Peter Sarf
Established Member
I am not thinking about the technology as such but more about their use.
I have for a while noticed how much higher the rate of acceleration is of an electric bus. This is compounded by the instant acceleration - it does not build up gradually. Further more there is no initial noise or shaking that you get with a diesel bus as it goes into drive/gear. What this results in with electric busses is no warning to passengers as to when the bus is about to move off and the movement is instantly harsh acceleration. I have been noticing passengers more often rushing to grab passing handrails and myself have been caught by surprise.
It is rare for the bus driver to wait until everyone has arrived at a seat or finished getting to a secure standing space.
I had started considering, reluctantly, that I should consider avoiding the upper deck because it takes longer to get to a seat and involved the stairs !. Although I am 64 I am agile but at my age a fall is more likely to result in a broken bone (brittle with age) and involves a longer recovery time.
Anyway yesterday evening the proof came home to me. I had got on the bus at my local stop to go out and was was nearly at the top of the stairs when the bus lurched into action. Both feet and my left hand were attached to the bus but as I reached further up the handrail with my right hand was the time it jumped away from my reach !. My right foot seemed to slip off the step as I spun round on my left arm. I managed to find a lower step with my right leg but did it so quickly I wrecked my calf muscle. By then the handrail for my right hand was within reach. Obviously I was was moving quickly to avoid breaking my neck at the bottom of the stairs. Now not able to walk - I managed to get off where I was meeting my friends and cadge a lift back home.
Ignoring the moan. And perhaps the driver was over eager and/or supposed to check everyone is safely in position - especially NOT on the stairs. My main thought is that the acceleration needs to be less aggressive. Now I believe these electric busses are controlled electronically. So could the initial demand from the accelerator pedal be moderated. Maybe a little jerk or just gentle acceleration before the full capabilities of the acceleration kick in. A few seconds initial clue to passengers would help one brace ones self.
Otherwise I have to assume I must clutter up the lower deck. Really I think this is the case for many. Even staying on the lower deck is a tricky especially if standing.
We have to put up with alarms for doors on busses and trains but I don't think they are as dangerous as a fall down the stairs - especially backwards with a wall at the bottom. It occurs to me that if these electric busses were a fairground ride the rules would be a lot tighter. I get fed up with rules but I can see these electric busses are lethal.
I have never found the diesel busses so challenging and tend to choose them where I can.
Thoughts.
I have for a while noticed how much higher the rate of acceleration is of an electric bus. This is compounded by the instant acceleration - it does not build up gradually. Further more there is no initial noise or shaking that you get with a diesel bus as it goes into drive/gear. What this results in with electric busses is no warning to passengers as to when the bus is about to move off and the movement is instantly harsh acceleration. I have been noticing passengers more often rushing to grab passing handrails and myself have been caught by surprise.
It is rare for the bus driver to wait until everyone has arrived at a seat or finished getting to a secure standing space.
I had started considering, reluctantly, that I should consider avoiding the upper deck because it takes longer to get to a seat and involved the stairs !. Although I am 64 I am agile but at my age a fall is more likely to result in a broken bone (brittle with age) and involves a longer recovery time.
Anyway yesterday evening the proof came home to me. I had got on the bus at my local stop to go out and was was nearly at the top of the stairs when the bus lurched into action. Both feet and my left hand were attached to the bus but as I reached further up the handrail with my right hand was the time it jumped away from my reach !. My right foot seemed to slip off the step as I spun round on my left arm. I managed to find a lower step with my right leg but did it so quickly I wrecked my calf muscle. By then the handrail for my right hand was within reach. Obviously I was was moving quickly to avoid breaking my neck at the bottom of the stairs. Now not able to walk - I managed to get off where I was meeting my friends and cadge a lift back home.
Ignoring the moan. And perhaps the driver was over eager and/or supposed to check everyone is safely in position - especially NOT on the stairs. My main thought is that the acceleration needs to be less aggressive. Now I believe these electric busses are controlled electronically. So could the initial demand from the accelerator pedal be moderated. Maybe a little jerk or just gentle acceleration before the full capabilities of the acceleration kick in. A few seconds initial clue to passengers would help one brace ones self.
Otherwise I have to assume I must clutter up the lower deck. Really I think this is the case for many. Even staying on the lower deck is a tricky especially if standing.
We have to put up with alarms for doors on busses and trains but I don't think they are as dangerous as a fall down the stairs - especially backwards with a wall at the bottom. It occurs to me that if these electric busses were a fairground ride the rules would be a lot tighter. I get fed up with rules but I can see these electric busses are lethal.
I have never found the diesel busses so challenging and tend to choose them where I can.
Thoughts.