Niles Free Bus

[Busjack]

3 hours ago, artthouwill said:

Those Niles Free routes were incredibly popular.  From what I saw, the vast majority of the passengers were seniors.  The suspension took place less than a week after I boarded one of the routes.  It was ( is) great for Niles residents. But I will stick to the full service Pace routes in the area.  But I think you are correct that Niles could have used the lower mileage buses.  

  

Buut whatever the platitudes, the bottom line is that there isn't going to be any service unless Niles and Pace come to some kind of agreement, and they do not seem to appear in a hurry to do so. It mayy be similar to Downers Grove, which first operated it it self, then had a contract with Pace, then decided it didn't want to have its employees run it, and handed it over to Pace, which contracted it with First Student. Unless Pace is motivated enough to contract with Niles or a private vendor, and its alert that ther are plenty of fixed routes in the area, I think this may be the end of the road. 

[Elkmn]

https://www.journal-topics.com/articles/mayor-free-bus-could-resume-by-end-of-february/

 

Truck minibuses!! 🫩

[artthouwill]

53 minutes ago, Elkmn said:

https://www.journal-topics.com/articles/mayor-free-bus-could-resume-by-end-of-february/

 

Truck minibuses!! 🫩

Maybe that works for most trips but before the suspension i saw a couple of fullness.  That's going to be interesting to say the least. 

[Busjack]

11 minutes ago, artthouwill said:

Maybe that works for most trips but before the suspension i saw a couple of fullness.  That's going to be interesting to say the least. 

The significant quote in the article was:

Critics of the Niles Free Bus system have long complained that when they saw the blue free buses, they would have few to no people aboard.

If, as stated, Niles is going to use the usual Pace paratransit equipment, I remember when the circulator was formally split into 410 and 411  that the walker brigade was using the ramp. Golf Mill and Village Crossing are not what they were then, but there's still the Civic Center and Library. Anyway, my point is that if the passenger demographic hasn't changed, I don't see relying on the lift to load those passengers and maintaining a schedule.

@Elkmn: Thanks for finding this.

[Busjack]

13 hours ago, Busjack said:

The significant quote in the article was:

Critics of the Niles Free Bus system have long complained that when they saw the blue free buses, they would have few to no people aboard.

Looking at RTAMS (Average November daikly ridership data from 2016 through 2024):

410: 2016: ~290.2024 ~150 weekdays; weekends, prettyconsisyently 150,with a Saturday peak of 200 in 2018-2019

411: 2016: 250, slump in 2019 to a consistent about 120 weekdays; Saturday down from 180 to 100, and Sunday from about 125 to 100.

412: 225 to ~130 weekdays; ~160 to ~120 weekends.

So, it looks like starting 2019. it lost about 50% of its weekday count, not quite as bad on weekends.

410: 

[666]

I do NOT see how using paratransit buses will help any. There is NO cord to pull when you want the "NEXT STOP". I can see the driver getitng yelled at because someone is going to complain that the bus operator missed their stop. 

[MetroShadow]

16 hours ago, 666 said:

I do NOT see how using paratransit buses will help any. There is NO cord to pull when you want the "NEXT STOP". I can see the driver getitng yelled at because someone is going to complain that the bus operator missed their stop. 

Aren't the buses on 811 (and, if you want to go back that far, 895) equipped with stop-request cords? I'd think that's an easier fix than you'd think. 

[Busjack]

59 minutes ago, MetroShadow said:

Aren't the buses on 811 (and, if you want to go back that far, 895) equipped with stop-request cords? I'd think that's an easier fix than you'd think. 

By 895, I assume you mean the International cutaways that were first in Downers Grove. Those weren't acquired as ADA vehicles, but I don't think signal cords would be a big deal.

I still think the bigger issue is having to use lifts. The timeframe indicated in the article wouldn't give time to procure a low entry bus, such as ARBOC buses.

[Busjack]

The Niles village board will vote (or just  did) on the contract, which is posted here. The one thing of interest here is the list of vehicles: 26201, 26202,  26204, 26208, 26209. 26210, 26211, 26212, 26214, 26215 (Coach & Equipment 2026), and an additional vehicle if one is unavailable due to repairs. But since the Niles staff memo says 10 15-passsenger vehicles, is the latter a typo?

 

[Busjack]

At the Feb. meeting, they said Niles approved the contract, but it will take from mid-March to early April to get service running, considering driver training, getting maintenance set up, etc.

[Busjack]

Tribune article tha Niles voters approved a {generally worthless} advisory referendum in favor of the  Niles Free Bus. Not much new here, buu I disagree with that they are 15-passenger vehicles, and the mayor's new assertion "now we have better ... vehicles."

[busfan2847]

Niles Free Bus starts up again today

[Busjack]

4 hours ago, busfan2847 said:

Niles Free Bus starts up again today

Link.

I'm surprised the illustrated bus isn't wrapped.

UPDATE: That sure looks like a larger paratransit bus and the fleet number matches the list, so I guess Pace changed what a 2x200 means again. Also, as of now  410 links are missing from the website.