Submitted by Jeff Buster on Sun, 02/10/2008 - 14:35.
The Euclid Corridor Bus design doesn’t make sense to me.
That’s Gallucci’s deli on the LH side of the top photo (looking towards downtown) and Gallucci's is on ther RH side of the bottom photo (looking towards University Circle).
My question is, why didn’t the corridor design use left hand side of the bus loading and unloading? (the buses do have LH doors) If the LH side of the bus was used, only one kiosk would have been necessary in the center of the street at each bus stop – rather than the two offset center kiosks which are being built.
With one kiosk per stop - both outbound and inbound passengers could be picked up/discharged simultaneously from opposite sides of the same kiosk. Both inbound and outbound buses could be at the stop simultaneously. The single kiosk I propose would be centered in the street in the middle of a block, rather than offset as they are now (near but not at) the corner of a block (to allow left turn lane).
Maybe I am missing something.
Can anyone find a diagram of loading/unloading or platform traffic schematics on line? Is this design used anywhere else in the world? I have never seen it anywhere I have traveled.
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Gimme an E!
As a rider of the Euclid Avenue's #6, I would agree that the bus stop locations and the bus directions are counter-intuitive. A big E for east and W for west (large enough to bee seen from the sidewalk) on the side of the stops would help. Currently I walk up to a stop and then read the teeny sign that says which direction the stop serves. Typically I am at the incorrect stop and must walk to the next one, all the while hoping the bus doesn't pass me by meantime.
staggering stations
I believe the stations are staggered so that the buses can achieve higher speeds by avoiding stopping at every block. I'm not sure how fare pre-paying will work, but that might be a consideration here, too.
The Transit Cooperative Research Program's Report 90 (PDF) has a lot of really good info on the world's more progressive Bus Rapid Transit systems. This version (2) includes and refers often to Cleveland in its report.
It's full of diagrams describing different manners of design and operation, as well as charts outlining which cities use which.
Jenita's right, though -- there's been a lot of confusion about which stations serve which direction. I use the station roofs as indicators: they slope down in the direction of travel.
Designed with Clinic in mind
While it isn't actually in place through the clinic property, yet, the design and scale of the new Euclid Corridor is more fitting to the modern steel and glass and new-urban sprawl found in the Midtown area, from around University Circle through the Clinic campus - after that, most of the land has clear for new development... few buildings of importance through E.55th, where the urban density returns... the corridor design is not so well suited to the traditional city street flow... it will slow down and reduce traffic and be very confusing, but that may all be good... I'd like to see all of Euclid from University Circle to downtown largely car free and this is a good start...
Here's a night view of Euclid by the old Healthspace - see all the shiney buildings look like the new rapid stops... this area will look very fancy when they are done... full size view here.
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Clearing the snow
I'll be interested to see how this design works in winter when there is heavy snow - the platforms and walkways look like a snow-clearing nightmare... we'll see soon enough
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As an admirer of design
I wanted to stop lurking and point out that these busses are about as sexy as we are ever going to see for mass transit around these parts. Consider them our shinkansen.
A few years back GM provided us a prototype preview to debut at Ingenuity Festival. These dogs deserve a piece to be written on them alone as the fleet will be greener and meaner than any previous expenditure of city funds since CPP secured 1000 years of clean coal energy LOL. Seriously though, hybrid diesel electric busses with regenerative braking systems. GM has Bill Nye the science guy promo'ing the technology. Its rad for Detroit. Prolly 8 years behind the Asians however... but what do I know... im just a passanger on the train of life.
I'm excited about the Silver Line...
One of my favorite international transplants, David Reed, Of Kent State CUDC, came to Cleveland originally to work on the Euclid Corridor project and he says don't judge it until it is completed, and even as it nears completion I am impressed with many aspects of the planned project. As you say, ZM, the vehicles are very cool - I can see riding these (please keep them clean and have friendly staff on board, RTA). The shelters, signage, art, streetscape, etc., show potential... as David says, give that time.
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