| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Lifestar Fe
Top Member
United States
521 Posts |
 Posted - 10/17/2014 : 12:01:11 AM
|
Hi all,
Wow, it has been a long time since I posted here! Things are sure different than they were 3 year ago...
Anyway, I have a question relevant to the bus industry but not specifically pupil transportation (actually not school buses at all). Perhaps mechanics or transit drivers can help me out, or maybe one of you will just happen to know!
I work for a transit system in California and we are having a hard time with passengers reading the destination signs on our old London RT buses. The destination sign is at the back of the bus, and th`e conductor (who stands on the rear platform) manually changes it each run. We built a new terminal this summer, and now the rear of the bus (and consequently the destination sign) face away from all the passengers.
We want to have a destination sign on the front, US curbside, and rear of the bus, but manually changing all of these presents a problem. Exterior signs could not be changed en route, and interior signs would require the conductor to reach around passengers. The easiest solution is to install modern LED destination signs, however I think this would detract from the historical look of the bus.
Another solution would be to install remotely controlled rollsigns using destination blinds. I know these exist, but am having difficulty finding any information on manufacturers of them (even in the UK, where they are popular). Its problematic that destination blinds have become such a hot commodity...this drives up the price of used equipment and makes finding information about modern equipment difficult.
Alternatively, does anyone have an opinion on the way an LED sign would look in the bus? Or an alternative suggestion? I realize that this operation is somewhat hard to understand as it is not traditional.
Tl,Dr: Does anyone have any knowledge of modern rollsigns? I know its a long shot since this isn't a transit forum, and they're not popular in the US.
And, because I realize this is confusing:
This is the rear of the bus with the destination sign:
[url=https://flic.kr/p/pq4ejD] [/url][url=https://flic.kr/p/pq4ejD]Untitled[/url] by [url=https://www.flickr.com/people/25199843@N08/]LifestarFe[/url], on Flickr
[url=https://flic.kr/p/pGyTLE] [/url][url=https://flic.kr/p/pGyTLE]Untitled[/url] by [url=https://www.flickr.com/people/25199843@N08/]LifestarFe[/url], on Flickr
And this is what it looks like as passengers approach (no line letter visible, the London destinations are for decoration only).
[url=https://flic.kr/p/pq3z9S] [/url][url=https://flic.kr/p/pq3z9S]Untitled[/url] by [url=https://www.flickr.com/people/25199843@N08/]LifestarFe[/url], on Flickr
And I'll throw in this picture of our old terminal, where buses drove the opposite direction and the destination sign faced the crowds. Oh yeah, and theres a new Thomas EF school bus from Nevada in there too.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/o9cYZW] [/url][url=https://flic.kr/p/o9cYZW]Untitled[/url] by [url=https://www.flickr.com/people/25199843@N08/]LifestarFe[/url], on Flickr
Uhhh...oops. Apparently its been so long I don't know how to img code a flickr photo #help. |
Edited by - Lifestar Fe on 10/17/2014 12:38:59 AM
|
|
|
Thomas Ford 85-16
Top Member
USA
4177 Posts |
Posted - 10/17/2014 : 6:53:58 PM
|
Roller curtain signs are still quite popular on transit vehicles other than 40 foot Gilligs and the like. We call them roller curtain signs at work, and that search brought up this link right away:
http://transignllc.com/products/roller-curtain-signs/
Is that what you have in mind? There are versions that mount inside a bulkhead compartment, and also versions that come in a case for mounting in the window. I suppose they might not be automatic, but they can be controlled by a remote mounted switch to roll them. As long as front/side/rear signs were all in-sync, it could work. |
 |
|
|
Lifestar Fe
Top Member
United States
521 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2014 : 12:13:16 AM
|
Yes, that is exactly what I was looking for, thank you!
I had been trying "bus destination roll signs" which brought up almost exclusively antique rollsigns/artwork.
Now that I think of it, I have seen many cutaways with these destination signs. I think it would look a lot better than an LED sign on the RTs...
Starting tomorrow we'll try manually placing/flipping signs by having the conductor walk through the bus after the last inbound stop, however I still have concerns about this method. I think the roller curtain signs will be a good long term solution...I will do some more research (and, now that I know they exist, bring it up to the maintenance manager) |
  |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
Modern Transit Bus Destination Blinds/Rollsigns
