Comments on: busdinistas to rail against Van Hool hegemony

By: Chris K.

Chris K. — Sat, 23 May 2009 02:40:26 +0000

Well, that came out badly!

At least you can use the Visit this group link!

By: Chris K.

Chris K. — Sat, 23 May 2009 02:39:35 +0000

Subscribe to No to Van Hool Email: Visit this group

By: Chris K.

Chris K. — Mon, 11 May 2009 04:41:21 +0000

The contract that ACT put up for bids was in fact rigged to sound exactly like the specs of the Van Hool buses. This is why Van Hool was the sole bidder. Gillig pulled in and asked for an extension on the bid deadline while the company decided whether it could make a vehicle for AC Transit’s specific requirements. Gillig decided it was a waste of time, money, and energy and Van Hool was awarded the contract. No, Van Hools do not have more standing room. It’s not at all hard to tell. The aisles are narrower, hence the idea that they have less standing room. The NABI buses do a better job on major routes because there is room to stand. I don’t believe that BS about state funding cuts. It’s got to be the Van Hools!

About the 36 american buses thing…it’s on Joyce Roy’s website.

{End Comment}

P.S.
Hey, David Vartanoff…This is Chris Kildegaard. You helped with the wiring for my attic!

By: david vartanoff

david vartanoff — Mon, 11 May 2009 01:43:36 +0000

fact, Because Van Hools have no US content they are inelligible for FTA subsidy, thus far more expensive no matter what the general specs.

Fact the most recent sole source contract was for a bus model NOT offered/catalogued by any manufacturer. AC drew specs such that no current production model could comply. Only Van Hool expressed willingness to design/build a new model For the tiny contract no one else was interested.

Fact Bus models from other vendors are currently used on similar routes to those ACplans to equip, the Van Hools ordered have no special features necessary to the projected usage.

Fact When AC has used current Van Hool models on the transbay routes, they have gotten major complaints from riders.

By: david vartanoff

david vartanoff — Mon, 11 May 2009 00:41:57 +0000

fact, Because Van Hools have no US content they are inelligible for FTA subsidy, thus far more expensive no matter what the general specs.

Fact Bus models from other vendors are currently used onsimilar to those routes AC plans to equip, the Van Hools ordered have no special features necessary to the projected usage.

By: dto510

dto510 — Sat, 09 May 2009 22:30:12 +0000

Chris K., where do you get the evidence that AC Transit could buy “36 American buses to every one Van Hool”? That is preposterous. Van Hool was the only bidder on ACT’s last contract. Van Hools are far superior to the previous generation of AC Transit buses because they have more standing room – if you were on a crowded NABBI bus it would have been much worse.

AC Transit has to cut service and raises fares because of state cuts to its operating subsidies. Those are different funds than its capital money. Bus purchases and service are not related.

By: Chris K.

Chris K. — Fri, 08 May 2009 02:56:39 +0000

The Van Hools are horrible. I am a frequent rider and I was on one this afternoon. Oh, residents have NO IDEA! There were no open seats, so I had to stand. You know, in that crammed aisle between the front and middle doors. I had to get on my tiptoes and get as far back as I could to let people walk past. There were strollers, and carts, and backpacks, and people! There was no room to move. I used to like these buses before I realized how expensive and horrible they are. AC Transit could be buying 36 American buses to every one Van Hool. And now they want to cut service and raise fares. Hmm…I wonder why!

The crappy $3,000,000 Van Hool buses, that’s why!

By: M Vink

M Vink — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 20:29:44 +0000

As you can see on the websitelink i posted, new Van Hool’s for AC transit are coming!

By: Freddy Dierckx

Freddy Dierckx — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 19:31:42 +0000

I feel sorry for Joyce Roy that the technical mind is not better developed. I am sure there is no Toyota in the garage. Maybe it would be good to go to Belgium and visit Van Hool. Everybody is welcome there and you can find all the answers on you ‘ so called ‘ questions. Europe is not the US but our busses stay on the road for more than 15 years without any problems ( when rge maintenance is OK ).

By: Van Hooligans - The Capricious Commuter - Getting around the Bay Area with Erik N. Nelson

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 03:58:18 +0000

[...] pride that I dissected this week’s East Bay Express cover story on the rise of Belgian-made Van Hool buses at AC Transit. I enjoyed seeing that regular Capricious Commuter commentator David Vartanoff [...]