Vancouver VS Taipei

While TransLink in Vancouver do provide an efficient transportation system, I have to apologize to say that it is in general, inferior to many of the Asian cities. Yet this is not a fair comparison. Why? Because most Asian cities are overpopulated, forcing the governments to set up ambitious expansion plans and spare huge funding in order to better serve… well, let’s get real, for winning the elections.

The reason for me to choose my hometown as a subject of comparison is because I just went back last summer. I was shocked by how the public transportation there had changed since 1997.

Major Difference - Buses:

Although Taipei does have a similar organization like TransLink, it is actually a union of many private bus companies. While they all have their own assets (i.e. bus), methods of management, all income goes to the union and eventually gets evenly split to every member company. All routes are planned and distributed by the union. The competition, however, comes in twice every year when Taipei Ministry of Transportation does evaluation on each company’s service qualities, which can lead to major penalty or further funds from the union.

Yeah, that is the “ideal” situation…

Reality is always cruel; the Ministry rarely carries out their duties unless there are outstanding achievements or serious problems. Therefore, while the services are in general (i.e. being on time, driver attitude, etc) on par with what we have here, TransLink drivers would pale when it comes to driving techniques. Notice how someone had complained about TransLink drivers being rude on the road? I have to say that is really, really mild when compared to Taipei…

Major Difference – Mass Rapid Transportation:

The Taipei Mass Rapid Transportation (MRT), Taipei's counterpart of SkyTrain, is what shocked me on my return last summer.

According to MRT official website (http://www.trtc.com.tw/e/) , under Company information -> Chronicles:

On 1988, construction began.

On 1996, the medium capacity section of MRT, Muzha Line opened (length 10.6 km)

On 1997, the major (heavy capacity) line, Danshui Line opened. (length 21.2 km)

On 1999, the second major line, Banquiao Line opened. (length 7.7 km)

………………

On 2006, the length of all MRT lines added together reaches 74.4 km, dwarfing the current 49.5 km of Vancouver SkyTrain.
(http://www.translink.bc.ca/Transportation_Services/Skytrain/)

It is amazing when we look at how it is done within a time span of only 10 year; whereas in Vancouver… well, couple weeks ago I think I have heard someone from the government calling Canada Line a “money sucker”… which really got onto my nerves for 20 minutes…

The cost of the MRT system is rumoured to be $18 billion US. This figure serves nothing more than a reference due to a lack of source.

Major Difference – Payment

TransLink uses a proof of payment system, which I personally, hated. I really wander who came up with this idea, putting full trust on all citizens? Well, not that I am saying Vancouver citizens are bad, but it is too easy to cheat on this kind of system when it comes to using the SkyTrain. It is especially true when a MK-I train comes in… as long as no SkyTrain personnel is on board, help yourself and have a free ride! Yahoo! Enjoy the thrilling views of Downtown Vancouver and Fraser Valley!

Buses in Taiwan usually cost $0.53 CAD per trip, as long as it does not hit the fare zone where passengers are required to pay a second time. The ticket price of MRT, however, is calculated by the distance traveled. The minimum price (<5km)>31 km). Like the majority of train systems through out the world, all passengers need to get across turnstiles; free rides are impossible due to heavy surveillance by cameras and guards.

Taipei also uses a contactless SmartCard system (called EasyCard) that significantly eliminates the need of carrying changes when using public transportation. These credit-card sized things are sold in convenience stores and can store a certain amount of cash value into it; just simply sweep through one of the turnstiles and the charge would be automatically deducted from the card. All MRT stations and buses running in Taipei use this system. According to the not-so-reliable Wikipedia, Toronto is also planning to introduce a similar system by 2007.

Conclusion – It is not fair to compare Taipei and Vancouver!

Right! So I begged your pardon at the very beginning!

One day I was reading on one of these free SkyTrain newspapers and I noticed something that really broke my heart. Now I wasn’t sure if it was the Finance Minister of BC, but anyhow, he whined about how the Canadian government put most of their emphasis on the East Coast and ignoring the West. BC is often faced with severe budget cuts, which is one of the major factors why Vancouver really lacks any major physical changes for at least 1 decade. So indeed, maybe it is better if I were to compare Toronto or Montreal with Taipei…

Well, I am not sure what may happen if our government continues to ignore British Columbia… maybe I am just being paranoid and pessimistic, but I really fear that Vancouver would not be able to host the 2010 Winter Olympics adequately…

When was the SkyTrain constructed? You say?

