About Bobbi Taggart

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Posts by Bobbi Taggart:

public bus

How New York MTA Has Adapted During COVID-19

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As a New Yorker who relies on public transport, the personal effects of the pandemic have been surprisingly positive.  With nearly empty buses and trains, it’s been a breeze getting to-and-from work.

While it’s been great from an efficiency standpoint, there is a distinct difference in how operations are run, and supporting businesses are definitely feeling the drop off in foot traffic.

Adapting To The Demand

With less occupancy rate, the demand for public transport vehicles also increase. There are still many people who need to get to their work without having to brush elbows with other passengers.

The solution here is to increase public transport vehicles like buses. In New York, there is about 97 km of new bus lanes that have been requested in order to help deal with the congestion level during the pandemic. Now, you can catch more buses in the big apple to take you where you need to go.

New Protocols

While there is no real evidence that the use of public transport increases the risk of infection, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is erring on the side of caution.

Many countries didn’t find any cluster of COVID-19 cases with riders that use public transportation. This may be due to the fact that all riders are wearing masks and that they aren’t really talking to other passengers.

What’s even better news is that those who operate on mass transit have stepped up their game. They are taking extra measures to ensure the safety of all passengers and staff that use their transport systems. With this, they can make public transport systems much appealing to the public. We can’t do anything else but to adapt to the current situation.

Different transport systems have more strict cleaning protocols just to be sure. They use various anti-viral products or simply soap and water to disinfect. Also, touch sites are disinfected at intervals to make sure the virus doesn’t spread. Many also instruct their drivers to allow proper ventilation so windows are opened and the air-conditioning isn’t put on recirculation mode.

In addition to cleaning and disinfecting, there are also reminders for the public about not touching their faces, wearing of masks and hand washing before and after use of public transport. However, we must remember that these safety measures aren’t just for those who use public transport. They are also applicable to everyone. Even if you ride your own car, motorcycle or bicycle, coughing or sneezing can spread the virus to other people. Remember to always wash your hands.

Lastly, public transport systems also see to it that there is proper distancing amongst passengers and staff are observed. Masks are also worn to further prevent the spread of the virus. Also, the occupancy rate of the public transport systems is reduced to ensure there is proper spacing amongst all riders.

The Future Of Public Transport

The pandemic has left a great impact on how the cities provide and run their public transport systems. Even when all these are over, the changes done in response to the pandemic will still have an effect on the future of public transport.

This could lead the authorities to consider increasing pop-up bus lanes. Considering that they make it easier for a large population of various income levels to efficiently.

car automation

The Levels Of Vehicle Automation

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Automation is the future of transportation. Whether it is public or private transportation, many manufacturers and researchers are exploring automation. We all have seen futuristic cars in the movies. However, we are not quite there yet. Fully automated vehicles aren’t still available for the public and tests are still being conducted. Before we can have driverless transport systems, there is a need to perfect the automated vehicle technology first.

The good news is that there are some vehicles that are already automated at some level–that is. Today, we will see the five levels of vehicle  automation:

Non-automated vehicles

This level describes most of the cars and modes of transportation we have today. These cars are manual and they are controlled fully by the driver. However, there may be some emergency braking systems involved in some vehicles. Since that doesn’t essentially drive the car, then it isn’t considered as automated at all.

1st Level: Cars With Driver Assistance

In this level, there is some sort of automation with the adaptive cruise control or steering. Adaptive cruise control helps keep a safe distance between your car and the vehicle in front of you. All other aspects of driving are still left in the hands of the driver.

2nd Level: Partial Automation

This level of automation is what several car manufacturers offer like Tesla, Audi, and Volvo offers. It can control the steering as well as the speed of the vehicle. However, even if it controls several parts of the vehicle, the driver can still take control of the car at any time.

3rd Level: Conditional Automation

With this level of automation, the car has the capability to detect its environment. Such automation can accelerate and pass by a slow-moving vehicle. However, drivers still need to be alert at all times and take control of the vehicle in case the automation fails to properly execute.

4th Level: High Driving Automation

In this high level of vehicle automation, the car itself can go into a self-driving mode and do not require the driver’s interaction in most cases. However, drivers can still manually override the system. Currently, they are also very limited in certain areas only, known as geofencing. Also, the legislation still isn’t in line with the automation of vehicles for private use. Today, most are geared towards ridesharing.

