Streetcar

[midtownokcer]

I'm lost. What is this talking about?

[shawnw]

There's yellow plastic netting around the railing at all stops due to a design flaw that was deemed unsafe for children, so a mesh metal piece will be attached to the railing to improve that.

[BoulderSooner]

There's yellow plastic netting around the railing at all stops due to a design flaw that was deemed unsafe for children, so a mesh metal piece will be attached to the railing to improve that.

that "design flaw" is laughable .... the kids are free to fall in the street with 0 railing but somehow the high rail on that side (the origional design) was unsafe and then the second design high and low rail was also deemed "unsafe" so now a middle rail is getting added ... it is a little crazy

[shawnw]

agree, but also don't mind the improvement, no harm to it really.

[Ross MacLochness]

It's not a "design flaw" they are added the mesh and will be adding the additional metal railing in order to comply with a certain federal regulation. This regulation I was told, is not mandatory but they decided to do it anyway just to stay ahead of the game.

[shawnw]

I mean, that kind of seems like almost the definition of design flaw to me, but I'm definitely short on info here.

[Ross MacLochness]

It isn't necessary but they decided to do it anyway. I don't know why it wasn't added in the first place.

[HOT ROD]

Thank you for the info. I spent a lot of time walking Seattle's downtown a few years ago over four weeks, but I haven't biked it or seen the streetcars. I personally always hold Seattle as the ideal when it comes to walking, though. And I know it is a mecca of Bike commuting.

the SLUT (south lake union trolley) has been around for at least 3 years now, the new streetcar on the other side of CBD is only a year old. The bike lanes are a little more than a year old - so yes Seattle has made some quick progress.

And yes, it is a good walking downtown; you'd be shocked to know that this is relatively recent (basically since the late 1990s, then the big push you experienced in the mid-2010s).

[LakeEffect]

It isn't necessary but they decided to do it anyway. I don't know why it wasn't added in the first place.

IIRC, think Jeff covered it a few pages ago... but it was an ODOT Railroad Division thing. They refused to give approval to operate the system because of their interpretation of the 4" maximum bar spacing on a railing along a walkway that has a more than 18" vertical drop. The city's original intent was this was a handrail, not a fall-prevention railing. That's my understanding, at least.

[BoulderSooner]

IIRC, think Jeff covered it a few pages ago... but it was an ODOT Railroad Division thing. They refused to give approval to operate the system because of their interpretation of the 4" maximum bar spacing on a railing that has a more than 18" vertical drop. The city's original intent was this was a handrail, not a fall-prevention railing. That's my understanding, at least.

yep

[Pete]

[RedDollar]

I'm watching CNBC this morning and the primary topic is Uber's IPO. Listening to the Uber CEO speak of the future, about autonomous, scooters, bikes , basically, is how he see's people traversing short distances. I don't think he's concerned with streetcars.

When OKC Streetcar idea was hatched was well over 10 years ago. It took that long before it became reality. And then look at all the changes in that time and streetcar is out dated, if it was ever anything more than a novelty.

And trying to project 10 or 20 years ahead is futile. Change will come fast and furious. Ya gotta be able to move faster than 10 plus year time lines.

[jn1780]

I'm watching CNBC this morning and the primary topic is Uber's IPO. Listening to the Uber CEO speak of the future, about autonomous, scooters, bikes , basically, is how he see's people traversing short distances. I don't think he's concerned with streetcars.

When OKC Streetcar idea was hatched was well over 10 years ago. It took that long before it became reality. And then look at all the changes in that time and streetcar is out dated, if it was ever anything more than a novelty.

And trying to project 10 or 20 years ahead is futile. Change will come fast and furious. Ya gotta be able to move faster than 10 plus year time lines.

I don't see why he would be concerned. Any kind of culture that encourages people to forgo personal car use is good for Uber.

[David]

The CEO of Uber doing a press junket about his IPO is definitely a good place to get unbiased views of other transportation methods.

[amocore]

The CEO of Uber doing a press junket about his IPO is definitely a good place to get unbiased views of other transportation methods.

Now, that is funny !

[RedDollar]

Now, that is funny !

Hilarious

[jedicurt]

The CEO of Uber doing a press junket about his IPO is definitely a good place to get unbiased views of other transportation methods.

kind of was my thought to... like maybe instead of is views of transportation in the future, he can talk about his views of how to actually make his company turn a profit in the future. lol... of course he is going to talk about a grand vision of the future where Uber controls public transit... it's the only hope he has

[citywokchinesefood]

kind of was my thought to... like maybe instead of is views of transportation in the future, he can talk about his views of how to actually make his company turn a profit in the future. lol... of course he is going to talk about a grand vision of the future where Uber controls public transit... it's the only hope he has

They will turn a massive profit when they no longer have drivers and they are operating an autonomous fleet with near universal brand recognition.

[hoya]

I think Uber actually helps the streetcar. You could take an Uber to get downtown, then use the streetcar to move throughout the area. If you are only going to one destination, Uber is fine. But the streetcar gives you enhanced mobility once you are there.

[RedDollar]

It doesn't take much imagination to see how Uber and others like them, could be a threat to all forms of public transportation..........

OKC bought yesterday's streetcar ........... here's the future ..... and its not hard to envision one of these picking up multiple people at the doorstep and delivering them. Yes, there's still many problems, but no one in 2008 even thought of an Uber or an autonomous vehicle

https://www.cnbc.com/video/2019/01/0...onic-show.html

[jedicurt]

It doesn't take much imagination to see how Uber and others like them, could be a threat to all forms of public transportation..........

OKC bought yesterday's streetcar ........... here's the future ..... and its not hard to envision one of these picking up multiple people at the doorstep and delivering them. Yes, there's still many problems, but no one in 2008 even thought of an Uber or an autonomous vehicle

https://www.cnbc.com/video/2019/01/0...onic-show.html

not quite... Autonomous vehicles have been talked about in transportation circles and by some in the auto industry since the late 80's... and we are still a lot further from fully autonomous vehicles then i think most people realize... mostly due to legal liability that will hamper them being massively available to the public without very strict legal waivers.

[RedDollar]

yeah, yeah, yeah .......... I hear all the .................. " its a long way off " and " too many problems " ...........but again, I don't think I'd make a multiple hundred million dollar bet against the technology

[jedicurt]

for those interested... Intelligence Squared recently did a debate on driver less cars. it has lots of good information both for and against.

https://www.intelligencesquaredus.or...driverless-car

[jedicurt]

yeah, yeah, yeah .......... I hear all the .................. " its a long way off " and " too many problems " ...........but again, I don't think I'd make a multiple hundred million dollar bet against the technology

a video full of concepts and CGI.... i didn't see a single real production vehicle in that entire video.

[jedicurt]

yeah, yeah, yeah .......... I hear all the .................. " its a long way off " and " too many problems " ...........but again, I don't think I'd make a multiple hundred million dollar bet against the technology

here is one from GM from 1956 about driverless cars. and talking about how the future will be and their concepts...