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Yabanize

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#173507 25-May-2015 23:00
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Stage 1 of the new $53 Million Christchurch Bus Interchange opened today, this comes after the previous 'Bus XChange' was destroyed in the February 2011 Earthquake, and the temporary outdoor 'Central Station' that has been used since then.

This is the layout of it

8 of the bus bays opened today, once stage 2 is completed there will be 16.
There is a video and some pictures on Stuff

It is heavily reliant on software, mostly because of the sawtooth layout. In fact the opening was delayed a week because of problems with the software

When a bus arrives it drives around the around about and waits, there is a screen that tells it which of the bays it is to go to. Passengers inside are also told via screens and a computer text-to-speech female UK voice (which is far from perfect with pronunciation). The bus drives into the bay and the doors open and passengers can board and alight. There is also a door at the front where the bike racks on the front of the busses can be accessed.

Once the bus closes its doors, the sliding doors into the building close as well. The computer system then tells the driver via a screen at the front of the bus bay what to do, when its safe to reverse etc. There is also an LCD which has a view from a camera from way far back so the bus can see where it is and what's around it. Note there are only busses and no people in this area.

This is all automated by the software, Id hate to think what would happen if the software went down!

Connexionz, A Christchurch company developed the software system. They are also the ones in charge of the Real time info systems the christchurch bus system has used for many years.

Some bus drivers are still struggling with getting used to it and all the systems

Anyway, I think it's very cool although a few improvements could be made. It's definitely better than the cold outdoor one we had before!

Has anyone in christchurch used this? Thoughts?

Here are some other pictures, Some of which were taken during driver training before it opened. These pictures are from metroinfo's facebook page



Here are some pictures I took myself today.



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zocster
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  #1311734 26-May-2015 03:44
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That is so cool!




 

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k1wi
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  #1311735 26-May-2015 04:45
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It looks a lot like the long distance bus stations that I've travelled between in the US. But more high-tech and cleaner/shinier.

alasta
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  #1311755 26-May-2015 07:47
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Looks good. The old one never had enough capacity, and it always seemed crazy to me that many buses still went straight up Colombo Street without actually entering the facility.



Yabanize

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  #1311779 26-May-2015 08:08
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alasta: Looks good. The old one never had enough capacity, and it always seemed crazy to me that many buses still went straight up Colombo Street without actually entering the facility.


This one seems quite crowded at peek times, but only half of it is open at the moment

This one has a platform out on the street (platform L) as you can see on the picture. This is for a bus that terminates at there (it goes between the airport and the bus interchange and waits there for until the next departure time)

  #1311781 26-May-2015 08:12
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Yup great to see one of the anchor projects coming to life. Looks fantastic and I want to go and have a look even though I have never been on a bus in my life.




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MikeB4
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  #1311785 26-May-2015 08:16
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The design looks great and the Bus entry looks accessible , just have to make sure the other stops are and the drivers know how to deal with disabled passengers.


Yabanize

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  #1311789 26-May-2015 08:21
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MikeB4: The design looks great and the Bus entry looks accessible , just have to make sure the other stops are and the drivers know how to deal with disabled passengers.



I saw a passenger with a wheelchair board yesterday, bus driver just put their ramp down, was easy

Yeah there's those yellow tactile pavers on the ground for visually impaired, audio and visual announcements, braille for the door numbers, and push buttons by each door which either announce what door this is if there is no bus there or which bus is there

 
 
 

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MikeB4
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  #1311802 26-May-2015 08:56
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Yabanize:
MikeB4: The design looks great and the Bus entry looks accessible , just have to make sure the other stops are and the drivers know how to deal with disabled passengers.



I saw a passenger with a wheelchair board yesterday, bus driver just put their ramp down, was easy

Yeah there's those yellow tactile pavers on the ground for visually impaired, audio and visual announcements, braille for the door numbers, and push buttons by each door which either announce what door this is if there is no bus there or which bus is there


Not sure what it is like in Christchurch but in Wellington just trying to get a bus to stop to pick one up is a mission, then you brave it as to if the driver will wait until you are on safely and in position before tacking off. That's after he has groaned that it takes you 2 more milliseconds
to make payment than it takes an able bodied passenger. But such is life

cyberhub
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  #1311823 26-May-2015 09:39
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Wow look really good




tdgeek
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  #1311827 26-May-2015 09:44
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MikeB4:
Yabanize:
MikeB4: The design looks great and the Bus entry looks accessible , just have to make sure the other stops are and the drivers know how to deal with disabled passengers.



I saw a passenger with a wheelchair board yesterday, bus driver just put their ramp down, was easy

Yeah there's those yellow tactile pavers on the ground for visually impaired, audio and visual announcements, braille for the door numbers, and push buttons by each door which either announce what door this is if there is no bus there or which bus is there


Not sure what it is like in Christchurch but in Wellington just trying to get a bus to stop to pick one up is a mission, then you brave it as to if the driver will wait until you are on safely and in position before tacking off. That's after he has groaned that it takes you 2 more milliseconds
to make payment than it takes an able bodied passenger. But such is life


A sad state of affairs. Is life to busy to help those in need? It is for some. 

nzkiwiman
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  #1311842 26-May-2015 09:59
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Do the buses have to reverse out of the bus park once pickup is complete - seems a bit backwards?


trig42
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  #1311844 26-May-2015 10:07
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nzkiwiman: Do the buses have to reverse out of the bus park once pickup is complete - seems a bit backwards?



I was wondering that also - strange that they have to reverse out. I actually would have thought reversing in was better (if you had to do either).
looks good though, much better than waiting outside.

tdgeek
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  #1311850 26-May-2015 10:14
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nzkiwiman: Do the buses have to reverse out of the bus park once pickup is complete - seems a bit backwards?



Yes, my 16yo daughter mentioned that last night. She also still has to walk a decent way I will get more feedback

Although if they did reverse, then yes that would be backwards.....  :-)

MikeB4
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  #1311865 26-May-2015 10:35
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By driving in and backing out it provides a smaller building footprint requirement.

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