Comments on: happy trails

By: Fred Millar

Fred Millar — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 15:55:37 +0000

Erik:

Will miss you sorely. I still distribute some of your articles on the hazmat issues. You are the second intrepid journalist I’ve worked with on rail security who took off for the war zones — Carl Prine’s now back in Pittsburgh from Iraq, having learned a ton about IEDs.
Thanks for your work. Keep in touch, I hope. Today’s WashPost article re Afghan “Taliban revival” situation is not reassuring. Best, Fred

By: former Capricious Commuter

former Capricious Commuter — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 19:52:23 +0000

Thanks for the kind words, Guy. It breaks my heart to see all the amazing contributions people still have to make (like your observations about the streetcars) and I’m not providing an outlet for it. You should see this place. Getting around is a challenge, to say the least, although I was delighted to see a smooth-paved divided road to the airport. Elsewhere, there are 3 mph potholes and, oddly, extreme speed bumps in places where the pavement is almost nonexistent. One-way boulevards are a blessing, I must add. There are some new traffic signals, which are obeyed about 25 percent of the time and even the odd traffic cop to regulate traffic at one of the many traffic circles. For the most part, getting through traffic is a matter of sticking one’s nose in front of opposing or cross traffic and praying it’ll stop. One Afghan I was riding around with spoke fondly of how traffic was much better controlled during the communist era.

By: Guy Span

Guy Span — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 19:44:03 +0000

Sorry to see this end. I have enjoyed your viewpoints and the discussions. I had been working in Australia and it was quite a surprise to return to the Bay Area and find you packing for a war-torn place refuge from the vagaries of ANG. That speaks volumes about the company (pun intended).

One last point. I saw your article about the AC Board voting down the new purchase of more Van Hools. The GM was disgusted, saying he’d now have to bid out a mere 19 buses. Hey, that’s only a $10 million contract…

It seems that Bus transit is in the same situation Streetcars were in circa 1929. There were plenty of streetcar designs and manufacturers to choose from, each with different mechanical, electrical, braking, etc. This increased the cost of maintenance as each purchase was from a different off-the-shelf manufacturer.

So in 1929, the Electric Railway Presidents Conference Committee met to produce a standard streetcar design, that all companies would buy. Windows, seats, light fixtures, certain electrical components, etc. were designed and standardized. A few were built, extensively tested and modified. When completed, the PCC Streetcar (like you see on the SF Waterfront)went into standard production.

Since, as a group, American bus transit systems have massive buying power, they might consider a similar program. The builders would know what was wanted and the buyers could bid out the standard design amongst manufacturers. By standardizing maintenance and parts over time, the various fleets would become more economic. And goofy Van Hool purchases would go the way of all flesh.

By: Randy Rentschler

Randy Rentschler — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:52:23 +0000

Erik

Good luck out there.

Please contact me.

Thanks

By: The Overhead Wire

The Overhead Wire — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 05:37:44 +0000

I’m a little late to realizing you were going but I’m sad to see the only newspaper transport blog in the bay area going. Thanks for the updates and sharing your commute with us. We appreciate it. Best of luck and let everyone know where you land, or ask us for links when you start a new blog. Cheers.

By: Doug Faunt

Doug Faunt — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 03:20:42 +0000

Good luck on your new endeavours, and we’ll miss you here.

By: Becks

Becks — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 22:48:48 +0000

What sad news! You will be sorely missed, not only as a blogger, but as one of the few CA journalists that focused on transportation issues.

Best of luck in your travels!

By: D'Andre Berry

D'Andre Berry — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:58:55 +0000

@Ex-Capricious Commuter

Do you know who or if anyone will handle the transit related stories for the newspaper group?

By: Ex-Capricious Commuter

Ex-Capricious Commuter — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 22:35:14 +0000

John, thanks for your generous words, but I think it was only about $101 million ;^)

Seriously, you were a great help along the way, letting me know when the Bay Area was in danger of getting less than the Council thought it should. To this day, I still can’t get a decent table at the Willits Diner.

By: John Grubb

John Grubb — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 20:24:54 +0000

Bloody hell! Say it ain’t so! Erik you did the job with such great personality and skill. You constantly beat the competition and knew when to take the job seriously and when to have some fun. As both a beneficiary and – at times – unwilling target, as both a contributor and a reader, please allow me to say that this region is going to miss you, and miss you badly. Thank you for what could only be characterized as “service” to the Bay Area. I know of one new agency that is, ahem, floating in part because of you. This region has an extra billion to spend on fixing its freeway mess in part because of you. This region is not likely to have hovercrafts crisscrossing the Bay anytime soon because of you (dammnit!). You left a mark here and my organization wishes you very, very happy trails.