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About this blog

Ramblings about nothing important

Entries in this blog

For The Transit Fans: News, Stories and Lore: Downsizing Can Be Fun!

Many people live in the big city and will for a long time, manufacturers have begun to update their offerings of compact and microcars. Fun and Fuel Efficient small cars are selling well as tax incentives have been explored for those who buy fuel efficient and smaller vehicles.     2015 Smart Fortwo   Mercedes Benz: Smart which stands for Swatch Mercedes ART was started when the CEO of Swatch had an idea for a fun, stylish city car. He began the project under his own compa

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For The Transit Fans: Technology Profile: Taxicab Medallion

​(9/11,We Will Never Forget, Even Though Rudy Giuliani did)     NYC TLC # 5J67 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid   ​Purpose: ​Simply Put, Taxicab Medallions are designed to limit the number of Taxis licensed to operate at any given time. In NYC, Taxicab Medallions were first implemented in 1937 by Mayor LaGuardia. During the Great Depression there were over 30,000 taxi cabs in operation in NYC, with more cabs than riders this led to Cabbies working very long hours and a growing dis

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For The Transit Fans: Company Profile: CT Transit

The primary bus system of the State of Connecticut, CT Transit is one of the larger transit networks in New England with an operating budget over $100 Million.     CT Transit New Flyer D40LF   Type: Public/Private, Service privately operated by HNS Managment, First Transit and other contractors   Union Representation: All CT Transit Bus Operators are represented by Amalgamated Transit Union Local 281   Fleet Size: 430 Low-Floor, Articulated and Motorcoach Transit Bus

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For The Transit Fans: Company Profile: Calgary Transit

Calgary Transit provides transportation services for the City of Calgary with over 100 million riders annually.         Calgary Transit New Flyer Xcelsior XDE60   Type: Public, Service owned and operated by the City of Calgary   Union Representation: Calgary Transit Bus and Light Rail Operators are represented by Amalgamated Transit Union Local 583   Fleet Size: 965 Low Floor Buses, 192 Light Rail Vehicles   Routes: 160   Manufacturer and Powerplant: Calgar

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For The Transit Fans: Intermission: Confessions of an Uber Driver

Uber and Lyft Trade Dress   I've driven for Uber in the past and recently decided to pick it back up again. So i thought it would be interesting to share my experience and help anyone considering doing it.         Uber Technologies Ford Fusion Autonomous Experimental in Pittsburgh   Disclaimer: Being an Uber Driver differs heavily depending on your affiliate city and this determines a wide variety of experiences which are unique and not universal to each city. Bigger

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For The Transit Fans: Technology Profile: IFTA Sticker

Trucks refueling at a Flying J Truck Stop in Texas       Purpose: The IFTA or International Fuel Tax Agreement is an alliance between The Lower 48 States and Canadian Provinces (Alaska, Hawaii, Washington DC and the Canadian Territories are exempt) regarding the taxation of fuel. Before the IFTA each state and province had its own regulations regarding taxing trucking companies purchasing fuel in their jurisdictions.     An IFTA Fuel Tax Return from Ontario   Practice

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For The Transit Fans: News, Stories and Lore: Business is Booming

Small Business is on the rise in the United States! Manufacturers have finally begun to fill a gap in vehicle offerings where some companies need a large or medium sized van but could only afford a small pickup truck. New, refreshed and innovative commercial van designs have finally made it into production and are serving small business well.             2017 Ford Transit Lineup   Ford: Part of the reason for this boom in commercial van sales is due to the fall of the fam

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For The Transit Fans: Manufacturer Profile: Mitsubishi Fuso

Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation is the heavy vehicle arm of Japanese Automotive and Electrical conglomerate Mitsubishi. Its products are legendary in reliability and affordability and can be found in all markets internationally.   Manufacturer Quick Facts:   Founded: 1932 Main Office: Kawasaki-Shi, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan Industry: Heavy Vehicle Manufacturing, Vehicle Components, Light Engines Notable Product: Canter, Aero King, Aero Star, Fuso FE, FC,

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For The Transit Fans: Technology Profile: ACERT

