I Got To On An Autonomous Bus Ride!

                    Yesterday I got to go on an Autonomous Bus. Now this is only in the Pilot Program. Which means their testing this how well it will be running and how well it handles the open road. We did not go on a major road as in autonomous bus, I mean we crossed a major road but we stayed on the side roads down by the marina area and down by the beach area which was a nice site and we got to take an area I've never seen in all the years I have been in this region over the years so it was a nice little route. Now the route is 30 mins in total which ain't that bad as we had to wait for the bus to go back and there was a lot of conversation between Eric and I afterwards and it was very educational on autonomous vehicles. There was a few things that it didn't like: one was the intersections. Olli did not like it and yeah it was named Olli. The other thing that it didn't like was leaves as it would randomly stop when a leaf went out front of us. I'm sure they will take this as part of the data and go from there.

Now it isn't like a normal vehicle, where it goes fast, I asked how fast they go and 20 KM an hour in Autonomous Mode and 40 KM in Manual mode so it isn't meant but they could take this and actual put it in a vehicle that could go faster or it could even be that smaller vehicle which I entered an image of it on here on the right side. Now remember this is only pilot program and early stages of this so it is exciting they are even thinking about a autonomous bus or vehicle. The question comes will my transit by a couple of these and where will they place em in the region. This may actually be on one of the shorter bus routes and less busy but excited to see what is going to happen and I am going to be taking my dad on this next week so he gets an idea what it is like so it isn't my last time on this as I wanna show him what it is like but hopefully we do not forget to do it but we'll see. That is today's post and I hope you enjoyed this post about the autonomous bus and I highly recommend if you get an opportunity like this to take the chance. You will not regret it but I will talk to you all tomorrow!

Chris

We Went Round and Round on The Bus.... SMH! (EPIC FAIL)

                   Yesterday was a mess once we left the Lake all the good vibes went out the window... We didn't realize we would have to walk a block to the bus to get me home. Anyways we walked there and got to the bus stop. The bus came and we didn't realize it till we got to where my old work, the bookstore which is no longer around as they closed down prior to COVID-19 happening like 2 - 3 years after I left the position I was at due to certain reasons I will not disclose as that is now in the past. So we got off at the McDonald's where the former Bookstore where I worked at and we tried to figure out where the proper bus was. First we ended up on the wrong side of the bridge where there is a tunnel to go under the highway so we had to go back and on the other side as the road was too busy to cross and probably unsafe. 

                     At this point I was getting into one of my moods where I was kicked a light pole in anger blaming myself for this. Anyways we went on under the bridge and across a major road and across a bridge to get to the bus which it didn't really take that long as I used the app to ensure we know which stop to get on at. We got to the stop and the bus ran late as usual and by the time I got back to the stop I was already out of my moods and sometimes it is easy to come out of my moods and sometimes its the entire day or hours I am in a bad mood which depends on a day to day basis. What matters is I made it home despite an hour later after spending 30 - 45 mins diddly daddling around trying to get home.  The lesson from this is to pay attention to the bus signs which I didn't do so I will be sure to do that next time around. Anyways hope you guys enjoyed this post and I will speak to you all tomorrow!

Chris

Power Rangers Collab Is In A Bit of Trouble....

             The Power Rangers Collaboration Podcast is in trouble..... Not financially or legally but it goes along the line when he's able to come back to studio not to just record but also hangout. Sundays was always our day to record and that may be soon to be changing as we may have to change days for recording and also hanging out and I am not happy with my transit system whatsoever. I hope Larry is going to be able to resolve this issue, as we may end up recording during the week but when is the question and I do not really know what will happen as this hasn't been discussed yet as this was figured out yesterday morning where there is no bus just a "B route" and doesn't come all the way out and trust me I have emailed the transit system twice in the last 2 days now and their not hearing the end of it. I told em I run a podcast and Sundays were our regular days which now is not the case anymore. 

