Transit Part 6: Hub Design and Operation

First, let’s clarify 4 more terms as they relate to the lift used by Buses to load wheelchairs onto and off of the Bus.


Fold – The lift is folded up into a position that allows the bus to travel from point to point.

Unfold – The lift is unfolded into a position where it is now level with the inside floor of the Bus.

Lower – The lift is lowered to the ground either to allow a passenger to get off the bus or to allow a passenger to use the lift to get onto the bus.

Raise – The lift is raised back up to a point level with the inside floor of the bus.  The lift must be raised before it can be folded into travel position.

When an airplane pulls up to a terminal, a loading and unloading ramp is moved into position against the door of the airplane so that passengers can safely enter and exit the airplane.  A similar concept will be used in connection with the Hub.  A bus will pull up to a specific position at the Hub.  A ramp with handrails that are a few inches wider than the lift of the bus will raise up to a level that allows the lift, when unfolded, to fully open flat with the ramp.  The bus lift will then be unfolded.

This ramp allows all passengers, from ambulatory to wheelchair or scooter bound to load and unload by way of the ramp in the same way that passengers loading and unloading from an airplane use a gentle sloping walkway.  Sensors can be used, both on the bus and the Hub, to assist drivers and hub staff to ensure that the lift of the bus and the ramp of the Hub are properly lined up with each other.

Under my program, and based on various factors, there is the very real potential for Transit service Providers to have different sized hubs.  In the next few sections, I will discuss different parts of Hub design, including hubs that are larger, and therefore are able to handle more buses per hour then a smaller hub would be able to handle.

The Hub would be designed so that buses can load and unload at the lift from more than one side of the Hub.  A Hub that normally has four sides would be able to load and unload Local Area, Extended Local Area, and Special Event buses from three of those sides.  The fourth side would be for passengers to load and unload from Transfer Buses.   It is important to maintain this 3 to 1 ratio even in larger hubs so that Transfer Buses are not as likely to be over crowded or made to wait too long.

My loading ramp concept is key to reducing passenger transfer time at the Hub because it eliminates the time needed to raise and lower the lift for each passenger who needs to use it.  Also, because the lift is now simply part of a loading ramp, all passengers can us it without feeling insecure about how using the lift makes them look.

By staffing the hub with Assistants, it will be easier to efficiently assist each bus with loading and unloading passengers.

The Hub is more than just Ramps

The center of the hub would have restrooms and other on-site facilities.  Also, at key points around the Hub, there will be ramps or stairs by which passengers can enter an exit from the Hub without using a bus.  This is needed because some passengers will very likely be going to or coming from addresses that are very close to, or within “walking distance” from the Hub.  For these passengers, when they schedule their rides, they would schedule so as to be picked up at the Hub they live or work next to.

The Hub will have at least two restrooms available, one male and one female.  A passenger who is going an extended distance across the service area can use restrooms at Hubs as needed.  This will reduce the number of times our passengers need to feel pressured to avoid embarrassing themselves over something as private as the need to use a restroom.  Of course drivers would be able to use them also or would have separate employee restrooms.

Vending machines with drinks and snacks could also be located at each Hub.  This would provide passengers and drivers with options should they be thirsty or hungry, especially if they are waiting at the Hub for a bus that is still a few minutes out.

Each hub, regardless of how many docking stations it has, would have various types of signs and other means by which to help passengers who do not need to be escorted to know where to go to get to the docking station where they will load onto the next bus they are scheduled on.

For some passengers, regular signs with arrows and words will be sufficient.  For our visually impaired passengers who are still able to get around pretty good without escort, there will also need to be signs and other forms of assistance that accommodates them.

Perhaps, (just thinking out loud here), perhaps we could adapt existing technology to have what I’m going to call a Hub only GPS type of App that would allow their smart phone to guide them around the hub.  As they move around the Hub, devices with a very short broadcast range could be used to let them know where they are on the Hub.  There are ways to accomplish this. We would just need to consult with those who are already expert in this specific area for how best to accomplish this goal.

Thank you for taking time to read my program.  Obviously, if I didn't believe in my own program, I would not have published it for others to read and ponder on.

An Opinion Article by Dave Kemper
                   _________________________________

It has been said that: "One definition of insanity is to do the same thing, the same way, over and over and over again, each time expecting to achieve a different result."
Therefore, we must either CHANGE the way we live, or we bind our future to our past as if with CHAINS.
"I do not consider myself to be better than anyone else.  But I do believe in exercising my right to not stay stupid."

David W. Kemper, Author
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