5th Level: Full Automation

Full automation wouldn’t require any driver at all. The cars won’t even need a steering wheel nor brake pads and acceleration pedals. The cars are also able to go anywhere and won’t be limited by geofencing. These types of vehicles are still under the testing phase.

riding the bus

Catching A Bus In The Big Apple

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Catching and riding a bus may seem like the simplest thing to do to go around the city of New York. However, with the great number of buses plus bus routes, it can be a little bit intimidating, especially for someone new in the city.

In a previous post, we’ve provided a guide to using the NY subway.

In this week’s post, we’ll take on the bus…

Why The New York Bus Can Seem Intimidating

There are plenty of public transport options in New York. Many have used the subway in confidence. Buses, however, are quite different. That is because it seems that there are too many bus routes and busses that can be taken to get to your destination. Some feel overwhelmed because it seems too much work to go think about the route and plan the route.

The truth is, although planning your route is useful, you can easily see bus routes through Google Maps in real-time. It is even made easier as it shows you how fast the bus is going and where you exactly are. In that way, you can better estimate if you’ll be able to catch the next bus or if you have to prepare to run fast.

Additionally, bus stops clearly indicate the busses that stop there. You can match these with the suggestions that Google Maps give you. However intimidating it may seem, with the tools you have in the palm of your hands you’ll certainly be able to navigate through the city by catching buses.

Remember These 5 Tips When Catching The New York Buses

If you’ve decided to try taking the bus in New York, you can help make it a better experience if you prepare yourself. Here are 5 tips that you should remember when taking the bus.

Prepare exact change when riding non-express busses

If you are planning to ride non-express busses, make sure you have enough nickels, dimes, and quarters. The regular bus fare is at $2.75 and they don’t accept dollar bills nor pennies so make sure you have the exact fare if you want your experience to go on smoothly. If you don’t want to count coins, it is best to use an unlimited Metro Card.

Take note of route prefixes

Route prefixes are created to make it easier to remember where the routes would mainly operate. Those that have an “M” are for Manhattan, “Bx” is for the Bronx, “B” for Brooklyn, “Q” is for Queens and the “S” for Staten Islands. You’ll also find routes with “X” as the prefix and these represent express routes. These usually cost more versus the non-express. With express routes, you should prepare $6.75 in exact change and an unlimited Metro card can’t be used.

Be aware of “limited” buses.

Buses that have an orange “limited card” on top of the bus only make limited stops. Check and see if the bus stop you want to get off is included in the limited bus stops. If not, take the “local” buses that make all stops.

Validate your ticket if you’re taking any “Special” route.

To make sure you’re riding the right bus and taking the right route you planned, you can validate your ticket especially if you have a “Special” route. This may also be indicated as “SBS”. To do this, simply find the machine at the bus stop. Press start and enter your unlimited Metro Card. Then you can enter any door when the bus stops.

Pull the cord or push the button when you want to get off.

To get off the bus, you can either push the button or pull the cord. Then wait for the bus to stop. When it does, you can now touch the door in the area indicated by the yellow panels and the door will automatically swing open.

Steps To Catching A Bus In New York

Just to be clear, we’ve enumerated the steps you should take to catch a bus in New York. They are as follows:

  1. Find a bus stop – Bus stops are usually located in street corners. You can easily identify them because of the yellow paint and a sign that shows a bus emblem. The sign will also show the route number.
  2. Select your route and ride the correct bus – As we’ve told above, bus routes have different prefixes which will easily tell you about their route. Also, take note of the “Limited” card on the bus window. These are the ones that will stop at major intersections or attractions and transportation points only. Those without the card are local buses and they make all stops.
  3. Pay the fare – You can use your MetroCard or exact change to pay the bus. The fare is usually $2.75 except for express buses that charge $6.75.
  4. Request a transfer – If you need a transfer, you can get a request pass from the driver, or else you’ll be charged twice.
  5. Sit or stand while waiting to reach your bus stop. 
  6. Pull the cord or push the button to notify the driver that you want to get off. – Bus stops are usually at an interval of 2 to 3 blocks. When you’re about to reach your stop, make sure to notify the driver a block early.

 

e-bikes in NYC waiting for a rider

Electric Scooters Are Still Illegal To Use In NYC

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The search to find the best way to reach point A to point B still continues. With problems like pollution, traffic, and congestion in public transport, many people look for alternative ways to travel.

