could a novabus have a shield

[Kimball401]

I heard this from 74th & Chicago operators and I'm seeing it happen a little but most of the night runs are being supplied by New Flyers instead of Nova buses or the mix of both. The Chicago Garage claimed when I called and ask that it was due to a series of attacks and to help operators with fare disputes with potential threating passengers. I personally think that the novas deserve just as much right to do night runs regardless because the buses are shieldless . Also for some retarded reason CTA modified the 1600-1700 from their "metro shields I call them" to full cab shields. Now they could had have New Flyer not deliver them in this configuration but I feel that the Nova buses days are limited to just this summer and fall and be gone by mid to late winter like the the TMC 4400's (RIP). :(

[dann]

I heard this from 74th & Chicago operators and I'm seeing it happen a little but most of the night runs are being supplied by New Flyers instead of Nova buses or the mix of both. The Chicago Garage claimed when I called and ask that it was due to a series of attacks and to help operators with fare disputes with potential threating passengers. I personally think that the novas deserve just as much right to do night runs regardless because the buses are shieldless . Also for some retarded reason CTA modified the 1600-1700 from their "metro shields I call them" to full cab shields. Now they could had have New Flyer not deliver them in this configuration but I feel that the Nova buses days are limited to just this summer and fall and be gone by mid to late winter like the the TMC 4400's (RIP).

I recently asked CTA officials about the timetable of the retirement of Novas and they said the Novas will not be retired until after the completion of the Red Line project at the earliest.

[Kimball401]

even thought cta claims that think real carefully about this : 100 plus buses from the seattle contract . Now cta said that even with the FEB 2009 service cutbacks that Archer would remain open. That got twisted. Then some 6000 was suposed to remain in service to lower service routes .that also git twisted and the entire fleet got retired. Cta claims to do one thing then flip if something goes wrong and do the what they said they wasn't going to. So I wouldn't put it past me that it will "accindently" happen but I'm finna go out on 47th and ride any novas. :)

[See Tea Eh]

I heard this from 74th & Chicago operators and I'm seeing it happen a little but most of the night runs are being supplied by New Flyers instead of Nova buses or the mix of both. The Chicago Garage claimed when I called and ask that it was due to a series of attacks and to help operators with fare disputes with potential threating passengers. I personally think that the novas deserve just as much right to do night runs regardless because the buses are shieldless . Also for some retarded reason CTA modified the 1600-1700 from their "metro shields I call them" to full cab shields. Now they could had have New Flyer not deliver them in this configuration but I feel that the Nova buses days are limited to just this summer and fall and be gone by mid to late winter like the the TMC 4400's (RIP).

I'd ask why you're calling a garage to ask about assigning a specific bus type to certain runs, but I'm not sure I really want to know the answer.

That said, why do you feel that a particular bus model "deserves" the "right" to anything? It's not a person. It's a machine.

Other than operator safety issues, it makes more sense to use New Flyers rather than Novas because, as general good practice in the transit industry, service should favor using newer buses more and older buses less, since newer buses should be (in theory) more reliable and more fuel efficient than older buses. The New Flyers are fairly new, and the Novas are now the oldest buses in the fleet, and many of them have not had a rehab. So, when you're running overnight service using only a skeletal fleet, run the New Flyers.

Or, you can start a petition drive and write your congressman to fight for Nova rights. Maybe even organize a Nova rights parade or something.

Personally, I'll reserve my worrying about rights to actual people.

Now cta said that even with the FEB 2009 service cutbacks that Archer would remain open.

When did CTA claim that?

[Busjack]

I heard this from 74th & Chicago operators and I'm seeing it happen a little but most of the night runs are being supplied by New Flyers instead of Nova buses or the mix of both. The Chicago Garage claimed when I called and ask that it was due to a series of attacks and to help operators with fare disputes with potential threating passengers. I personally think that the novas deserve just as much right to do night runs regardless because the buses are shieldless .

I can't follow the rest of this thread, but it seems to me to be foaming that someone claims that the CTA should be going to an expense to retrofit buses that probably will be out of service in two years to run at a time of the day when at least 90% of the fleet is locked up in the garages or yards.

At this stage, people riding owl should be glad that some bus shows up once every half hour.

[Kimball401]

When did CTA claim that?

[Busjack]

When did CTA claim that?

Cta first stated around july 2008 of its budget crisis,Sept 2008 purposed service cutbacks route elimations and a possible garage closure. Jan 14th cta said that Archer could be rebuilt to help sustain service follwing the cutbacks, Feb 9th was doomsday for Archer and the 6000's :'(

Most of that was just political talk, sort of the same as Darrell Jefferson saying he was going on strike if the funding (tax) increase wasn't enacted, which it was. I don't think any definite plan was given out to the public, other than, say, the Sundays schedule only one, or the later slightly modified one.

Now, in 2010, they actually were serious, and Archer was gone.

