Cars on the East Busway (Crafton: dangerous, buses, ticket)

[Benzman66]

Originally Posted by endless endless

I always wonder this myself. Sometimes I see normal cars without even flashers on driving on the busway. I've seen plenty of people drive obliviously down bus-only lanes (mostly on 5th) or the wrong way down one-way streets so I always wondered if it was clueless people who can't read signs. How common do you think this is? Or is every car I've seen really just police/city government?

Port Authority Police travel the busways as well as the dispatchers monitor the busway cameras all the time. If a vehicle is on it that does not have a permit, you can be sure they will be caught. 99% of the time any car you see on it has the proper permission, althought 1% is the "lost" person, or at least they try to use that excuse. Even the fire bureau and EMS have to get permission to use them.

Believe it or not, most of the P.A. areas are monitored by cameras, even the landings where you get on and off. They can see if you are taking a whizz and have the cops there in a few minutes. Happens all the time at Station Square landing.

You have a better chance at trying the bus lanes downtown as they are not monitored as much, but there is still a good chance you will get a ticket.

[pman]

what would it take to extend the T along the east busway?

[Kate88]

Originally Posted by pman

what would it take to extend the T along the east busway?

probably not nearly as much as the tunnel to nowhere

[pman]

Originally Posted by Kate88

probably not nearly as much as the tunnel to nowhere

that's a strange project. I mean, the tunnel is probably a useful piece of a larger transit system...if anyone actually thought that "the rest of a transit system" was going to get built. so strange that it doesn't serve any neighborhood there. I guess the intent is to establish a park n ride for workers and get otehrs to take transit to the game but the only people that can do this are people on the south side/south hills. If you live in shadyside, you take the busway and transfer to the T to get to either the south side or the stadiums. Seems like they put the cart before the horse. you extend the T up the busway and all of a sudden that "convention spur" connects the east end with the stadiums, not the convention center with the stadiums. Its no wonder our roads are clogged (as a country) and bridges falling down.

[Geeo]

The East Busway was built to eventually accommodate rail. The concrete bases for the pantograph poles are already there.

[zip95]

funny now the busway connects Downtown with one of US Steel's former major industrial parks... I wonder, back in the 80's how many of those "cars with permits" were property of USS.

[pman]

Originally Posted by Geeo

The East Busway was built to eventually accommodate rail. The concrete bases for the pantograph poles are already there.

so you basically need poles, catenary, and rails.It wouldn't mean buses coudln't use it either, I don't think, unless that would slow the trolleys down significantly.

[Geeo]

Buses could still use it. Trolleys and buses share the South Busway as well. At least they used to - that may have changed since they upgraded the Overbrook line in the South Hills.

[pman]

It woudl also introduce the possibility of trolley buses which are quiet and help reduce particulates which is a problem in any city.

[patvet2009]

Yes benzman is correct.....you must have special permission to be on any of the busways. Chances are if you see a "civilian vehicle" it has permission. If not and you try I can pretty much guarantee you that you will be caught and cited. And always think twice before you pee on the "T" platform or shoot up...or light a blunt, or get a special kiss down there from your bf/gf cause you will get caught....ask me how I know....big brother is watching