The 343/743 will be removed from the approved 14.5m list immediately. (L) from Kerrigan to Shakespeare will be impossible (unless they don't replace the signs that have already been knocked over cause the corner is too tight).

No consultation with the drivers or union either, as the vehicles will now fall outside the standard dimensions, all drivers will need to be retrained and additional money paid to drive them.

Another really well thought out plan by the greens.
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: Bus 400 on April 29, 2015, 07:07:02 PM
This is what you get when the let one of the worst minister in the ACT Government loose.
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: Barry Drive on May 01, 2015, 11:00:11 AM
If/when this happens, it opens up the possibility for some improved scheduling options.

For starters, STAGs can be placed on just these routes: 200, 250 & 300 - and if scheduled properly could do most if not all daytime 200 services.

Artics can then do more peak Blue Rapid runs (replacing STAGs) when not required for school runs.

And STAGs and artics can be let out on weekends to do 900 / 300 /200 type services. Weekend shifts can be designed as STAG or artic to increase capacity on the crowded services. For instance, STAGs can run 200s to/from COC in the morning & afternoon and do Belc - Woden 300/900s during the middle of the day. Some afternoon Gungahlin services could also use an artic.
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: Barry Drive on June 09, 2015, 02:12:12 PM
Minister Rattenbury has announced on twitter that the rollout will commence in October.

Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: Barry Drive on July 10, 2015, 11:32:52 AM
According to the Budget estimates, new timetable (ie shifts) are anticipated in October 2015.

Is it too much to expect a rearrangement of STAG and artic shifts to make use of their bike racks?
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: The Love Guru on July 10, 2015, 04:32:43 PM
They haven't fixed the weekends in years so no chance of them using suitable bus types when they are actually needed
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: Barry Drive on October 09, 2015, 11:37:17 AM
Some further news about this. A tweeterer asked ACTION why haven't they seen the new bike racks yet, since it's now October. The reply -



Which makes me wonder about the earlier reply which said "we have gained approval" for this.

Also probably means: don't expect them anytime soon.
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: Bus 400 on January 22, 2016, 04:43:32 PM
Shane Ratenburys staff have replied to a tweet. With word that the National Heavy Vehicle Authority has approved the bike racks & trials are to start shortly.
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: The Love Guru on January 22, 2016, 05:02:43 PM
Hasn't got it passed the union and drivers yet, as there is no clause in the EBA covering oversize vehicles.
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: Busfanatic101 on May 16, 2017, 06:18:53 PM
514 was operating a southbound 313 through Woden Bus Stn at around 4:30pm today with a bike rack. It was a black rack.
The other artics I saw afterwards 532 527 537 were all rack free.
No STAGs with racks were seen.
I was pretty surprised at how suddenly this has occurred long after people have forgotten about the whole proposal with no official announcement from TC yet.
Poor phone pic attached.
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: Sylvan Loves Buses on May 16, 2017, 07:39:02 PM
I did call ACTION a few months ago and asked about it, but they didn't say anything about going through with it - that was then though.
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: King of Buses on May 16, 2017, 07:51:12 PM
Quote from: Busfanatic101 on May 16, 2017, 06:18:53 PM
514 was operating a southbound 313 through Woden Bus Stn at around 4:30pm today with a bike rack. It was a black rack.
The other artics I saw afterwards 532 527 537 were all rack free.
No STAGs with racks were seen.
I was pretty surprised at how suddenly this has occurred long after people have forgotten about the whole proposal with no official announcement from TC yet.
Poor phone pic attached.

Racks on STAGs won't happen. I believe all the artics are being fitted though. Only some(?) Belconnen artics have been fitted so far.  I'd expect a TC announcement once most/all are fitted.
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: King of Buses on May 17, 2017, 04:07:06 PM
A couple of slightly clearer photos for those who haven't yet come across an artic infected with the plague...