[Kimball401]

I can't follow the rest of this thread, but it seems to me to be foaming that someone claims that the CTA should be going to an expense to retrofit buses that probably will be out of service in two years to run at a time of the day when at least 90% of the fleet is locked up in the garages or yards.

At this stage, people riding owl should be glad that some bus shows up once every half hour.

I'm not saying that CTA should invest in building shields in buses that won't last more than 5 years but all I was saying is just give the Novabuses a chance rather than use high end excuses to use more efficent buses . 74th and 77th don't care and throws what ever bus availble out to pull a night card run, but Chicago has to use these dumb excuses just p*ssed me off.

And BTW I didn't. mean to disgust you to the point you didn't want to read the thread :'(

[Busjack]

And BTW I didn't. mean to disgust you to the point you didn't want to read the thread :'(

It doesn't disgust me, it is more of an issue that with CTA claiming to be as broke as it is, it doesn't need someone to tell them how to be more inefficient without a real operational reason to be.

[Kimball401]

It doesn't disgust me, it is more of an issue that with CTA claiming to be as broke as it is, it doesn't need someone to tell them how to be more inefficient without a real operational reason to be.

True that but im only vouching for fleet equalness

[i8itall4u]

"....maybe even organize a Nova rights parade or something."

THAT is funny....great line!

[sw4400]

I'm not fully comprehending the idea behind this post(fleet equalness????)... but to add to fleet equalness and famous quotes...

"Ask not what your NOVA can do for you... ask what you can do for your NOVA!!!"

In all seriousness though, a bus is a bus... I liked the TMC's because I was frequently a passenger on the #11 Lincoln route, a route heavily run by TMC's up until their retirement. But at night when the 5800's and 1000's were prevalent at North Park, they were run more often than the TMC's on the North Park runs. That was due in part to the age of the buses and their frequency to break down. The NOVA's are approaching the 12 year mark, and while not as old as the TMC's(18), they are the more common bus to break down right now due to age and parts required to be replaced. I know one NOVA on the #152 I thought would've went out of service because she was able to kneel it for some passengers, but it initially wouldn't raise back up despite the operator pressing the raise switch several times. It finally did raise after five or six times.

[Busjack]

Or, you can start a petition drive and write your congressman to fight for Nova rights.

It probably is covered by Title 6704 of the Canadian Civil Rights Act of 1964.

However, it hasn't been disclosed whether a Nova is L G B or T, or even if the plug/outlet in a hybrid or electric bus is male or female.

[Railwaymodeler]

I'm getting an idea here: A kids book featuring buses and L trains, as an allegory for the Jim Crow days through the Civil Rights era. The buses could represent the black population, and the L trains, the white population. Crow laws represented as the buses having to wait for the train to pass at the crossing. The Rosa Parks demonsration as a bus refusing to wait for the train to pass at the crossing (As it is a kids book, the L would mysteriously grind to a halt, to the anger of its motorman). Of course, all the other buses would start protesting unfair and unequal treatment (Maybe via destination board protest signs). You all get the idea.

Maybe I should write up something like this???

[Busjack]

I'm getting an idea here: A kids book featuring buses and L trains, as an allegory for the Jim Crow days through the Civil Rights era. The buses could represent the black population, and the L trains, the white population. Crow laws represented as the buses having to wait for the train to pass at the crossing. The Rosa Parks demonsration as a bus refusing to wait for the train to pass at the crossing (As it is a kids book, the L would mysteriously grind to a halt, to the anger of its motorman). Of course, all the other buses would start protesting unfair and unequal treatment (Maybe via destination board protest signs). You all get the idea.

Maybe I should write up something like this???

If Thomas the Tank Engine can make it, why not?

However, the Rosa Parks one would have to be green over yellow, which apparently most National City Lines and ATC buses were.

[qwantae]

74th and 77th don't care and throws what ever bus availble out to pull a night card run, but Chicago has to use these dumb excuses just p*ssed me off.

:'(

Forest Glen always puts one or couple Nova on the 77 every night, 7 days a week. :rolleyes:

[jajuan]

I see it like this. When it's one of my nights I have to work overnight, I want to be sure the bus I'm riding will get me through the main leg of my trip without breaking down. If that means more often than not it's a New Flyer be it 1000 or 4000 series artic because those are the newer models out of the fleet, so be it. On the children's book post, was it supposed to be a joke? Because I'm not laughing if it was.

[See Tea Eh]

I was saying is just give the Novabuses a chance rather than use high end excuses to use more efficent buses

They've had 12 years worth of chances. Now they're at the end of their lives and they are getting used less often. It's shocking that this should be so difficult to understand.

74th and 77th don't care and throws what ever bus availble out to pull a night card run, but Chicago has to use these dumb excuses just p*ssed me off.

If you get pissed off because they don't assign old buses to night runs, then you seriously need to become more acquainted with the world.

That said, if I were in charge of CTA maintenance, I'd be more upset that they're using Novas overnight at 74th and 77th rather than New Flyers.

