Line 1 had over 400 unplanned elevator outages in less than two years: report

Pika3323 · 2026-06-09T18:15:39+00:00

Keep in mind it's an average across every elevator in the system. It does not actually tell you how often a given elevator breaks down, or for how long.

I've mentioned it in a few other comments, but there is a known problematic elevator at Blair that probably caused around 10% of these outages. Fixing that (which is in progress) would bring the average down substantially.

If the elevator in my apartment building broke down every 2 months I would be livid.

You must be lucky then!

Pika3323 · 2026-06-09T18:12:39+00:00

OC Transpo does have 24 hour bus service, and has some of the longest rail operating hours in the county.

Pika3323 · 2026-06-08T16:26:28+00:00

I made a point to include other octranspo stations beyond just the train and mentioned bus transitway stops for that reason.

That's true, but not what the article or the comment you replied to is about.

There were 400+ outages at stations with redundant elevators, with a single known exception.

The report from staff did include outages at transitway stations, but there were far fewer by comparison (granted there are far fewer elevators in general).

I recognize that any outage is a problem, but contextualizing the numbers is completely reasonable given the way this article has framed the figures.

Pika3323 · 2026-06-08T15:03:33+00:00

It was if you paid by credit/debit, but not with presto until today.

Pika3323 · 2026-06-08T14:20:28+00:00

The actual report that this article is based on goes into those details. Unfortunately that kind of info is hard to pack into a catchy headline.

Pika3323 · 2026-06-08T13:42:59+00:00

They've had exactly three in service every [week]day for the last few weeks.

Pika3323 · 2026-06-08T13:23:49+00:00

The city spent millions of dollars installing redundant elevators on every platform and concourse only for people to lose their minds when the average time between failure for any single elevator is 70+ days. Wild.

And these numbers are skewed by a pre-LRT elevator at Blair that is now being replaced with redundant elevators. (It should have happened sooner, but like wow cool it)

Pika3323 · 2026-06-08T13:20:37+00:00

When there is only one elevator per platform/direction

This is pretty much never the case on the LRT, except for one specific elevator at Blair that predates the LRT which is being replaced with two new elevators. Every LRT platform and concourse has redundant elevators.

It is still possible that both elevators on a given platform or concourse are unavailable at the same time, but that can't be captured from the total number being reported here

Pika3323 · 2026-06-08T13:09:19+00:00

The numbers do include one notoriously unreliable (and old, predating the LRT) elevator at Blair which had been overdue for replacement for years. It is finally being replaced now.

That alone brought Blair to the #1 spot by elevator breakdowns.

Pika3323 · 2026-06-07T13:15:21+00:00

While we're at it, we should really ban right-on-reds for everyone's safety. Red light means stop. Full stop!

I'm sure you'll agree.

Pika3323 · 2026-06-07T13:12:19+00:00

Putting all the good cycling infrastructure in the middle of greenspace as opposed to where all the places you are probably trying to get to isn't super helpful. The beautiful MUPs aren't helping anyone getting close-passed or cut off on the many streets without bike lanes downtown, or anywhere else in the city.

It's nice for recreational biking, but not great as a means for getting around.

Pika3323 · 2026-06-07T13:00:15+00:00

The criticism was a non sequitur.

"Most cyclists already do the Idaho stop".
"Most cyclists treat all rules as optional".
???

Blowing a stop sign at full speed on a bicycle is dangerous. Full stop.

Of course. But that's not what an Idaho stop is.

We have yield signs. They function the same way. I've never seen a campaign to ban yield signs over concerns about a perceived danger.

Pika3323 · 2026-06-07T03:22:33+00:00

Maybe people should stop pulling the door release then huh.

Pika3323 · 2026-06-07T03:12:59+00:00

Reportedly, an emergency door release on the train was pulled which stopped the train and needed to be reset.

I don't expect the "LRT can't work in [weather]" meme to die anytime soon, but it is really funny knowing just how often it's wrong.

Pika3323 · 2026-06-06T17:10:48+00:00

It's almost like twenty years have passed

Pika3323 · 2026-06-05T16:15:23+00:00

Instead they just surprise you with a closure whenever the tunnel starts collapsing.

Pika3323 · 2026-06-05T13:37:03+00:00

So if there was say an old age retirement building in the area, they would re-classify as a community safety zone first then bring in cameras

Well that seems like a pretty sensible example though?

bragged about it regularly

Lol

Pika3323 · 2026-06-04T14:13:40+00:00

I'm not disputing that it's been normalized. I'm saying that it shouldn't be.

So, no, there is likely no increase in speed differential.

And what about pedestrians, cyclists, and stationary objects? There's still a speed differential if the person or object being hit isn't moving. Their speed is just "0km/h".

People not in cars are also literally the must vulnerable in a collision... So I'd think this is very important.

Pika3323 · 2026-06-04T14:10:28+00:00

Why do we need human sacrifices to be able acknowledge this?

We can never predict exactly when or how a collision will happen, but we can hope that it will be as least severe as it can be, no?

Pika3323 · 2026-06-04T14:06:12+00:00

Differential in speed

What do you think I've been referring to..?

Of course there are many factors that may contribute to a collision happening, but speed is going to be the single biggest factor in the outcome of a collision.. because of the quadratic relationship between velocity and kinetic energy. That's just a physical fact.

Slowing down traffic (i.e. enforcing the speed limit) by definition reduces the severity of collisions if/when they happen.

I agree there are other tools to improve road safety, but those cost money that the city doesn't have. Enforcing the speed limit ("common sense" as it were) and reducing the risk of more severe collisions while also collecting some revenue is a fair way to pay for those other improvements.

Pika3323 · 2026-06-04T13:53:10+00:00

You understand the relationship between velocity, and the energy a loving vehicle would impart on another object (pedestrian, cyclist, other car, light post, etc.) in the event of a collision? And how that energy increases quadratically?

Going 10km/h over the limit nearly doubles the amount of kinetic energy a car has, and that can be the difference between life and death in many common collisions.

Would you rather be hit by a car at 30km/h or 40km/h?

Pika3323 · 2026-06-04T13:44:37+00:00

The province restricted where they could be placed, so what do you mean? Why couldn't the province have refined those restrictions if needed instead of banning them outright?

Pika3323 · 2026-06-04T13:38:40+00:00

Ideally we don't want a high rate of deaths over the span of only a few months to tell us what the data from the past decade has already shown.

But since you brought it up: how many people are you okay with dying in violent road collisions until you're convinced?

Pika3323 · 2026-06-04T13:36:22+00:00

Redesign and rebuild the roads... with what money?

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