(https://www.actbus.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Factbus.net%2Fgallery%2Fzp-core%2Fi.php%3Fa%3DACTION-Buses-Current%2FScania-K360UA%2FBus-506%26amp%3Bi%3DBus-506-Constitution-Avenue.jpg%26amp%3Bs%3D640%26amp%3Bcw%3D0%26amp%3Bch%3D0%26amp%3Bq%3D85%26amp%3Bwmk%3Dzenlogo%26amp%3Bcheck%3D00ef448b56e6ab09935f19e67238ac28bebe9832&hash=a7ff11dd7eacab5ba091e1f2158e6b67309c0113)
(https://www.actbus.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Factbus.net%2Fgallery%2Fzp-core%2Fi.php%3Fa%3DACTION-Buses-Current%2FScania-K360UA%2FBus-513%26amp%3Bi%3DBus-513-Constitution-Avenue.jpg%26amp%3Bs%3D640%26amp%3Bcw%3D0%26amp%3Bch%3D0%26amp%3Bq%3D85%26amp%3Bwmk%3Dzenlogo%26amp%3Bcheck%3D00ef448b56e6ab09935f19e67238ac28bebe9832&hash=fa67746a84715df36e2652d2968aa75cc29cb589)
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: Sylvan Loves Buses on May 17, 2017, 05:31:18 PM
Yeah, those bucket racks are pure plague

On the other hand, yay for me and many other B&R uses in Canberra.
I'm going to call ACTION about this again, but does anyone know before I ask, is this going to be a 'blue rapid only' specific use sort of thing like it was back in 2005-07, or is it to be expected that bikes on the racks can be used on all routes?
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: Sylvan Loves Buses on May 18, 2017, 06:04:21 PM
Well, there's the confirmation for it
(https://www.actbus.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FnSacqwF.png&hash=737b7bdc0e7125eb6999eb8a0c84a8c2ddf77bce)

QuoteBike racks to be installed on Transport Canberra articulated buses

In April 2017, Transport Canberra received a permit from Roads ACT following the agreement of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) to deploy bike racks on all 33 articulated buses in our fleet. Transport Canberra is currently in the process of installing the bike racks, and it is expected that this will be completed by the end of June 2017.

As of 1 May 2017, 85% of the Transport Canberra bus fleet are fitted with bike racks. Following the installation of bike racks on all articulated buses by the end of June this year, this percentage will increase to 92% and will provide greater multi-modal Active Travel options for the Canberra community using public transport in the ACT.

The availability of services with bike racks is reported through the real-time NXTBUS system.
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: Barry Drive on May 19, 2017, 06:00:47 PM
Quote from: Sylvan Loves Buses on May 18, 2017, 06:04:21 PM
Well, there's the confirmation for it.
I would have thought photos of artics with bike racks fitted was sufficient confirmation.
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: Sylvan Loves Buses on May 19, 2017, 06:28:19 PM
I hadn't seen any in use yet, which I why I posted
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: Buzz Killington on May 19, 2017, 10:07:16 PM
So actual photos didn't cut it, but a drawing of the front of a rigid bus with a bike rack did?
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: triumph on May 19, 2017, 10:27:30 PM
Another aspect I have found no comment on in this thread, is that quite a few buses with bike racks are operating without a front number plate.  Further, the rack obscures proper visibility of the plate on those buses with front number plates. I wonder how and when that was legally authorised?
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: Busnerd on May 20, 2017, 12:04:35 PM
Because they have fleet numbers on the windscreen.
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: Barry Drive on May 20, 2017, 01:32:35 PM
All I can find is that the Road Transport Authority may issue exemptions from the requirement to fit a number plate and for the number plate to be visible. So I assume this has occurred, with the condition that the fleet number be displayed on the front of the bus.

The fact that the fleet numbers on the Bustech VST are partly obscured by the bike rack is another problem though.
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: Sylvan Loves Buses on May 20, 2017, 03:14:28 PM
Quote from: Buzz Killington on May 19, 2017, 10:07:16 PM
So actual photos didn't cut it, but a drawing of the front of a rigid bus with a bike rack did?

Well yeah, cause back in 2005 when they were supposedly trialing the things, back then I didn't know when they started actually using them until it was mentioned on the ACTION website
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: Busfanatic101 on May 22, 2017, 04:45:16 PM
Rackless on 18/5: 519, 520, 526, 527, 528, 529, and probably 530 and 526.

