7.18.2008
Progress sketches
Hi everyone. If you haven't had a chance to see our sketches on our flickr page, here are a few of our ideas that are in the works. To view even more images, check-out the link on the left side of this page. We've appreciated your feedback on everything else in this blog, so please tell us what you think!
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11 comments:
I love the images. As a bus driver, I was wondering if you could post more images of the driver area. I totally belive that one of the key factors to a more efficient bus system is driver comfort. A more ergonomically designed driver area would be key. I was also curious about the passenger area of the bus. Is the idea to make that part removable or mobile in some way.
One final thought...as a driver we are not allowed to have a beverage while we are driving, but with these hot Southern California summers sometimes it is unavoidable. All I'm saying is "cupholder". (I know it would never make it past managment but a man can dream can't he?)
One of my pet peeves, as a bus driver, is the metallic smell that is left on my hand do to the metal lever used to open the doors. Some other material needs to be used on that part. A sneeze gaurd would also be nice between the passengers and the driver.
Great feedback guys! As student designers we don't get to drive these buses, so we will never know about the day-to-day issues like beverage holders, door handle smells or (especially) sneeze guards!
The concepts we posted include a bus with removable passenger compartment, a modern double decker and a compartmentalized architectural bus. More to come...
Thank you for your feedback!
My main question- where is the ideal place be on a bus for the driver's compartment? The center of the bus, the left, the right, up top? As drivers, what would your ideal seat height be in regards to the road? High up or low down?
I am looking at where the driver should sit in a double decker situation- high up on the second floor for all around visibility, or low down, street level, for good peripheral visibility.
Let us know what your dream compartment, cup holders and all, would have....
Gabriel
hey drivers,
Thanks so much for the feedback. Like Mike and Gabe said, this stuff is so precious to us, especially the fact that the feedback can be so close to real time. On top of what my colleagues have already asked of you, I was wondering what about the ergonomics of your area (seat position, dashboard layout, visibility, seating posture, ventilation, etc) specifically do you like and what do you dislike. I was curious about how you all felt about the relatively flat steering wheel on busses. Could you picture yourself driving a bus with a joystick or with a steering wheel that was more on the vertical side?
Also, i was thinking about throwing in a proposal for a self guided bus and I was wondering how you might feel about shifting roles on the bus from being its driver, to being a sort of live bus conductor, with your own booth somewhere in the interior of the passenger compartment. I was thinking that it would be interesting because it might allow you to more directly interact with passangers in ways like giving route advice, collecting fares, assisting passengers with special needs, and communicating with central HQ systems.
Last time I talked to a couple of you, you were emphatic in stating that one of the aspects you loved most about your job was interaction with people.
Please let me know how this sort of thing would sit with you.
Thanks
Do you have somewhere that you can try out one of these seats? I like to sit down and this looks like something to lean against. I also lose my lap so I don’t have a place to keep my backpack.
Is it possible to see larger version of the drawings with markers pointing to the various features?
The sketches are interesting. I really would like to see double-decker buses in the future. Especially in Santa Monica and Los Angeles. I wont be around in 2050 but its nice to think about.
The worst part about riding the bus is waiting for it. The bus of the future should be half as big, and there should be twice as many of them. In Mexico City, buses are privately owned. They use the "short bus" type of school bus, arrive every few minutes, and the fare is a dime. I'm not saying that cities should not provide public transportation, but the public would be better served by having the option of privately owned and operated buses.
If the Bus of the Future is not a flying bus, I shall be *very* disappointed.
OMFG! A flying bus would be so awesome. Would it be allowed to operate out of Santa Monica Airport?
I visualize the driver area to resemble one of those $180,000 dollar motorhomes. All the amenities at your fingertips. I think just for safety reasons the driver should be positioned at the bottom of a double decker bus. I have never thought about steering the bus with something other than a steering wheel. In this video game world that we live in a joystick might be kind of cool. As for the self guided bus, I would have to say that for me I like the idea of being the "captain of my ship". If i was merely a host I do not think I would have that same feeling. I do believe that drivers would lose a certain sense of pride.
By the way I am going to get my pilots license so when the flying bus arrives I will be first in line.
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