              So I do not know the future of this, I have started to question a lot of things, whether it is time for me to move out the area, my childhood home and move into an apartment that actually has a bus route and able to travel without restrictions of service to my Co-Host especially. So this is on my long list of things to discuss with Larry and he already knows cause once again I went off at Larry like usual and he's not going to be happy whatsoever and a ton of planning to do when we're off air between RPM and Samurai and we will probably have a ton of meetings and getting organized before he is able to return to the studio and once I know the plan, we will be sure to tell you guys the plan moving forward but right now it will have to be discussed first and it is at the bottom of our list of things to do right now as the list is quite long. So thanks a lot That is the post for today and I will talk to you guys tomorrow. 

Chris

First Time On The Bus Route That Goes In and Out of My Area!

                 Yesterday, I got to go on the bus and I mean we went on the bus. My mom dropped me off at the mall, I dropped into Staples briefly and met up with Eric for our adventure yesterday. We took the route we already knew about first and we stayed on and passed by where I live and also the CBOTW Studio is also is as well. We went passed there and went into the South side and we ended up practically back at the mall but we actually we're few blocks away as we grabbed a drink and we sat in a parkette for about hour and a half, 2 hours and we had to stop by his place for a few mins and I got to see the apartment since it was a little over an year since I was there and it looked different compare to the last time and felt good to be back there actually and hopefully it can be a thing where I can go over there to visit masked till we are told we can not have masks inside on.  

                 Anyways back to what I was saying, we headed back out on the bus and grabbed the 902B route which turned into my bus that goes back into my area and we asked the bus driver if it does so we lucked in and figured it out on our own without having to call Customer Service but I did email them anyways about my pass stuff and they were very helpful compare to last week when I got a little pissy with the customer service for the on demand but that is now ancient history for me now. I got back in time to talk to Larry which he was only on Monday and yesterday as he has a busy week but good to hear from him. I was exhausted from this trip as it was really the first long bus trip in about a year and a half now. I enjoyed myself and next week I will be more then likely on another adventure and more then likely another post about my adventures on the bus again and maybe this can be a thing almost every week. Anyways I hope you guys enjoyed this post and I will talk to you all tomorrow!

Chris

Bus Route Going In And Out of My Area Is Not Cancelled!

              Here is the update on my situation with the bus around my area. Well, it has been an interesting last couple of days and I did find out my bus is being temporarily suspended and not cancelled entirely where I would of been really screwed in the situation. So this is still good news and I know what your gonna say what about friends like Larry and Eric coming over once this virus is over? Well it will be some time till the this is done and I am really am not worried about it right now but I do have a plan in place and I have spoken to 1 of the 2 so far about this. Eric has an idea and if he has to, he will take a cab to my end if worse comes to worse and Larry, well we will have to meet him half way to pick him up at the mall. However bus may be back in service sooner then we expect but it isn't being cancelled I admit to overreacting to the news and I went a little overboard on the transit system but I am happy they cleared things up with me on the situation.

             I need to ask more questions before reacting and it is hard sometimes, because it took em a few hours to reply and their lines were completely tied up but I am sure there was a ton of customers unhappy with the changes but the changes they made it's good changes to be honest. I like the idea of the regional routes and in time the bus will be added back eventually but right now is not the time at this time and really I am not going anywhere too far at this time and I am staying home, staying safe and if I have to go out then I can go out with my parents if need be. I am in no rush really to get back on a bus at this moment I just do not feel comfortable right now going back on the bus as of it with this virus, I just do not wanna end up sick as I have managed very well with being healthy through all of this. 

Chris

Was Involved In A Small Bus Accident This Week (Throwback Thursday)

              I know this isn't truly a throwback Thursday Story as it just happened but it is in the past but just happened and I know this makes no sense but I want to talk about this as it was a ridiculous situation. Anyways I did make it public I was in a minor bus accident on my travels in the city while on the bus. Now mind you I am fine, we were all fine from the little accident. It was a minor bump on the backside of the bus. What the kicker to all of this is the driver in the truck ran on the bus driver and left the scene of the accident which honestly is stupid to flee an accident scene. We knew the color of the truck that's all as we did  not get a license plate number nothing so that person got off scott free which is entirely dumb and I am sure the transit service wasn't happy the truck ran. Honestly yes it is a hit and run and they are stupid enough to do such a thing and lucky they aren't gonna get charged with a hit and run as there is no real evidence who the driver is. Anyways we're all fine and I took at the bus and hardly saw the bump but it was a minor bump nothing that the bus cannot finish it's run on the route. The kicker behind all of this it was at a stop by a Tim Horton's which is one of the busiest Timmie's in town honestly...