Biking is one of them and New York City is a bike-friendly city. Another mode of transport people are looking into is the use of electric scooters. However, that option has been halted this month as Governor Andrew M. Cuomo put a stop on legalizing electric scooters and electric bikes.

Why Was The Legislation Vetoed?

People thought that everything was going smoothly for the electric scooter since it passed both houses. The public is also supporting the legislation as many would benefit from legalizing the use of electric scooters.

However, the Gov. Cuomo vetoed the legislation last December 26, 2019, because he thinks there aren’t enough safety measures and regulations pertaining to the use of electric scooters. Safety is the Governor’s concern but many people feel that the regulations and safety precautions can be created by the local government.

Safety is a real concern because some riders don’t even bother protecting themselves or taking safety measures to protect nearby people when they ride. Reports of electric scooters, as well as electric bikes, colliding with pedestrians are plenty. All of these were considered by Cuomo in vetoing the legislation.

The Public’s Reaction

Many people are disappointed with the vetoed legislation. Although there are reports of electric scooters and pedestrians colliding, there are also reports of cars hitting those in scooters and bikes. These scenarios are also fatal, however, the focus was more on to wear a helmet rather than to require safer driving or making the roads much safer for those using alternative means of transportation such as scooters.

Even if the legislation is halted in New York City, other cities near NYC like Yonkers, Ithaca, and Rochester are welcoming scooters. Hoboken, a city in New Jersey, is the first to allow the rental of e-scooters. The pilot program yielded promising results.

Surveyed participants took fewer taxi trips and drove less while using the e-scooter app. Many of them also found riding e-scooters an easier way to get to where they needed to go. Others have used it alongside public transit.

With the legislation vetoed, it is now illegal to use an electric scooter or electric bike in the state of New York. Those who will be caught will be fined of up to $500.

The Future Of Electric Scooters And Electric Bikes In New York

Even if Gov. Cuomo vetoed the bill legalizing the use of e-scooters and e-bikes, he still had a similar proposal included in his budget. However, this proposal now has helmet requirements for the riders. In the proposal, those who are under 18 and those whose rides can go up to 25 miles per hour are required to wear helmets.

Even if electronic rides are legalized, local governments can still choose to opt-out of it. There are still some who believe that using e-scooters and e-bikes are dangerous on the streets as well as to pedestrians.

Final Words

Whether e-bikes and e-scooters should be legalized is still a well-debated topic among the public. Some people love them for the convenience they provide while others hate them for the potential dangers they bring. Either way, there is nothing that we can do now but to wait and see if a bill regarding it’s legalization would be passed.

public bus

Challenges Of A Driverless Bus System

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Automated and connected public transport has many benefits and when it comes to automation of public transport, the technology we have today is looking more likely into metros and trains. Although buses are also part of the public transport system, they can be more challenging to fully automate when we talk about driverless busses. However, there are other ways to automate the bus systems.

Bus Automation

The current bus system can be automated in a variety of ways, one of them is through the use of voiceovers on bus stops. Instead of manually announcing them, voiceovers are recorded and automatically played depending on the schedule. Another form of automation for the public bus system is the real-time updates of bus schedules.

The Challenge With Automated Buses

For the time being, this is only what can be done today. Further automation and fully automated models are still in the works. Those who are researching them are facing a few challenges such as the following:

Navigation Challenge

One of the main challenges of automated buses is navigation. The city streets are complex and it can be difficult to navigate through them. Researches and tests are being conducted to see whether it is really possible to automate buses. They combine technologies such as GPS, radars, as well as obstacle-avoidance technology.

Financial Challenge

Of course, there’s also a challenge on the financial side. The creation and testing of prototypes will cost money. Furthermore, revisions also cost some money so that adjustments can be made and improvements can be developed. Then there are re-tests to be made, which will also burn more dollars. In the end, the technology looks promising but the initial cost today is a challenge.

Cultural And Behavioral Challenge

Another hurdle in the bus automation system is the cultural and behavioral aspects. Automation of public transport is new technology and that means it can still take time for the public to embrace and accept it.

Integration Challenge

Public streets and other forms of public transport already exist in the cities today. Another challenge is how to integrate the automated bus system with the existing system. They need to figure out the use of existing infrastructure or the construction of new ones depending on the need.