ACERT is one of the many innovations pioneered by an icon of industry.         Manufacturer Quick Facts:   Founded: April,15 1925 Main Office: Peoria, Illinois Industry: Diesel Engines, Vocational Trucks, Construction Equipment         Caterpillar CT Series Vocational Truck Line Up   Overview: Diesel Engines move the economy and without them commerce would come to a grinding halt. However they have harmful effects on the environment

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For The Transit Fans: Vehicle Profile: AEC Routemaster

(Love it or Hate it Brexit is here, regardless the USA stands with our British friends)   The Hall of Transit Greats welcomes its first European entrant and a British cultural icon.     London Transport AEC Routemaster RML and RM units in Piccadilly Circus, London         Manufacturer Quick Facts:   Founded: 1912 Ceased Operations: 1979 Main Office: Southall, Greater London, England Industry: Trucks, Transit Buses, Motorcoache

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For The Transit Fans: Company Profile: Indian Railways

One of the largest railway networks in the world, Indian Railways serves the entire country of India, moving 23 Million Passengers a day.     Indian Railways General Motors EMD WDP-4D on passenger duties       Type: Public, Owned by the Government of India. Privatization was explored but rejected.   Service: Passenger (Urban, Suburban, Short and Long Distance Trains), Freight   Fleet Size: Approximately 14,000 or more locomotives   Gauge: Indian Railways uses 4

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For The Transit Fans: Intermission: Building A Project Car II

(Happy 4th of July!, and a Happy Canada Day to my friends up north, thoughts and prayers for the families of those Canadian officers killed in the plane crash)   Hope everyone has a great 4th of July and stays safe over the weekend (Save a burger for me at the cookout) Ill be away for a bit so I thought this would be a great time to give an update on my project car.   Selection and Purchase: This first stage of beginning a project car is perhaps the hardest because if you love car

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For The Transit Fans: Company Profile: People Mover

The primary public transportation service in the Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska. People Mover serves Alaska's largest city of over 300,000.     People Mover New Flyer D40LFR   Type: Public   Union Representation: Not Unionized   Fleet Size: 52 Low Floor Buses   Routes: 14   Manufacturer And Powerplant: All of the buses in the People Mover fleet come from New Flyer with 5 D40LF units and the remaining units D40LFR's. All units are powered by diesel engines as th

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For The Transit Fans: Company Profile: Long Beach Transit

Serving Long Beach, California as well as portions of Los Angeles County and Orange County, Long Beach Transit is a perfect example of how a Medium Sized Transit System can be profitable and beneficial                     LBT New Flyer Xcelsior XN60       Type: Public   Union Representation: All Long Beach Transit Bus Operators are Represented by Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1277   Fleet Size: 230 Low Floor and Articulated Buses   Routes: 34   Manufact

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For The Transit Fans: Company Profile: Driving Alexandria Safely Home

Driving Alexandria Safely Home or DASH is the public transportation service provided to the residents of Alexandria, Virginia.             DASH Orion V being cleaned and refueled       Type: Public   Union Representation: Not Unionized   Fleet Size: 110 Low Floor Transit Buses   Routes: 12   Manufacturer And Powerplant: Because of the medium sized nature of the service, DASH procures medium and light duty transit buses at a lower cost instead of buying more e

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For The Transit Fans: Industry Perspectives: UPS Circle of Honor

In the world of truck driving many great faces are often not recognized for the hard physically demanding work they do, UPS has a special way of recognizing the talents of hardworking employees.     UPS Driver Ginny Odom displays her Circle of Honor 40 Years Patch       Overview: ​UPS Drivers who go 25 years without a "preventable" accident are inducted into the Circle of Honor. A prestigious group of veteran drivers who have also achieved that milestone. Their name is added

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For The Race Fans: Series Profile: NASCAR

A staple of American Motorsports, NASCAR creates a unique competition which is a blend of Speed, Endurance and Skill.     NASCAR at Night   Series Overview: The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing or NASCAR has its roots in the 1930's during the prohibition era when alcohol was illegal in the United States. Bootleggers who took Moonshine and Whiskey made in the Appalachian Mountains would modify their cars to escape the police chasing them over state lines. Boo

