Dave's Ideas

Kyle Z’s Train Station Ideas

March 23, 2011

Reader Kyle Z. from Vancouver BC responded to my Dummy-Proof Train Doors last week with a few ideas of his own. And here they are:

A. A countdown timer to let passenger know how long until the door closes. I like this idea, as it is very convenient. We have timers like this at crosswalks, so why not on a train platform? Whether or not it will encourage or discourage people to run towards the train remains to be seen.

B. An attendant-operated button that would extend the train’s stay at a platform to give more time for persons in wheelchairs or moms pushing stroller around to board. I think this would be handy, but attendants are at platforms only a small percentage of the time. I believe there is adequate time for people to board, it’s just the late stragglers that hold things up. Also this might be too disruptive for the train schedule?

However I’d like to see idea B. as a button on the platform intended for use by disabled persons in a wheelchair. They would use this to claim an area at the front of the first car. Upon pushing this button, passengers on the inbound train are notified via intercom that they need to move out of the section to allow the wheelchair occupant to safely board. I say this because often when I am in a sardine-packed train that is near the downtown core, I’d see persons in a wheelchair on the platform who cannot board because there is no room and no one would exit (I often have to play conductor on the train - the front of the train is designated for disabled passengers). So with this alert, everyone has to shuffle and make room.

Entry filed under: Transportation. Tags: Design, Safety, Transportation.