[artthouwill]

I thought this thread was going to be about retrofitting Shields for the drivers on the Novas. Even if the buses are going to be retired next year, for the safety of the bus drivers, I see it as a justifiable expense. CTA probably feels it is not worth the expense, which is also understandable. Based on that alone, the Novas should not be on any night cars . Though they have held up well, it is better to run the newer equipment. Perhaps the originator of this thread can hope that Novabus can win the 400 plus bid for 40ft and artic buses. Otherwise he May want to move to NYC.

[Kimball401]

I thought this thread was going to be about retrofitting Shields for the drivers on the Novas. Even if the buses are going to be retired next year, for the safety of the bus drivers, I see it as a justifiable expense. CTA probably feels it is not worth the expense, which. Though they have held up well, it is better to run the newer equipment. Perhaps the originator of this thread can hope that Novabus can win the 400 plus bid for 40ft and artic buses. Otherwise he May want to move to NYC.

Chicago CTA til I die and I just saying since I'm. Sitting here at 47th and Lake Park, looking at this nova its about time for them move on (tears) . Its too easy to see that 74th os starting to defer maintiance but I wish CTA could run the way it used to be where there was pride to say you work for this company rather than be embarrased to say it. I'll agree with everyone for the sake of this forum and welcome the new flyers in ,but their starting to show soe wear and tear.

[Railwaymodeler]

If Thomas the Tank Engine can make it, why not?

However, the Rosa Parks one would have to be green over yellow, which apparently most National City Lines and ATC buses were.

May just start typing this up. Am on a (mostly) pleasure trip in the North Woods, got my laptop with and plenty of time on my hands.

My idea for the tail half of the book, is how after the hard work of the "revolutionary" buses gained them equality to the "L" trains, decades later, the buses became too complacent, and started voluntarily waiting for the trains. Ever been on a Pace North school tripper? Notice how all these kids (mostly black and hispanic) tend to pile on top of one another all the way in the back, leaving seats available up front? Seems to be a backhanded slap to previous generations that were required to move back when told to.

Remember Dr. Seuss's "Butter Battle Book", specifically the ending? Would have an ending something along the lines of how the book ended.

[i8itall4u]

May just start typing this up. Am on a (mostly) pleasure trip in the North Woods, got my laptop with and plenty of time on my hands.

My idea for the tail half of the book, is how after the hard work of the "revolutionary" buses gained them equality to the "L" trains, decades later, the buses became too complacent, and started voluntarily waiting for the trains. Ever been on a Pace North school tripper? Notice how all these kids (mostly black and hispanic) tend to pile on top of one another all the way in the back, leaving seats available up front? Seems to be a backhanded slap to previous generations that were required to move back when told to.

Remember Dr. Seuss's "Butter Battle Book", specifically the ending? Would have an ending something along the lines of how the book ended.

How does this go from "A Nova having a shield" to comments specific to Blacks and Hispanics? The race card was discussed in the Dan Ryan reconstruction thread, so why is this here? Because to know the history of people of color and understand the ways of those who come against them, insighting conflict anywhere and everywhere they go is what they do. With high regard to Kevin, ChicagoBus dot org is not the battlefield.

[Railwaymodeler]

I personally think that the novas deserve just as much right to do night runs regardless because the buses are shieldless .

This was where some of the joking started, leading into this:

That said, why do you feel that a particular bus model "deserves" the "right" to anything? It's not a person. It's a machine.

And finally became:

"Ask not what your NOVA can do for you... ask what you can do for your NOVA!!!"

And:

It probably is covered by Title 6704 of the Canadian Civil Rights Act of 1964.

However, it hasn't been disclosed whether a Nova is L G B or T, or even if the plug/outlet in a hybrid or electric bus is male or female.

To answer the question:

How does this go from "A Nova having a shield" to comments specific to Blacks and Hispanics?

It doesn't, really. I suppose if you crack open a history book, and read up on the 1950s and 1960s, then you might have your answer.

I suppose the idea of a kid's style history book, using buses and trains as an allegory for various groups of people, is somehow wrong?

A little touchy, aren't we?

The race card was discussed in the Dan Ryan reconstruction thread, so why is this here?

So who pulled the race card?

Now let's move forward here: Novas very likely won't get shields, as they are close to retirement, barring any surprises. I suppose there's still ways for the CTA to end up not getting the Seattle NFs (Remember that this is Illinois, and odd things tend to happen when large amounts of money are involved), and if they don't get them, then the Novas might be around a while still.

[Kevin]

Now let's move forward here: Novas very likely won't get shields, as they are close to retirement, barring any surprises. I suppose there's still ways for the CTA to end up not getting the Seattle NFs (Remember that this is Illinois, and odd things tend to happen when large amounts of money are involved), and if they don't get them, then the Novas might be around a while still.

Good final thought.

I think this thread has run its course.