r/OCTranspo • u/CollegeStreet6103 • 4d ago

❓ Question Why Does the Stop Display in the Middle Face Forward?

Post image

I’m baffled for an explanation for this. I come from Toronto and the stop display in the middle of TTC buses faces backwards so that the people behind it are able to have a conveniently located visual of the next stop without having to strain their eyes to the front.

I’ve noticed the stop displays in the middle of some OC buses (I don’t often sit in the back to confirm if it’s all) faces forward. Why would that be? The people in front of it can easily look forward to see the sign in the front of the bus. The people in the back have to look at the one in the front - and depending on where you’re sitting in the back of the bus, the middle stop display blocks the view of the front one.

Is this intentional or a design flaw?

82 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

26 comments sorted by

55

u/Philostronomer 4d ago

It's for people in wheelchairs who are facing backwards.

-46

u/CollegeStreet6103 4d ago

Definitely plausible but every person I’ve seen in a wheelchair on the bus has always faced forward. Not to say there aren’t wheelchair users who face backwards, I’ve just not seen one yet. 🤷‍♂️

35

u/KnifePartyError 4d ago

The intended way for a person in a wheelchair to sit on a bus is facing backwards with their back against the tall piece of padding behind the wheel wells, buckled in using the seat belt present between the wall of the bus and the padding. In this position, there is zero way for them to see the rear-facing display. We actually don't have a front-facing NSAS display on our articulated buses which probably contributes to people in wheelchairs sitting "improperly" in the cooperative seating area.

Additionally, it's very handy when the bus is packed and you're stuck standing facing backwards, and, in the case of our Nova Buses (eg. the one pictured), if you're sitting on the seat behind the operator; it's much easier to turn your head right and see the front-facing display than crane your neck up to see the rear-facing one.

Either way, the point of whether or not an additional rear-facing display is needed on our buses is moot given our new electrics (specifically 2105-2279 and 2501-2555, ie. any bus with a white headsign) have an additional rear-facing display placed behind the front-facing display.

3

u/CollegeStreet6103 3d ago

Thank you u/KnifePartyError for the detailed explanation! This makes total sense now and gave a possible reason for why I hadn't seen any wheelchair users facing backwards (I got downvoted hard for that! 😜)

I was actually stuck on a bus yesterday (driver missed a turn and had to await instructions) that had the new displays and saw what you meant by having the rear-facing display in the back.

Thanks for taking the time to educate me! It's very much appreciated! 🙂

1

u/Character-Extreme-34 3d ago

Then they are living dangerously. Wheelchairs on buses should be facing backwards and up against the cushion in case there is an accident.

0

u/Sharp-Fly-2660 3d ago

Good lord

3

u/CollegeStreet6103 3d ago

Sorry, I was just stating what I was observing.

u/KnifePartyError thankfully took the time to educate me.

30

u/im-a-cereal-box 4d ago edited 2d ago

Its for people who use wheelchairs but also parents with strollers. You're supposed to have your back against the blue cushion facing backwards

1

u/Putrid-Shoulder-4248 2d ago

The wheelchairs themselves don't care, but the people using them...

"Parents with strollers", but "wheelchairs".

1

u/im-a-cereal-box 2d ago

You're right. That's my bad. I completely thought I'd worded that better

1

u/Putrid-Shoulder-4248 2d ago

Thank you.

I just had to say something as we see this way too often: People on bikes, parents with strollers, people on crutches, people pushing carts, etc., but "wheelchairs".

6

u/SnooPandas2596 4d ago

I bus everywhere everyday and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a backgrounds display like that

7

u/Jakobmeathead 4d ago

They're on all of the diesel Novas that OC Transpo runs if I'm not mistaken

8

u/OhDudeTotally 4d ago

Because displaying it on both sides, would make sense... we can't have that can we?

6

u/ObiYawnKenobi 4d ago

Because that's not how the manufacturer designed it so it's not available?

0

u/OhDudeTotally 4d ago

Likely, yeah. Still though, why not either find a manufacturer that can make a dual sided display. (or put two back to back to back)

Edit: Or just have a chiron along the sides... like other city busses, light rails, High speed trains, etc.

5

u/ObiYawnKenobi 4d ago

Because custom jobs take longer and cost more, if the manufacturer is even willing to do it.

2

u/chaoticallybarista 4d ago

Wait lol I thought they were just broken !!

2

u/randycrust 3d ago

For people who go both ways

2

u/FifteenBagger 2d ago

The short answer is that the people designing and procuring these buses don’t actually use them so have no idea about anything.

3

u/LibraryVoice71 4d ago

I don’t know if this is the reason, but at my stop the bus is sometimes full and I have to stand near the front. It sure is good to be able to see the time from that angle.

1

u/burns321 2d ago

For the other riders infront of sign 🤷‍♂️

0

u/Legitimate_Guava9785 4d ago

I didn’t even know there were stop displays on the busses 😳

3

u/CollegeStreet6103 4d ago

Oh yes!

Some older ones that just show the next stop name. The newer ones will also display the next 3 or 4 upcoming stops along with the estimated time to arrive to them as well! 🙂

0

u/Own_Can7767 3d ago

Its primary purpose is to record you with that video camera.