Finally, we can say that everybody has the GFI boxes. PG, last and least, recently had theirs installed and are up this week. I have seen some weird placement of their boxes. The DCU will be mounted on the dash and the box itself is right next to the door on the right side with the box facing toward the driver. I have no idea who thought that was a good idea let alone why in that config. Also, these boxes might have been ordered through MTA because they have the MD Transit Pass logo on them instead of the Smartrip logo. So pretty much, people won't have to get a transfer just because PG didn't have them.
HAHA. They improved their fareboxes. Now let's see them improve the transit itself. Still, thank god they got the SmarTrip boxes.
A little correction to what I said earlier. They don't have the MD Transit Pass logo on the Smartrip target yet have their own logo on them (yuck). I'll give them 2 weeks before we start seeing problems arise. Also they get to do ridership statistics from each trip.
Rode a PG THE BUS Gillig Advantage today (10/20/08) and it sure wasn't a "trust me" farebox. I was impressed that it took my Smartrip! They finally came aboard!
Quote from: rideonrulez on October 20, 2008, 10:08:03 PM
Rode a PG THE BUS Gillig Advantage today (10/20/08) and it sure wasn't a "trust me" farebox. I was impressed that it took my Smartrip! They finally came aboard!
For now. Like I said, give them a couple of weeks before things start to crap out. There is still one more agency that needs to get its act together with their stuff. I don't have to give out the name. We all know.
For those of you who don't follow the mismanaged SmarTrip/Maryland Transit Pass project every minute of the day, I think the agency he is referring to is Maryland MTA. They have had the boxes for a couple years but the pass isn't yet available.
Does the Laurel CAR have the Smartrip boxes?
Quote from: jbgroup1 on October 26, 2008, 11:10:01 PM
Does the Laurel CAR have the Smartrip boxes?
Nope. They have the same boxes DUH BUS had before October 13.
I thought Duh Bus was actually improving until I saw this today (11/10/08) on a Thomas SLF (ex-MTA 3015). It is a pretty stupid setup as I saw people walk past the operator (after he pointed everybody where the farebox was including me), insert the fare then had to squeeze back (since there were 3 other people in line trying to insert there fare) to the operator to get a transfer. Also for some reason my smartrip didn't work on it. ::)
Quote from: rideonrulez on November 10, 2008, 02:28:10 PM
I thought Duh Bus was actually improving until I saw this today (11/10/08) on a Thomas SLF (ex-MTA 3015). It is a pretty stupid setup as I saw people walk past the operator (after he pointed everybody where the farebox was including me), insert the fare then had to squeeze back (since there were 3 other people in line trying to insert there fare) to the operator to get a transfer. Also for some reason my smartrip didn't work on it. ::)
I noticed that too when I got on 3015 myself. I'm still baffled as to how the OCU works without it being hard wired to the farebox (hence that port). The HDXs have the same type of setup. I wonder if they took away a seat just to put the boxes there. Hell when MTA had them, they had space for the boxes and these were Cubic boxes. I'm pretty sure a GFI could have fit in the same place.
Quote from: rideonrulez on November 10, 2008, 02:28:10 PM
I thought Duh Bus was actually improving until I saw this today (11/10/08) on a Thomas SLF (ex-MTA 3015). It is a pretty stupid setup as I saw people walk past the operator (after he pointed everybody where the farebox was including me), insert the fare then had to squeeze back (since there were 3 other people in line trying to insert there fare) to the operator to get a transfer. Also for some reason my smartrip didn't work on it. ::)
Nice pic Chris. Yeah some of those SLF fareboxes are setup in a stupid place. However, the other SLFs (the longer ones) are setup in a regular place.
BTW Chris, were you at University of Maryland in that pic?
Quote from: landoverdivision on November 10, 2008, 02:55:09 PM
Quote from: rideonrulez on November 10, 2008, 02:28:10 PM
I thought Duh Bus was actually improving until I saw this today (11/10/08) on a Thomas SLF (ex-MTA 3015). It is a pretty stupid setup as I saw people walk past the operator (after he pointed everybody where the farebox was including me), insert the fare then had to squeeze back (since there were 3 other people in line trying to insert there fare) to the operator to get a transfer. Also for some reason my smartrip didn't work on it. ::)
Nice pic Chris. Yeah some of those SLF fareboxes are setup in a stupid place. However, the other SLFs (the longer ones) are setup in a regular place.
BTW Chris, were you at University of Maryland in that pic?
Yes I was, I rode Shuttle Um Flx #6791 from Silver Spring then rode the SLF that was pictured on the 17 back to Langley Park.
Quote from: rideonrulez on November 10, 2008, 03:14:17 PM
Quote from: landoverdivision on November 10, 2008, 02:55:09 PM
Quote from: rideonrulez on November 10, 2008, 02:28:10 PM
I thought Duh Bus was actually improving until I saw this today (11/10/08) on a Thomas SLF (ex-MTA 3015). It is a pretty stupid setup as I saw people walk past the operator (after he pointed everybody where the farebox was including me), insert the fare then had to squeeze back (since there were 3 other people in line trying to insert there fare) to the operator to get a transfer. Also for some reason my smartrip didn't work on it. ::)
Nice pic Chris. Yeah some of those SLF fareboxes are setup in a stupid place. However, the other SLFs (the longer ones) are setup in a regular place.
BTW Chris, were you at University of Maryland in that pic?
