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Now that there won't be major service changes to the MTA buses, now we can revel in a cute part of the bus experience: The bell cord, that somewhat slack length of cable that passengers pulled to alert drivers of their stops. Times dynasty scion A.G. Sulzberger writes on CityRoom, "Without fanfare, New York City Transit has installed the bell cord in all new buses, including 270 already in service in every borough, with an additional 580 hitting the streets over the next year. Eventually, the whole fleet will be outfitted with the cord." Why bring it back? Because it's cheaper and easier to repair! And a veteran bus driver added, even though the last bell cord was taken out in 1992 to make way for the tape buttons, "People still search for the cords. To this day, people will come up to me and say, ‘I can’t find the bell.’"
Ring The (Bus) Bell (Cord)
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How sad, that technology has progressed so little that this makes so much sense? Frankly, I'm happy to see them return. My kids will like this.
#1/2 it just has to do with the idiom if its not broke don't fix it - technology is progressing way to fast - and the sad part is humanity blinds itself by the new innovation which sometimes ends up being not as practical as the one before.
How sad, that technology has progressed so little that this makes so much sense? Frankly, I'm happy to see them return. My kids will like this.
So basically it's another fine example of the MTA doing what they want, wihtout possibly taking consumer polls/opnion into consideration PRIOR to spending all this money to change things, only to change it back years later, bravo!
People still can't find the bell?
Usually the simplest way is the best way. I remember the old cords -- they used to ring a little bell that was up at the front of the bus near the driver.
I thought the days of standing passengers thrusting their groins into sitting passengers faces trying to reach for the cord were over.
Have them in Chicago after having a sort of touch pad or whatever and these just work the best.
Do NYC busses call out the stop electronically like they do on the L and JMZ?
HA! Not all trains are capable of calling out the stops electronically. I have yet to see a bus that is.
Most of the buses in Chicago electronically call out their route number and name whenever the doors open, and then call out the stops/streets they're approaching a little bit in advance so that if you don't know where you're going, you can pull the cord. There's also a display at the front of the bus that shows this visibly as well.
I believe LI Bus announces stops...kinda wish NYC buses could do that took.
This is the best news I've heard all day! I miss the "ding thing" (as I like to call it) and applaud its return!
(Matty: There is an awful strip of tape on the buses that we press to signal we want to get off at the next stop. It's hard to press and not nearly as satisfying as pulling that cord!)
A concern of mine with this system is that it was last used pre-ipod. Now no one is listening to what is going on around them and people may well pull the cord repeatedly.
I don't think they're going back completely to the old bell system where it would repeatedly as long as people kept pulling the cord. Just replacing the press tapes with cords as the trigger for the current chime and light.
The cord is better because it runs the whole length of the bus. Those damn strips are never nearby.
Now if they would only spring the $500 (or less with bulk purchase) a pop for bike racks on buses.
Cord, tape, doesn't make much difference to me. But then again, I've always been a subway rider. Buses just smell so bad with the diesel fumes and whatnot.
Yes, let's all decry the fare increases and defecits, convict the MTA of not being able to properly run itself, then praise them for deciding to go back and retrofit every single bus in the system with new hardware.
How much do you think all the parts and labor will cost?
Lots.