Maybe it is just for me again, but I seriously do think that the Skytrain fails too much. I understand that it is a mid-80’s design… NO IT ISN’T! From my 2 years of experience taking the SkyTrain to SFU, I notice that problems occur the most frequently between Columbia and up to Lougheed Town Centre, our magnificent “MILENNIUM” Line. Whereas Expo Line, the real mid-80~90 design fails the least often, or at least not between Columbia and King George.

The most common type of trouble for SkyTrain, from my experiences, seems to be caused by short circuits, with a frequency about every 3 months or so. As a result, part of the system is often subjected to numerous delays or suspension of service for hours. One time I even had to take a train that’s opposite from Surrey and switch to a bus to get into a expo line station.

What causes a newer system to fail more often than an older one? I am not an engineer so I don’t know. However, my friends have told me some rumours, saying that a mixture of technology might be its cause.

The SkyTrain was originally designed by Urban Transportation Development Corporation; a company that was later sold to Bombardier. According to him, there could have been a not-so successful technology transfer when the 2 merged. However, as an immigrant, I have no idea if it is true or not, but being a fan of mechanical works I have to say it is plausible. Far as I know, the MK-IIs are also produced by Bombardier, and needs to be put on a track that is not their original work. To me it is kind of similar to fitting Airbus avionics onto a Boeing aircraft…

But anyway, these are just some of our nonsense guesses. I hope TransLink could eventually improve and resolve these things, to make our rapid transportation system better.

Maybe I am asking for too much, but the Skytrain is…

Maybe it is just for me, but has anybody felt that the SkyTrain’s MK-I (the old ones) train sets have got poor ventilation and strange odor? Yes, I understand that these are probably antique stuff from the mid-80s, but really, in my opinion, they smell pretty bad. Opening the windows barely help, so I am starting to doubt that it is really, a minor design flaw in terms of ventilation and comfort. I am not able to tell the source of the smell, though I suspect that it is probably a mixture of the smell of the artificial-leather chairs and the train’s long exposure to all sorts of smell from different people. Don’t get me wrong here, I am not saying that the all passengers should watch for their smell before entering, but rather, the elimination of strange odor should be a part of maintenance too. I think that public transportation should not only provide rapid and convenient services, but also a comfortable trip.

I find that the newer MK-II is able to fulfill many of my wishes, despite the fact that it is done at the cost of having fewer seats. Since it is still impossible for all MK-Is to be deemed as obsolete now, I really hope that TransLink could try and improve the overall quality of the public transportation.

Why does it seem like me asking too much? Mainly because of 2 reasons:

1. A small survey that I did among my family members and friends showed that most people prefer MK-I because of the number of seats available; apparently the smell is not too big of a issue as long as there are places to sit. Also, some of them say that MK-I is faster (which seems logic, as it does seem to be a lightweight design) than MK-II.

Though I disagree with all of the above, the majority wins… :(

2. Would TransLink spend that extra money to appeal the minority? Apparently not! Currently, their budget is probably all focusing on construction of Canada Line and bus re-routing…

Snow?!

Even though I’m generally satisfied with the Translink system, there is one thing that has been bugging me: why does the whole system shut down whenever we get more than 5 cm of snow? This is not a problem exclusive for Translink, as it seem like the whole city shuts down when we get some snow. Coming from a country where snow is very usual, I find this quite amusing. But I have never seen this as a problem, it does, however, become a problem for SFU students when the busses stop running. There have been several occasions this year where students living off campus have been stuck at the top mountain, because the busses couldn’t get up there. For me, living in residence, I’ve at least had a place to go, but since the busses are the only way off the mountain, I’ve been stuck. Seeing as this is something that happens pretty much every year, I find it odd that Translink seems to be unprepared for it every time. Accordingly, every year when we get some snow, there are several accidents and almost accidents that easily could have been avoided. One possibility could be to equip the busses going up to SFU with snow tires. I realize that this would be expensive and that it therefore probably wouldn’t be done. However, getting chains for the busses can’t be impossible, and just by using a couple of chains most of the issue could be resolved. The busses would get a better grip and therefore be more likely to get up and down in a safe matter. Having seen busses sliding without control this winter, I believe it’s essential that Translink takes care of this issue before someone gets seriously hurt or killed.

