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Bus drivers worry about running out of snow tires and TransLink has no plans to switch

“We had a member who was stuck for hours, asking TransLink to consider using snow tires.” — Balbir Mann, President, Unifor Local 111.

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A representative of the union representing bus drivers is urging TransLink to equip its fleet with snow tires after members struggled to gain traction on the roads of Metro Vancouver on Tuesday night.

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Up to 20 cm of snow fell, causing several hours of delays on several major transport routes and causing at least one crash involving a bus skidding over an icy hill.

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“We had members stuck for hours. “

Traffic officials have said they have no plans to change the use of all-weather tires. All-weather tires are manufactured by Canada’s T.The meeting of fire and rubber.

Metro Vancouver’s snow patterns change each year. You could have a huge dump one year and some flakes the next year,” he said. Spokesperson Thor Diakow.

“Replacing 10,000 tires on a bus only a few days a year is very important when considering storage, labor and maintenance costs.”

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According to TransLink’s website, the current tires on 1,700 bus vehicles are “Provides the best possible traction in conditions such as the wet snow that is common in winter. ”

“Snow tires don’t work well when the bus turns or brakes on wet roads,” Diakou added.

However, Mann said he fears that Metro Vancouver’s bus drivers and passengers will be at greater risk as climate change is expected to make weather conditions more severe.

tuesday night, A TransLink community shuttle was struck head-on by a line of vehicles attempting to climb 168th Street in Surrey. No injuries have been reported.

Metro Vancouver isn’t the only region in Canada that opts out of using snow tires on public transport. Cities such as Calgary and Halifax see no conclusive evidence that tires on buses prevent snow-related accidents.

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Some European countries, Austria and Luxembourg, have laws that require the use of snow tires on all vehicles, including public transport buses.

TransLink also does not use snow chains on its buses. Diakou said they make the ride uncomfortable for passengers, can damage vehicles and roads, and are difficult for transportation staff to install and remove safely.

TransLink uses an alternative, tire socks, to increase the road traction of buses in bad weather. TransLink was the first transit agency in North America to implement this device in 2017.

On Tuesdays, buses run to the icy hills of Burnaby Mountain, Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal, University of British Columbia, major North Shore route Equipped with Kevlar fabric mesh.

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Once the driver arrived at the base of Burnaby Mountain, passengers were transferred to a Translink bus fitted with all-weather tires.

“Snow socks are a solution that helps drivers navigate steep hills in powdery snow,” says Diakow.

“Metro Vancouver’s bus routes travel through constantly changing weather conditions. Safety must be considered for supervisors who change tire socks.”

Installing a $125 device requires extensive maintenance and oversight, limiting its use.

Crew members at both ends of the bus route check the devices every few kilometers to ensure they are working. Also, according to his TransLink test conducted in 2018, the sock limits the vehicle to 30 km/h and only lasts a few hours on the road.

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While there are no foreseeable plans to purchase snow tires for its buses, Diakow said Translink is constantly “evaluating and updating its winter readiness policy.”

sgrochowski@postmedia.com

twitter.com/sarahgrochowski


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Bus drivers worry about running out of snow tires and TransLink has no plans to switch

Source link Bus drivers worry about running out of snow tires and TransLink has no plans to switch

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