             I think this was the second incident that has happened when I have been on the bus and hope this is the last time. The first time I think we hit a sign on the backside of the bus. However I consider myself and the other passengers are safe and nobody has been hurt in any of the incidents that has happened in the past. Either way it's an experience that I really do not want to have. So that is my sort of more recent Throwback Thursday Story which really happened 2 days ago and I ensure you I am fine and I was a little shooken up for a while but shook it off. Anyways tomorrow's post I have a very special announcement coming out for you guys and I can say it is an announcement that you guys have been waiting for almost 8 months now and I can say while I typing this I got a smile on my face as I have been waiting to make this announcement for a very long time now. Anyways I hope you guys enjoyed this post and I will talk to you guys in the next post tomorrow.



Chris

Memories of Riding The Older Buses Back In The Day (Throwback Thursday Story)

              Back in the day when I was growing up, we never had the handicapped buses as they were all stairs we had to climb up and I am talking old, old buses. Now what buses am I really talking about?

• The old General Motors Fish Bowl buses as they always called them back then and always warm when I was on them and comfortable as well as the seats where padded. I also the Air conditioned ones they had later on before they were all pulled out of service and retired.
• The MCI Classics- Really warm all the time which is always nice and I remember these really well back in the day. 
• Flyers- Not the ones that we have to this day, the ones that had the rounded windows I remember very, very well. 
• The next one is of course the Orion buses and I remember em from the old orions 117, 121, 122 & 123. Also from 129 - 145 in the numbers as the transit here had a ton of them. I also remember these from when I was still in my college years when I was in school for pre-media.

              There is a ton of memories from the buses I rode the buses and those are the buses I remember. I totally remember going home on the buses quite often with my dad from when I was in elementary school and remembering the old fish bowls and what not. Also as I said I took some of the older Orion buses when I was in college and I remember correctly that the 8141 one of the final Orion buses remaining in the system at the time and the last time I was on one was the 8141 bus and there is proof and when I say proof there is a video on YouTube of me on the bus so there is actual proof of it too. I will never forget which bus it was either and I remember it very vividly too. 




Chris

Noticed The Older Buses Are Slowly Disappearing...

            It is amazing how fast time goes with the buses time on the road here as you know I am in Canada and the weather here in the winter especially is insane.... So there is a ton of ware and tear with the buses here or it is either that or just time does go by fast. I still remember when the GM Buses were still driving around, the old 102 bus or the old flyer buses they had here 113 & 114, or even the older Orion buses, 123, 131 & 133 for example. But after those buses went which was during my last full year of college, we then seen all the next buses 8151 till 8180 and furthermore the buses I see to this very day which are modern day buses out there. Modern is good as they are very electronic but hard to fix as a bus driver I know, he said those are really tough to repair with all the electronic but these are the buses are the future now. 


             The much older buses before had no ramp it was the old stairs on them and we are in need of the handicapped buses honestly and I am really glad we have these handicapped buses as more seniors have taken the bus and yes I have helped them by lower the seat down for them if it is up which is always nice, also I always let them on first.  All I can say is it is a new era with new modern buses so it is good to have these buses especially that I have knee problems on and off. There are tons of reasons why handicapped buses are now good to have but I do not want to go through again today's post would be another Chris rambling post. 


             In closing it is a new era and we have to have these handicap accessible buses and also buses do not last forever. They have a good 15- 20 years but then they are replaced and the buses that came out in 2006 - 2007 now are slowly disappearing as I have been on recently 8171 which is a older of the Nova Buses. Actually not many of those left. 8169  -8173 but yet again I haven't seen 72, 73 lately but it could be on a route that doesn't go to the mall but majority of them do go to the mall now minus the Simcoe which is a north and south route which is east of our mall. But in the end it is better to have up to date vehicles then older buses that breaks down all the time as I have witnessed many times in the past driving by buses stopped at the side of the road. 





Chris