A test of double-decker transit buses seems to be a big hit in 91原创, where riders traveling from the Carvolth exchange have been able to take the buses on the 555 line that runs to Lougheed Station.
Commuters surveyed during a Wednesday morning ride with 91原创 Township Mayor Jack Froese praised the buses for the view up top, and the additional capacity that improves their chances of getting a seat while reducing the possibility of being passed over when a bus gets filled up.
The only issue, and it came up several times, was the relative lack of headroom.
The mayor, who is six feet tall, had to hunch down a little to find a seat on the second floor deck, which has a ceiling height of 5鈥�7.鈥� On the ground floor level, the floor rises toward the back, cutting off headroom in the rear-most seats as well.
鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to bend a little, but once you鈥檙e in (your seat) , it鈥檚 comfortable, Froese said.
Other than that, Froese gave the buses a rave review, saying they will help meet the increased demand for transit in a rapidly growing Township.
鈥淚t鈥檚 great,鈥� Froese said.
TransLink spokesperson Chris Bryan said the buses can鈥檛 be any taller if they鈥檙e going to fit through local tunnels.
He said other than the headroom issue, the the response to the pilot project has been 鈥渙verwhelmingly positive.鈥�
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Commuter Jim Oi, who boarded the bus at the 156 Street station, was delighted by the double-decker because it will probably reduce the number of times he鈥檚 had filled-to-the-maximum transit buses pass by his stop without picking anyone up.
鈥淚n the last three months, it鈥檚 (pass-bys) happened four times,鈥� Oi said.
鈥淚鈥檝e waited 45 minutes (with) 50 to 60 people.鈥�
Rider Alex Mogulnov, who managed to get a front-of-the-bus seat on the second deck, was enjoying the high-angle view and saying he hoped the buses become a permanent part of the morning commute.
鈥淚t鈥檚 kind of like flying on a plane,鈥� Mogulnov said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 cool.鈥�
Bus driver Wade Quayle said the new buses are fun to drive, with steerable rear wheels that make them remarkably nimble, actually out-handling the smaller single-deck buses.
鈥淚t drives real nice,鈥� Quayle said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 probably the nicest coach I鈥檝e ever driven.鈥�
While TransLink spent a lot of time making sure the test buses would fit under the power lines and other overhead obstacles on various routes before service began, Quayle said he still keeps a wary eye out for poential overhead threats.
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When he was training on one of the double deckers and riding back on the upper level, 鈥渢he first time we went under an overpass I was ducking my head,鈥� he said, laughing.
Quayle said the bigggest benefit the larger buses bring is much needed additional room during rush hour.
鈥淭here鈥檚 not much more they can do at peak,鈥� he said.
These things are running every three minutes. What else can you do?鈥�
dan.ferguson@langleytimes.com
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