Yes I was, I rode Shuttle Um Flx #6791 from Silver Spring then rode the SLF that was pictured on the 17 back to Langley Park.
I love Shuttle-UM buses for some odd reason. I would work for them if I was old enough. The only bus company that does NOT require a uniform. Awesome.
Quote from: landoverdivision on November 10, 2008, 03:43:57 PM
Quote from: rideonrulez on November 10, 2008, 03:14:17 PM
Quote from: landoverdivision on November 10, 2008, 02:55:09 PM
Quote from: rideonrulez on November 10, 2008, 02:28:10 PM
I thought Duh Bus was actually improving until I saw this today (11/10/08) on a Thomas SLF (ex-MTA 3015). It is a pretty stupid setup as I saw people walk past the operator (after he pointed everybody where the farebox was including me), insert the fare then had to squeeze back (since there were 3 other people in line trying to insert there fare) to the operator to get a transfer. Also for some reason my smartrip didn't work on it. ::)
Nice pic Chris. Yeah some of those SLF fareboxes are setup in a stupid place. However, the other SLFs (the longer ones) are setup in a regular place.
BTW Chris, were you at University of Maryland in that pic?
Yes I was, I rode Shuttle Um Flx #6791 from Silver Spring then rode the SLF that was pictured on the 17 back to Langley Park.
I love Shuttle-UM buses for some odd reason. I would work for them if I was old enough. The only bus company that does NOT require a uniform. Awesome.
Get away from the big cities of the NE US and you will discover that many bus drivers have fairly lax uniform requirements.
Quote from: rideonrulez on November 10, 2008, 03:14:17 PM
Quote from: landoverdivision on November 10, 2008, 02:55:09 PM
Quote from: rideonrulez on November 10, 2008, 02:28:10 PM
I thought Duh Bus was actually improving until I saw this today (11/10/08) on a Thomas SLF (ex-MTA 3015). It is a pretty stupid setup as I saw people walk past the operator (after he pointed everybody where the farebox was including me), insert the fare then had to squeeze back (since there were 3 other people in line trying to insert there fare) to the operator to get a transfer. Also for some reason my smartrip didn't work on it. ::)
Nice pic Chris. Yeah some of those SLF fareboxes are setup in a stupid place. However, the other SLFs (the longer ones) are setup in a regular place.
BTW Chris, were you at University of Maryland in that pic?
Yes I was, I rode Shuttle Um Flx #6791 from Silver Spring then rode the SLF that was pictured on the 17 back to Langley Park.
When were you on 6791? I happened to see it early this morning both coming into Silver Spring (around 7:00 AM) and leaving towards College Park (around 8:15 AM).
How you were able to get on might be more interesting, aren't you a little old to be a UMD student ;).
Quote from: Scrabbleship on November 10, 2008, 05:48:31 PM
When were you on 6791? I happened to see it early this morning both coming into Silver Spring (around 7:00 AM) and leaving towards College Park (around 8:15 AM). How you were able to get on might be more interesting, aren't you a little old to be a UMD student ;) .
Your never too old to be in college!! ;D I rode the 9:29 trip from Silver Spring and boy that bus had better days as it was struggling quite a bit. How I got on it will remain a mystery...... ;)
I definitely suggest driving for Shuttle UM. I did so from 1993 to 1994 and it was so much fun. It was the catalyst to getting into the transit industry for me.
Quote from: rideonrulez on November 10, 2008, 06:31:39 PM
Quote from: Scrabbleship on November 10, 2008, 05:48:31 PM
When were you on 6791? I happened to see it early this morning both coming into Silver Spring (around 7:00 AM) and leaving towards College Park (around 8:15 AM). How you were able to get on might be more interesting, aren't you a little old to be a UMD student ;) .
Your never too old to be in college!! ;D I rode the 9:29 trip from Silver Spring and boy that bus had better days as it was struggling quite a bit. How I got on it will remain a mystery...... ;)
Ah, I was wondering if those Flxibles were still running. Are the 30fters still roaming around?
Quote from: Tritransit Area on November 12, 2008, 12:12:21 AM
Ah, I was wondering if those Flxibles were still running. Are the 30fters still roaming around?
Yep. Still running strong. I'm just wondering when they'll think about replacing them. They are over 17 years old and they are showing their age. I think they are supposed to be getting another order of Gilligs and some Setras soon (I have no idea why Setra again.).
Quote from: Tristan on November 12, 2008, 10:12:38 AM
Why not?
I want something non-Diamler.
Also, I was on 53015 on the 17 with the wacky box setup. I think the boxes are hardwired under the floor because there was a hole drilled in the dash with the power cable going thru it. At first I thought wireless, but I don't think GFI has a wireless option for their OCUs (at least I don't think they do).
Quote from: rideonrulez on November 10, 2008, 02:28:10 PM
I thought Duh Bus was actually improving until I saw this today (11/10/08) on a Thomas SLF (ex-MTA 3015). It is a pretty stupid setup as I saw people walk past the operator (after he pointed everybody where the farebox was including me), insert the fare then had to squeeze back (since there were 3 other people in line trying to insert there fare) to the operator to get a transfer. Also for some reason my smartrip didn't work on it. ::)
All I can say is "REEETARDED"
Quote from: Perry on November 10, 2008, 10:29:11 PM
I definitely suggest driving for Shuttle UM. I did so from 1993 to 1994 and it was so much fun. It was the catalyst to getting into the transit industry for me.
Do you have to be a UMD student to drive for them?