Conclusion

When it comes to automation of public transport, the bus industry is one of the challenging markets to tap into. There are various challenges and hurdles before the bus system can be fully automated. Nevertheless, the future looks promising with automated bus systems.

biking in New York

Biking In The City Of New York

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New York is one of the most populous cities around the world. That also means that there’s a lot of people trying to get in and around the city. While the Boring Company’s tunnel system is still in the works, there are other alternatives to riding a car.

Aside from your private car, a cab and rentals, there are a few other ways to commute and go around the city. One of them is to ride your bike.

A Biker Friendly City

With the layout of Manhattan’s streets, many choose to walk especially if their destination isn’t that far. Additionally, bike lanes and routes have also been added throughout the city in the past years.

Biking is becoming a popular way to commute in the city. For locals, it saves them from traffic. Additionally, biking is also great for tourists and visitors who wish to do some sightseeing while on their way.

If you haven’t tried biking in the city, let us help you. In this post, we will guide you from getting a bike to recommending routes you can take.

Grab A Bike

If you plan to permanently use a bike to commute, you can purchase one for your personal use. But if you’re still not sure whether you’ll love biking in the city, you can rent out a bike to try it out.

There are ride-sharing programs available and you can choose from various offers. You can take the 30-minute pass if you just need to get to somewhere or you can ride all day with the one-day pass. There is also a three-day pass that’s perfect for those who are visiting the city for a weekend.

Apart from ride-sharing companies, other local businesses also offer daily and weekly bike rentals. You may even come across some people handing out flyers about bike rentals on your visit to central park. Just be careful with them and check their reputation online first to make sure they are legit.

Biking Safety

It’s always best to be alert when biking in urban areas especially when near busy roads. As a biker, you should also watch out for parked cars that could suddenly open their door. Also, be very careful at intersections and pedestrian lanes.

Whenever biking, remember that the same rules on the road apply to bikers. So don’t go on a red light or else you’d also be given a ticket. Make sure you also go with the traffic flow to avoid accidents.

Bike lanes and designated areas are present throughout the city so you shouldn’t ride on sidewalks. Reserve those for people who are walking. Helmets aren’t required but it is best to wear them because you’ll never know when an accident might occur.

When riding your bike, also make sure you don’t use any devices like phones or music players. Even if you’re only using one earbud, it can still decrease your concentration.

The Routes

There are different routes you can take depending on where you’re coming from and where you want to go. If it’s your first time riding around the city, we advise you to take these two routes so you can explore the city while enjoying scenic sites.

1. Central Park Loop – This is a scenic route that goes around the largest park in Manhattan. It extends for 6 miles and starts and ends at the Columbus Circle. You can complete riding through this loop in less than an hour if you take the straight route. You can also take your time and explore various park attractions while on your way.

2. Brooklyn Greenway – This is one of the newest paths created in the city. Starting from Atlantic Avenue, it goes through Brooklyn Bridge Park. It extends to some local streets and then to the Brooklyn Navy Yard where it connects to a dedicated bike lane that reaches the Williamsburg Bridge. You’d also pass by Kent Avenue’s bike lane and Franklin Avenue until you reach Greenpoint. There are lots of scenic areas where you can stop and take some Instagram worthy pictures.

 

 

Automated Transportation in North Dakota

Benefits Of Automated And Connected Vehicles

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The continuous discovery and development of new technologies will hopefully improve how the masses are transported in the future. A driverless future isn’t the only advancement on its way, we’ll also experience connected vehicles soon.

There’s lots of excitement in the industry but there are still some hesitations. For today, let’s not focus on the negative but more on the positive side. So today, I’ll gladly tell you about the benefits of having automated and connected vehicles in the future.

Improved Safety

Vehicular accidents, specifically bus-related ones are usually due to human error. With the help of automation, public vehicles like buses can be installed with various programs to ensure safety.

Some of the safety features that we are most likely to see are the following:

  • Automatic breaking for pedestrians
  • Curb avoidance
  • Smoother acceleration and deceleration
  • Precise docking stations/systems

Better User Experience

Connected vehicles don’t only offer WiFi access to their passengers. With improved connection capabilities, they can also provide real-time information for their commuters. Valuable information such as wait times, reservations or discounts are readily available.

The connectivity also enables passengers to have a clearer picture on how to commute and get to one point to another through connected buses and even ride-sharing vehicles.

