Vox Civitatis the New Colonist weblog
10/02/2006: "Barriers To Bus Service"
I've often thought about taking the bus to the shopping areas in the near suburbs--specifically the McKnight Road area in Pittsburgh. Then I thought about trying to get from one store to the other, jaunting across the busy roadway. Today I was driving back from the carpet store and spotted a couple guys waiting near the McKnight Road Kinkos. Even if you don't have to go between stores, even waiting for the bus can be an unpleasant and even dangerous experience (looks like they may slide into or under the bus!). A little further down the road another stop offered a shelter, but a careless driver, especially one in a vehicle the size of the truck seen here, could pose significant risk to the waiting rider. It's probably not a good idea to have bus passengers waiting this close to fast-moving traffic, but without alternatives, a traffic barrier that would prevent a vehicle from colliding with the waiting passenger would seem necessary. In the case of the men seated along the roadway, perhaps a bench would be a minimal accomodation.
While I'm on the subject of bus stops, a neighbor pointed out the well-known dangers of an urban intersection at the corner of East Ohio Street and Chestnut/16th Street. This view shows the narrow space inches from large trucks where bus passengers must wait and pedestrians must traverse. Ther's hardly room for two pedestrians to pass. More, this intersection is without walking signals!
There are a few more photos of this intersection here.
On Friday, October 6th, Stu Strickland said:
This has been a personal concern of mine for some time, since I live in the N Hills and have commuted to several city and suburban worksites. When I was ACTC president and Ross Div chair, I tried to focus Port Authority's attention on these. They responded then (and added a couple) and they are still interested in suggested locations for bus shelters. (Email me for specific contact info.)
As for traffic separation, I've used some of these very same stops. The eight-inch curbs and wide shoulders do provide some protection and separation; shelters help but are no guarantee of safety. As for sliding into traffic, I use that stop in all weather. It's more a concern in the winter. That slope is not steep enough to be a year-round problem.
Getting across McKnight is actually fairly easy at most signals. Walking along the roadway is another story. You can also use the 1D, 1F and Saturday-only 15A to get around in the McKnight corridor. (Inbound 1D is north, outbound=south.)
This has been a personal concern of mine for some time, since I live in the N Hills and have commuted to several city and suburban worksites. When I was ACTC president and Ross Div chair, I tried to focus Port Authority's attention on these. They responded then (and added a couple) and they are still interested in suggested locations for bus shelters. (Email me for specific contact info.)
As for traffic separation, I've used some of these very same stops. The eight-inch curbs and wide shoulders do provide some protection and separation; shelters help but are no guarantee of safety. As for sliding into traffic, I use that stop in all weather. It's more a concern in the winter. That slope is not steep enough to be a year-round problem.
Getting across McKnight is actually fairly easy at most signals. Walking along the roadway is another story. You can also use the 1D, 1F and Saturday-only 15A to get around in the McKnight corridor. (Inbound 1D is north, outbound=south.)
On Monday, October 30th, David B. said:
That Ohio/Chestnut intersection looks like a disabled person's nightmare!
If you have two good legs, it's merely unpleasant. That intersection looks like it would be flat-out impossible to negotiate in a wheelchair.
That Ohio/Chestnut intersection looks like a disabled person's nightmare!
If you have two good legs, it's merely unpleasant. That intersection looks like it would be flat-out impossible to negotiate in a wheelchair.