Bike racks seen today (22/5): 517, 524, 527.
Still no rack: 519 520 525 534
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: King of Buses on May 22, 2017, 05:25:21 PM
Quote from: Busfanatic101 on May 22, 2017, 04:45:16 PM

Still Rackless on 18/5
519, [/size]520, 526, 527, 528, 529, and probably 530 and 526

Bike racks seen today (22/5) on 517 [/size]524 527.
Still no rack 519 520 525 534

[/size]

506 - 508, 510 - 518, 527 and 528 have so far been sighted with racks. 523 looked to be heading into the workshops this morning (where 527 emerged from moments before with a rack) so it *may* have been fitted today.
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: Busfanatic101 on May 24, 2017, 03:53:42 PM
Racks sighted today in addition to KoB's tally 534 and 525, neither of which had a rack on Monday


That makes reported racks 506-508, 510-518, 524-525, 527-528, 534
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: Sylvan Loves Buses on May 24, 2017, 08:54:31 PM
I saw my first today, that one being 517. I didn't ride it however, cause it was being chartered.
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: Busfanatic101 on May 25, 2017, 11:14:19 PM
537 today
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: King of Buses on May 26, 2017, 09:19:11 AM
523 & 536
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: Busfanatic101 on May 29, 2017, 04:27:00 PM
530, 532, 533, 535 today.


I believe that makes reported racks 506-508, 510-518, 523-528, 530, 532-537


Or now easier to list those yet to be reported:
509, 519-522, 529, 531, 538, of which 522 I can confirm still doesn't have a rack.


Despite their reiteration in the media release about the additional racks that "The availability of services with bike racks is reported through the real-time NXTBUS system", it was interesting to note that bike rack presence is not yet reflected on the NXTBUS screens (at least in the case of 532 and 533)
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: Barry Drive on May 29, 2017, 04:33:08 PM
I haven't seen any bike racks show up on NXTBUS (for artics). Perhaps they'll update once all are done.

You can add 509 & 519 to the list.
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: Busfanatic101 on May 31, 2017, 04:17:41 PM
538 today
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: King of Buses on May 31, 2017, 04:38:05 PM
Everything except 521 and 522 have been sighted with racks; 522 was on the T bricks last night, so it was probably fitted today.
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: Sylvan Loves Buses on May 31, 2017, 07:29:11 PM
and they're all bucket racks?
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: King of Buses on May 31, 2017, 09:45:23 PM
Quote from: Sylvan Loves Buses on May 31, 2017, 07:29:11 PM
and they're all bucket racks?

Sportworks VeloPorter 2 racks, yes.
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: Sylvan Loves Buses on June 02, 2017, 05:01:49 PM
Quote from: Barry Drive on May 29, 2017, 04:33:08 PM
I haven't seen any bike racks show up on NXTBUS (for artics).

I just missed out on riding 519 with my bike coming home, but as I looked at the NXTBUS screen, it did say with wheelchair and bike rack.
So possibly it's not done for all, but 519 is.
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: Busfanatic101 on June 02, 2017, 05:49:52 PM
Quote from: King of Buses on May 31, 2017, 04:38:05 PM
Everything except 521 and 522 have been sighted with racks; 522 was on the T bricks last night, so it was probably fitted today.
Yes 522 does have a rack now.



Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: Barry Drive on June 08, 2017, 06:58:49 PM
Have recently seen 519. Still displayed without bike rack on all NXTBUS systems.

Same as all other artics - none show bike racks.
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: Sylvan Loves Buses on June 09, 2017, 02:15:13 AM
Hmm, must've been a one off, NXTBUS can be glitchy like that sometimes
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: Busfanatic101 on June 16, 2017, 05:50:37 PM
521 is marked as having a rack on fleetwiki but I was on it today and it did not have one - so it either never got one, or if someone had seen it with one, then it has subsequently been removed.
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: Barry Drive on June 16, 2017, 06:13:02 PM
(It never had one.) Working on the assumption it will be fitted soon.
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: Barry Drive on June 27, 2017, 10:12:36 AM
521 has now been seen with a bike rack fitted.

So that's all of them.

Quote from: Barry Drive on April 28, 2015, 08:43:50 PM
Another report states that 409 buses will have racks.

The current number is: 398 buses with bike racks, which is 93.9% of the regular service fleet (excludes Darts).
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: Busfanatic101 on September 08, 2017, 08:08:53 PM
The nxtbus screens still do not reflect artic bike rack presence (or at least 516)
Title: Re: More bike racks?
Post by: King of Buses on September 08, 2017, 10:31:19 PM
Quote from: Busfanatic101 on September 08, 2017, 08:08:53 PM
The nxtbus screens still do not reflect artic bike rack presence (or at least 516)

621 is the only one which does.