Reduce Congestion

Not all people can ride a public transportation vehicle and get to exactly where they want to go. More often than not, people resort to taking their vehicle during that last mile of travel. This can lead to congestion of roads due to single occupancy vehicles.

With automation and connectivity, it would be much easier to identify congested roads. Once they are identified, lawmakers can set rules that only multi-passenger vehicles to take those routes. This will not only reduce congestion but will also help reduce emissions.

Accessibility for All

Accessibility of public transport especially for the differently abled is quite challenging. That’s because when these modes of transport were designed before, they were not taken into consideration.

With the newly designed, automated and connected vehicles, their needs are better thought of. The goal here is to make it more convenient for everyone to use public transportation. The designs may include the utilization of ramps on docking stations and vehicles, improved seating or even rider assistance programs.

All these benefits can one day come true but it would take collaboration among agencies and groups. It would also take some trial and error, more improvements and developments. Like others, we are all hopeful that the day would come soon enough for us to experience it.

New York Subway

A Commuter’s Guide To Surviving The New York Subway

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Sure the New York City’s subway has a lot of room for improvement, as you can see from my previous post but changes are in the horizon. It’s messy, it could have been better but we New Yorkers have managed to make things work.

While we wait for changes to take place, there is nothing we can do now but to work with the current situation. In today’s post, I will share with you some tips, tricks, and techniques so you can, not only survive using the subway but also make it a more pleasant way to commute.

The Basics

Before we focus on various troublesome situations that many commuters face when they use the subway, let’s first take a look at the basics:

  • Ask away – First of all, in case your lost, you can always ask your fellow commuters. Most will answer you happily but they may also be some who’s too busy due to the morning rush
  • Use an app – You can also use different apps to navigate through. We personally love the Transit App as it is, for us, the most accurate.
  • Get a Metrocard – Keep your wallet away from prying eyes and feel more secure by using a Metrocard instead of paying cash. A re-loadable one is best and you can easily top it up through your credit/debit card. Tip: Avoid topping up during rush hour. There’s just too many people rushing to get in and out of the station.
  • Observe how other people swipe their Metrocard – It can be tricky at times. You might have swiped it too fast or too slow so it’s better to observe especially if it’s your first time. If it really doesn’t work, don’t linger. Try another turnstile.
  • Find your train and get in – It is possible for you to walk for a few minutes before you can get to the platform of your train. Make sure you check the number/letter so you don’t get lost. Also courteously let people out before you get in.
  • Leave the train and subway – Getting off the subway is easy and you don’t even need to swipe your card to exit. Just exit the train at your stop and get out of the subway. Tip: It can be a challenge to hear which stops your train is at due to poor quality of speakers. To prevent you from getting lost, simply count how many stops you have to go through before you get out so you won’t have to rely on the speakers. Just count the stops.

Uptown And Downtown

New York Public Transportaion
Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

If your destination is North of your location, you have to make sure you’re going uptown. If the destination you want to go is south of your current location, then you have to go downtown.

Sometimes subway directions also include a name of a borough. For example, Uptown & Queens. This simply means the direction of the train is to the north and the train will end up in Queens. It doesn’t matter which borough is the final destination of the train as long as it stops at your stop that’s along the way.

Local Train VS Express Train

The subway map color codes the stops so it’s easy for commuters to identify which train to take. Both the local train and the express train stop at the stops in white. Only local trains will stop on black stops. Express trains typically skip these non-major subway stops.

Saving On Subway Fare

Subway entrance
Image by Corey Ryan Hanson from Pixabay
  • Kids with a parent can ride for free– In order to get the free ride, a parent must first swipe his or her card. Up to three children who are smaller than 44 inches can ride for free with their parent.
  • Unlimited week pass – This subway pass cost $32 and it gives you unlimited rides on the subway within 7 days.

Other Useful Tips

  • Don’t block the way. Let people get out of the car before you get in.
  • Brace yourself. Better yet, hold on the railing to avoid falling over someone.
  • Avoid bringing coffee unless it’s in a sealed container to avoid spilling on other people.
  • Keep clear of the track edge because the train comes quickly and harm you.
  • Stay away from the doors when you’re not getting off soon to provide room for other people who’s about to leave the train.
  • Sanitize your hands after using the subway. After all, it’s a public transport and you can’t be sure what diseases other commuters have.

 

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