Let's Go For A Stroll

When I wrote about the new BRT being part Mall Shuttle, that struck a chord with many of my readers who sent me notes pointing out that in all this time, I've not mentioned the Mall Shuttle!

Really?

Sorry about that because I love driving up and down that Mall.
I can't believe that I've not talked about it.

The Mall Shuttle is both the easiest and the most difficult "route" that a Driver can drive.
It is a route that is snatched up almost immediately by the Senior Drivers so that few of us lesser Drivers get the chance but when we do....

I'm told the 16th Street Mall - at 1.7 miles long from the Civic Centre to the Denver Union Stations - is the longest outdoor Mall in the US.
The Mall Shuttle runs up and down the 16th Street Mall from early in the morning to late at night.
Stopping every block, at the light rail stations and at the Market Street Station (for the next 18 months!)

My advice to all passengers who want to traverse the Mall is to first just hop on and ride the shuttle around in a complete lap.
A complete lap takes about 40 minutes and you get to see every shop and every restaurant on the Mall.
Once you've seen where you want to go, hop off and you've less than a block to walk.

Another tip: Get on the shuttle EARLY, meaning at either end.
The shuttle fills up quickly and if you're riding on the weekend the shuttle runs less frequently so it fills up even more quickly.
During the Winter, more people means more warmth as even with the minimal heating offered in the passenger compartment, those doors are open all the time and it's freezing in the back!
During the Summer, the only "AC" is the open windows and it get hot and "fragrant" back there.

It's really not as bad as the jokes go.

I ride the shuttles before I relieve other Drivers and folks are always laughing and joking with one another.
If the Driver stops too quickly, we all swing into each other and that just provides laughs and I've even seen a few numbers exchanged - matches made by RTD!

The "Hard Part" of Driving the Mall is that there are thousands of people wandering this pedestrian experience.
Not counting the pedicabs and horse drawn carriages, the people are the biggest obstacles.
Because the Shuttles are Electric and CNG, the engines are small and almost silent.
Folks can't hear the shuttles coming at 15 miles an hour and even with the bells and horns, Drivers usually have to stop short, causing Passengers to fall into each other AND swear at the numpties standing in front of the shuttle.

The "Easy Part" of Driving the Mall Shuttle is that you really can't get lost.
It's hours and hours of driving up and back down the Mall.
Except for the "Crossovers" - those are usually construction & emergency vehicle detours that cause the Shuttle to have to cross from one side to the other and shuffle around the detour - but except for these crossovers, there are no turns so we can't get lost.

We are updating the shuttle fleet and some of y'all have seen the first two new shuttles.
Drivers call them by their numbers, 40 & 41.
These are all electric, no engines and even more quiet.
They are nicer for both the passengers and the Drivers.
Passengers get more windows, including in the roof.
Drivers get more room, including the steering column which now moves both the entire console up & down and the steering wheel out & in.

There are a myriad of improvements on this new generation of shuttle and there are improvements on the Mall.

The new Denver Union Station to the West (North) has extended the Mall Ride that extra half mile.
It has connections to light rail and once the underground station opens, to a huge - and I mean gigantic underground station.

I love the Mall Shuttle.
I love the throngs of people and the thousands of passengers every day who hop on and hop off all day long.

The best part of the Mall Ride:
IT'S FREE!

If you've ridden into the Civic Center Station or Denver Union Station on the Mall Ride, you've heard the automated voice say something like, "Thank You For Riding The RTD Free Mall Ride."

There are tons and tons of stories from my Mall Shuttle experiences but I'll save those for other posts.
I can't believe I hadn't written about the Mall earlier.
Sorry about that, folks.

As Always, "Welcome aboard, Hang onto a railing - Let's Roll!"

Bus Rapid Transit - Here It Comes!

How many of you (us) saw the Artic "BRT" Bus at the Market Street Station today?

For all intents & purposes it's just a modern version of the current "9000" series Articulated buses we have in the Fleet.
Many of you recognized it.

Some of the differences:
Low Floor
Fewer Seats (Less Room for Passengers)
Plastic
Ramp rather than Lift in front
Can be "Hybridized"

Basically a combination of the current 1400 (Blue Hybrids) & the 9000 (Accordions)

The one on display today was on its way to be delivered from the factory to San Antonio.
Nabi swung through Denver to show us what we could be getting.

The configuration we saw obviously won't do for us here in Denver.
We need the 60+ seat max, windows that open, more room in back for strollers & bikes, etc etc etc.

This version of the Artic is heavier, ranking in at close to 70,000lbs - 35 tons!
Same 60' length as our current Artics and has a 125 (150 optional) gasoline tank.

The Nabi Rep said that this bus being delivered to Texas, as displayed was $838,000...
Gulp!

Obviously that doesn't represent (only suggest) what RTD might be paying for our new buses.
BUT STILL...

Whatever we end up getting, we'll have more of them and they'll run more frequently that the Light Rail would have to Boulder.
All told, this BRT system will cost less and provide more service than the Light Rail would have.

Nice.

Listening to Drivers talk about each of the model series of buses we have in The Fleet, you get to hear what they like and dislike about each model.
Drivers went ape when they were actually asked what they liked and disliked about the first of the new Mall Shuttles (1640) - freaking happier than pigs in mud that we get to have some input into a bus we'll actually drive.

But listening to Drivers about all the series of buses we have, the most common gripe/complaint is that it feels, seems and appears that the bus manufacturers don't have any actual Drivers in the Research & Design departments of their companies.

For the most part, the buses are neither intuitive nor convenient.
One or two things may be really well placed and really good ideas but those get offset by three or four things that seem to have been thrown in to frustrate and confuse.

So I asked the Nabi representative that all important question:
"Have you ever considered coming to Drivers while you're in the R&D phase of these new buses? Active Drivers, in the field, using the buses?"

This Rep up until this point was asking me questions, answering mine - up to and including the cost of the vehicle!
But as soon as I asked this, he turned and walked away.
Didn't even fake like he was turning to talk to another person.
Not even a grunt or pish.

LOL
Guess I hit a nerve...

Anywho, we got a glimpse of the new BRTs coming to Denver.
I hope you got your glimpse.
There will be a few more showings in Boulder & Brighton (I think?)

Call our info line at 303.299.6000 and ask them for more information.
They'll point you in the right direction.

As Always, "Welcome aboard, Smell that new bus smell, Find your seats - Let's Roll!"