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For The Transit Fans: Company Profile: Nassau Inter-County Express

The Nassau Inter-County Express or NICE serves Nassau and Suffolk Counties in New York State as well as portions of Queens in New York City.     NICE New Flyer Xcelsior XN40   Type: Public/Private, Service privately operated by Transdev   Union Representation: All NICE Bus Operators are represented by Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1181   Fleet Size: 308 Low Floor Buses, 122 Paratransit Vehicles   Routes: 38   Manufacturer and Powerplant: NICE is unique in that a

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For The Transit Fans: Industry Perspectives: Public VS Private Options

Public Transit is a need for millions of citizens everyday, and because it provides an essential service the day to day execution of that service must be as consistent as possible. However sometimes corporate greed and profits and overshadow customer service and safety.         West Vancouver Transit New Flyer Xcelsior XDE 40       Overview: The day to day operation of any transit service is an expensive undertaking, and this is where the issue begins. Most transit servic

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For The Transit Fans: Vehicle Profile: PCC Streetcar

Patrolling the streets of North America for 80 years an arguable transit legend is making a resurgence and inspiring a movement.             TTC PCC Streetcar             Manufacturer Quick Facts:       Founded: 1887 Ceased Operations: 1974 Main Office: St. Louis, Missouri Industry: Streetcars, Railroad Cars, Trolleybuses, Locomotives Notable Product: PCC Streetcar, NYCTA/MTA R40A, R38, R14, R36 and various other Rolling

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For The Transit Fans: News, Stories and Lore: A Touch of Class

Luxury Vehicles exude power, ride comfortably, and are at the top of the Automotive food chain. However this vehicle segment is becoming a lot less.... European.. opening up the sector for much more competition.       South Korea:     Kia K900   Kia Motors: In the Mid 2010's Hyundai decided it would take on the luxury vehicle market outside of Korea and venture into the North American and European Luxury vehicle market. Hyundai stepped onto the scene with the Hyun

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For The Transit Fans: News, Stories and Lore: Dominance of the Midsize Pickup

Pickup Trucks are as American as Baseball and Apple Pie, but ever since the great recession Americans have found themselves downsizing while still needing the utility of the Pickup. Just as well, flagship pickup trucks from all manufacturers have gotten larger, more luxurious and more expensive taking them out of the reach of the "working man".   To solve this manufacturers have stepped up competition in the midsize pickup market. Midsize pickups tend to be toned down versions of the flagship

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For The Transit Fans: Vehicle Profile: Orion VI

Among one of the first bus designs utilizing the newly mandated "Low-Floor" designs the Orion VI has an interesting history in the Hall of Transit Greats.             WMATA Orion VI                 Manufacturer Quick Facts:       Founded: 1975 Ceased Operations: 2013 Main Office: Mississauga, Ontario Industry: Transit Buses Notable Product: Orion II, Orion V, Orion VI, Orion VII             TTC Orion

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For The Transit Fans: Manufacturer Profile: Carbon Motors Corporation

Started by former Police Officers and their financial backers, Carbon Motors set out to build the very first purpose built police car but met a sad end due to heavy lobbying against their product.     Carbon Motors E7 Patrol Car Factory Demonstrator     Manufacturer Quick Facts:   Founded: 2003 Ceased Operations: 2013 Main Office: Connersville, Indiana Notable Product: E7, TX7     Carbon Motors E7 Patrol Car Factory Demonstra

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For The Transit Fans: Vehicle Profile: NABI 42 BRT

The Final Vehicle produced by an arguable transit legend, the 42 BRT series is the final hurrah from North American Bus Industries.     WMATA NABI 42 BRT         Manufacturer Quick Facts:   Founded: 1992 Main Office: Anniston, Alabama Industry: Transit Buses Notable Product: LFW, BRT, CompoBus, NABI 416     NABI 42 BRT Factory Demonstrator   Model Quick Facts:   Vehicle Length: 42 or 60 Feet Vehi

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