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I'm sure this has been debated since the flexity streetcars came on board in 20XX but the four-seat cluster arrangements baffle me – and they have been replicated almost exactly on the new LRT lines. When both seats are occupied on one side, it's incredibly cramped and uncomfortable to sit across from those strangers. Anyone taller than 4' will end up playing footsie with the person opposite, and it's frankly just awkward to sit in such close quarters staring directly at another person you don't know.

The result is a bunch of half-filled seats, and people choosing to stand rather than sit. I just don't get it. Am I being weird?
 
UntitledCyclist said:
I'm sure this has been debated since the flexity streetcars came on board in 20XX but the four-seat cluster arrangements baffle me – and they have been replicated almost exactly on the new LRT lines. When both seats are occupied on one side, it's incredibly cramped and uncomfortable to sit across from those strangers. Anyone taller than 4' will end up playing footsie with the person opposite, and it's frankly just awkward to sit in such close quarters staring directly at another person you don't know.

The result is a bunch of half-filled seats, and people choosing to stand rather than sit. I just don't get it. Am I being weird?
Click to expand...

It is what it is, and it derives mostly from having to raise the floor over the trucks, rather than a decision to skimp on kneeroom. The space just isn't there.

My observation is, yes, some folks are squeamish to intrude on others' personal space, so even one person in those quads deters others.... but pack the tram, and eventually those inhibitions disappear. Someone will want to sit down rather than be squished in the aisle.....and have the confidence to invade the space.

Personally, my gripe is more with the way the window pillar runs down the middle of what could be a much nicer quad.

On the bright side, one thing I have discovered that I love about Line 5 is the facing seats at the non-driving end of the tram. That's a very cosy and scenic place to ride. So far, those alcoves don't smell of urine the way the downtown Flexities' rear end space often do.

- Paul
 
crs1026 said:
It is what it is, and it derives mostly from having to raise the floor over the trucks, rather than a decision to skimp on kneeroom. The space just isn't there.

My observation is, yes, some folks are squeamish to intrude on others' personal space, so even one person in those quads deters others.... but pack the tram, and eventually those inhibitions disappear. Someone will want to sit down rather than be squished in the aisle.....and have the confidence to invade the space.

Personally, my gripe is more with the way the window pillar runs down the middle of what could be a much nicer quad.

On the bright side, one thing I have discovered that I love about Line 5 is the facing seats at the non-driving end of the tram. That's a very cosy and scenic place to ride. So far, those alcoves don't smell of urine the way the downtown Flexities' rear end space often do.

- Paul
Click to expand...
the urine smell throughout the entire back of most of the downtown streetcars is so unbelievably gross.. they need to clean that up.
 
pmacpherson68 said:
the urine smell throughout the entire back of most of the downtown streetcars is so unbelievably gross.. they need to clean that up.
Click to expand...
I remember riding the 501 last summer from Long Branch when a rider got on at Humber Loop, walks all the way to the back , and proceeds to spray down the whole area with air freshener (no one was sitting back there at the time). Afterwards he turns around and sits down and everyone kind looks at him like they're unsure what just happened or if they should complain, but after a couple seconds I think everyone actually appreciated it. I know I did.
 
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hw621 said:
Several pages of complaints against loud announcements, which means the line is running smoothly otherwise...
Click to expand...

Lol would that stop anyone on UT?

We are down to the little things, but there are plenty of little tweaks that might be desirable. I have to say, the more I ride this line, the more I like it… and north-south connectivity to GO is really a game changer (can’t.wait to add Caledonia)

One that I noticed today was the poor wayfinding at Mount Dennis guiding towards UP to the Airport. Most of that wayfinding is well placed for anyone coming off the street, but the entrance to Platform 4 (which is the one used going towards the airport) is very hard to spot when coming from the LRT.

Fairly easy to fix. I will say, however, that despite nice wide walkways through the station…. The last bit of walking to stairways from the LRT up to the GO/UP platforms are pretty tiny and hard to spot.. One would have thought this pathway would be more prominent.

- Paul

IMG_1634.jpeg
IMG_1636.jpeg
 
UntitledCyclist said:
I'm sure this has been debated since the flexity streetcars came on board in 20XX but the four-seat cluster arrangements baffle me – and they have been replicated almost exactly on the new LRT lines. When both seats are occupied on one side, it's incredibly cramped and uncomfortable to sit across from those strangers. Anyone taller than 4' will end up playing footsie with the person opposite, and it's frankly just awkward to sit in such close quarters staring directly at another person you don't know.

The result is a bunch of half-filled seats, and people choosing to stand rather than sit. I just don't get it. Am I being weird?
Click to expand...
Ever since I've been older than a child, I've noticed the TTC has child sized seats. Before they turned some seats sideways, I couldn't fit in them, and had to sit in the aisle seat, half turned, because there was nowhere for my knees. They think they're squeezing more people in, but people are using every other seat instead. No you're not weird, you're completely correct, but it's going to take some serious shift in thinking for them to change what they've been doing for at least half a century.
 
A 6264 said:
Ever since I've been older than a child, I've noticed the TTC has child sized seats. Before they turned some seats sideways, I couldn't fit in them, and had to sit in the aisle seat, half turned, because there was nowhere for my knees. They think they're squeezing more people in, but people are using every other seat instead. No you're not weird, you're completely correct, but it's going to take some serious shift in thinking for them to change what they've been doing for at least half a century.
Click to expand...
Here me out, what if more or all the seats were longitudinal:

Eglinton would get more capacity layout changes alone, no change to platform/vehicle size.

Unfortunately the province and/or City of Ottawa has beef with Siemens due to something from the early O-Train days. Also 100% low floor requirements might preclude this Siemens model.
 
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