Why aren't there any suits on the buss?

Have you ever been on a buss in Vancouver and looked around to see what kind of people you are surrounded by? The answer to this question has somewhat surprised me. Ever since I got to Vancouver I have noticed that 90% of those using the Translink system are either students or people of a lower social status. This might not be shocking to all you Vancouverites, but to me as an international student from Norway, it sure was. I am form a small town outside Norway’s capital, Oslo (about 45 minutes drive). In my hometown it is very common to take the bus to work, even though you make more than enough money to have your own car. There might be several reasons for this. Firstly, on the road going form my hometown to Oslo it’s always a lot of traffic in the morning. The bus, however, is allowed to drive in a special lane for busses and taxis. Therefore, it is often faster to take the bus in the morning then driving a car. Also, I know that a lot of people enjoy taking the bus because they can do stuff like reading the paper or preparing for a meeting, or simply just get some extra sleep. These are both reasons that can be related to Vancouver, and would be good reasons to take public transportation to work here as well. So why is it that rare using public transportation to work here? I think the main answer to this question is that it’s considered to be a sign of lower status. I can’t really understand why. But just think about it. How often do you see someone wearing a suit on the bus?

Props to Translink

By reading the posts on this blog and several articles in the school newspaper, the Peak, I have come to realize that Translink is the institution all SFU students love to hate. I do understand that in some situations the system has its flaws. But come on people! Yes, sometimes the buss drivers aren’t all that pleasant, and yes, sometimes the busses are full and they pass right by you, and yes, when it snows the whole system stops. Still, this system is so good that maybe we should let such minor things go. For example, have you looked at the extensiveness of the system? Just pull out that little map you got when you got your u-pass. There are numerous busses, a sky train system that works like clock work and there are even boats included. This extensiveness means that you can pretty much get where ever you want in the Lower Mainland by using the Translink system. Furthermore, the U-pass arrangement is an amazing deal for students. This little ticket allows all of us to travel wherever we want for a whole semester. It is extremely convenient and it only costs us $100 per semester. This is nothing compared to what it costs for people that aren’t students (e.g. a 28-day pass costs $255.00). So I would like all students to take some time before they criticize Translink for every single small flaw in the system. All in all we are all lucky that there is such a good public transportation system available to us.

"I do declare!"

Awareness of place, something critical in life and fiction both.

In a story, understanding where the events are occurring, at what time, when in relation to one another, and under what circumstances and conditions is important in fully understanding and appreciating that literary work.
In life, one has to be aware of the same, whether socially, physically, emotionally, or mentally. In fact, not noticing the physical place can potentially get you KILLED!

One such place? The clearly marked zones outside Lougheed Station where buses (such as the 97 B-Line) stop to drop off passengers outside the loop. Angry horn bleats, and on occasion waved fists and words, follow these moments of spatial unawareness by automobile drivers (stopping to drop off, pick up, or wait for a pedestrian), as two objects cannot (or at least shouldn't try to) occupy the same space at once.

Another such place? The yellow zones on Skytrain stations next to the tracks. Admittedly those areas are likely larger than necessary as an insurance measure for Translink, but far too many people stand within it, or worse stand there with small children. Some of those trains don’t slow down before the station, and are coming in ‘hot’, not to mention the legal/financial danger of stepping onto the tracks (so dangerous because of the legal prosecution threatened by signs, as well as the hefty fines for disrupting service).

Yet another such place? Roads. Buses are large, often fast moving, heavy, dense objects. People are none of the above (though certain individuals can be rather dense). When a strong force meets a weak object…. SPLAT/CRUNCH. Still, there are those who dash across major roads (therefore often transportation arteries along which drive buses) rather than taking a sidewalk, sometimes being less than cautious and just barely squeaking in front of a moving vehicle (I’ve seen some really close calls).

In a literary work, the worst that can happen is one loses out on the delight of reading a novel, or just a part of it.

In life, being unaware of place or time can be anywhere from inconvenient to fatal. So why do people continue to do it?

My only conclusion is that people are silly.