• ghosts [he/him]@hexbear.net
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      18 days ago

      It’s ironically one of those things that the US would usually spend a billion dollars “fixing” but it already works just fine

    • KuroXppi [they/them]@hexbear.net
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      19 days ago

      They’re still on some of the older classes of tram in Melbourne. They’re convenient because they run the length of the tram, so are less likely to be obstructed by other passengers during peak travel, and you can signal your stop without having to move very far in the carriage while the tram is moving (and they often do brake suddenly, so being able to signal a stop without letting go of a support for too long is good).

      They’re above head-height for most people, roughly at the level of the hand hold straps, so aren’t wholly accessible, so there are retrofitted(?) buttons along the poles throughout the carriages.

      I like having both. They do sometimes get ripped out by people who grab them to support themselves (not sure if there’s also people who deliberately pull them out)

      The new trams have absolutely TRASH button layout. You basically have to either rely that someone else is getting off at your stop (which isn’t uncommon during peak times), ask someone to press it for you, or if nobody can hear then force your way across to the button.

  • doubtingtammy@lemmy.ml
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    19 days ago

    Other countries don’t have the clothesline thing? Is there another way too signal for the next stop? Or you just talk to the driver?

  • Sailor Anarres@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    19 days ago

    These are common but I’ve also been on plenty where they have nothing and you have to walk still moving to front of the bus to tell the bus driver.

  • sisatici [he/him]@hexbear.net
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    19 days ago

    I remember seeing it first on eek the cat. the characters were kicked out after they pulled the string. I thought it must be an emergency thing because how unusual it is to activate and how they were rudely kicked. then I watched it again with basic english and learned that was actually how they do regular non-emergency stop and kicking them out was for comedic purposes

  • アイス@lemmy.zip
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    18 days ago

    That’s a pretty nifty solution for a stop button actually. Low tech and easily covers every seat.

    • Poutine [he/him, comrade/them]@hexbear.net
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      18 days ago

      They are phasing out the “clothesline” in new buses here, and every time I ride on a new bus I have to struggle to find a button. The “clothesline” was strictly better.

  • infuziSporg [e/em/eir]@hexbear.net
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    18 days ago

    It is very clunky and outdated-looking for anyone who’s used to buttons.

    I think the reason why American buses left them in was because it is considered rude to expect an American to stand up and walk three steps to push a button. Naturally, entering and exiting the bus is an unreasonable expectation, which partly explains the lower usage of public transit in the US. After all, Americans will spend several minutes driving in circles around a parking lot, waiting for a space to open up and aggravating themselves in the process, rather than parking in the next lot over and walking.