FSP 1.1

Not Really Indian.

Not Really Indian (might be switching to TypePad at om.typepad.com/nri/)
ponders life as an Indian Californian.

Having grown up in a era of inquiries and commissions to determine
what Canadian really means as a culture and an identity, I can relate
to the sardonic dual boast and confession of being not really Indian.

NRI has good taste in music too. A good thing, since there's not enough
downtempo deep house on Clear Channel.

Better Transit Info sells more trips

17 September 2003
Research suggests that better passenger information may contribute
to a 5%-25% increase in public transport trips.

The International Association of Public Transport (UITP) examines how the sector
can enhance passenger information during its 3rd Conference on Travel
Information, which opens in Gothenburg, Sweden, today.

“In an increasingly information dominated world, intelligent travel choices have
to be marketed just as consumer products are,” stated UITP General Secretary
Hans Rat. “When a consumer buys a new product he or she will find instructions
on how to use it. Public transport products are no different, so our consumers
need to be informed and guided in their use of our product. Choosing the best
itinerary according to personal needs and preferences implies having precise
information about the transport system. It is pointless to provide a service if your
customers are unaware of it.”

Bringing opportune information to passengers can vastly improve the travelling
experience. Time spent waiting for a vehicle or connection, for example, is
perceived as shorter if the waiting time is known. A strong and coherent
communication strategy also greatly increases public transport’s visibility and
profile, which will result in a better positioning of the public transport sector.

Indeed, as privatisation and deregulation spread, the need for good information
becomes ever greater because of the complex interactions between operators
and organising authorities in competitive markets.

“Effectively, the positive aspects of travel information increase public transport
usage,” continued Mr Rat. “Information on its own cannot work miracles, but
research suggests that better information may contribute to a 5%-25% increase
in trips. A well-designed information strategy can really tip the balance between
success and failure.”

UITP is organising this Conference to drive home the message that high quality
travel information must form an integral part of the public transport product, and
to come to a better understanding of users’ perspectives and needs. The main
theme of the conference is how technology can help provide better travel
information for the customer.

On the occasion of this Conference - organised in collaboration with
InformNorden (the Scandinavian organisation for IT in public transport),
Västtrafik (the public transport authority of west Sweden) and the City of
Gothenburg – UITP is launching a good practice guide entitled Towards an
Integrated Travel Information System. This handbook examines twelve current
challenges, and provides solutions, proposals and 70 worldwide good practice
cases of how to develop and implement an efficient information strategy.

From UITP.

***
Notes for editors
• Founded in 1885, the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) is the international organisation for public transport authorities and operators, policy decision-makers, scientific institutes and the public transport supply and service industry. It is a platform for worldwide co-operation and the sharing of know-how between its 2,500 members from some 80 countries. For more information about UITP or the Travel Information Conference, contact UITP’s Communications Department: Cara McLaughlin (Tel: +32 2 6636639; Fax: +32 2 6736100; cara.mclaughlin@uitp.com) or Stéphanie Loozen (Tel: +32 2 661 31 99; Fax: +32 2 6601072; stephanie.loozen@uitp.com) or visit www.uitp.com/Events/goteborg/en/.
• The UITP Conference is being held on the occasion of the annual Public Transport 2003 Congress and Exhibition at the Swedish Exhibition Centre, Gothenburg, Sweden (18-20 September). Public Transport 2003 is being organised by the Swedish Exhibition Centre in association with the Bus & Coach Federation Sweden (BR) and the Swedish Public Transport Association (SLTF). Some 130 exhibitors from 10 countries will be showing new products and services, giving a complete and efficient overview of the market offer. For more information about the Public Transport 2003 Exhibition, please contact Lena Kidner (Tel: +46 31 708 80 00; lena.kidner@swefair.se). For more information about the Public Transport 2003 Congress programme, please contact Anita Stenhardt, SLTF (Tel: +46 8 788 08 69; anita.stenhardt@sltf.se) or Anna Grönlund, BR (Tel: +46 8 4620650; anna.gronlund@bussbranschen.se). A press centre is accessible via the entrance on Mässans gata 12. This press centre will be manned by press hostesses, and will be equipped with desks, PCs, telephones, faxes, copier and storage lockers. You will also find press material from exhibitors. It will be open from 07.30 hours, Thursday 18 September (Tel: +46 31 708 85 50). Press information: Tel: +46 31 708 80 00; Fax: +46 31 708 84 60; press@swefair.se; www.persontrafik.info.

Adam Smith on transportation

The Adam Smith Institute on transportation issues [Linked]. Extensive coverage of
road pricing and rail road organization.

And a well presented blog covering many other issues too.

Station Vicinity Map

A good transit station map shows pedestrian routes, station ingress and egress,
station in context of its neighbouring streets and buildings, and the location of
amenities, from bus stops to bike lockers to ticket vending machines. And shows
the parking facility, differentiating handicapted, kiss and ride, standing,
short term, long term, and handicapped paces.

Bad: (From ACERail)

Better:
(Click to enlarge; from LIRR)

SF Transbay Terminal

Plans for the SF Transbay Terminal linking BART and Caltrain are proceeding.

San Francisco is served by several passenger train systems, but they
miss connecting with each other by a mile. This new terminal would connect
Caltrain and BART and MUNI.

Planetizen

Planetizen is an excellent urban planning slashblog. Linked.

Bike racks on buses.

This example of the acrane law which governs transit in the SF Bay area
might be coming to an end. An during a week of spare the air days, too.

PUT BIKE RACKS ON BUSES - VICTORY NEAR!

Legislation that would make bike racks legal on some types of commuter
busses (AB 1409) cleared its final legislative hurdle late last week
and is headed to the governor's desk for consideration. As you may
know, 40-foot and 60-foot "urban transit" buses may be equipped with
front-mounted bicycle racks, but 45-foot "over-the-road" commuter
buses are not permitted to have these racks. AB 1409 would remove this
restriction in the vehicle code and allow transit operators to install
front-mounted bicycle racks. For more info, as well as sample letters
of support for AB 1409.

Subaru takes Pro street tire classes

News from the Pro Solo 2003 Finale in Topeka, KS.

Billy Brooks takes STS in a 2000 Subaru Impreza RS.

And Keith 'KC' Casey wins STX in a 2002 Subaru Impreza Wagon (!).

More information about racing Subarus:
i-club.com, subrew.com, nasioc.com (North American Subaru Impreza Owners) forums.

(ST in STS, STX means Street touring).

Harvard man Larry Summers

Over time, I came to see that mutual interest was often a more important
catalyst to agreement than compelling logic.
-- Larry Summers, President, Harvard University.

Worm art

Computer worms, introduced by silly pictures:

.

NTK would be amused.

In related news,
Microsoft officials say it is not the holes in its software but the people who write
spyware and viruses that are the problem. The end user, they say, is ultimately
responsible for what gets downloaded onto a hard drive.