Tulsa's Transportation Model

[TheArtist]

Looks like the "Live Bus Tracker" is the best thing to use, but I don't like that the default is "not showing" the routes. 

The problem with the site imho, isn't that the info isn't there and can't be found, it's that it's not there in the usual manner one expects.  Great once you figure it out, but for someone from out of town or not used to the local network, they will automatically, first look for what they are used to, the kinds of maps you usually see in other cities, which is what I did, and possibly be frustrated after not finding it.  The live bus tracker is the closest feature having what other maps have, but even there it's not obvious at first glance and might be passed by as not being the right thing and the person will move on to keep trying to find what they expect to find somewhere lol.   

[Red Arrow]

Is this it? http://174.78.158.38/hiwire?.a=iNextBusSelectStop&Geocode=-95961673.00000001;36022788&type=Landmark&locDetail=JENKS%20CENTER,%20E%20MAIN%20ST,%20JENKS,%2074037&landmarkType=undefined

That's the one with the link I  posted ending in vVh4w.   "Your" map doesn't show the stop by Mazzio's which actually has a bit of a shelter.  It also doesn't shot the stop which is almost to the RR tracks going eastbound on Main.

[AquaMan]

The lesson they need to learn is to reduce the wait time. I've stood in a bus shelter for 50 minutes before...I could have walked to my destination in that amount of time (41st and Yale to Downtown) but after 30 minutes I was commited.

I've also been less than a mile from my destination only to have the driver pull the bus over for a 15 minute smoke break.
Breaks should be scheduled to coincide with the arrival at Denver station.

Lots of people ride the buses and it seems like the ridership is increasing (at least based on my anecdotal observation). But you get the feeling that MTTA doesn't really care about their customers, they care more about their bureaucracy.

No doubt on time varies from route to route and driver to driver, but I have to say the ones I've used have been on time with knowledgeable, helpful drivers. When you see a bus sitting it is coincidental that the driver is smoking outside the bus. It means he is ahead of schedule and needs to park a few minutes to get back on sched. A good time to take a smoke break. Of course, he could have manufactured that smoke break.

The units have gps, radio dispatching and really do try to be customer oriented. The interact with a wide range of demographics, drunks, hostile, families, mentals etc. Of the bus drivers I know, they are the most disciplined, the best skilled and trained. Most school bus, truck drivers and coach drivers can't do the job.

[AquaMan]

Looks like the "Live Bus Tracker" is the best thing to use, but I don't like that the default is "not showing" the routes. 

The problem with the site imho, isn't that the info isn't there and can't be found, it's that it's not there in the usual manner one expects.  Great once you figure it out, but for someone from out of town or not used to the local network, they will automatically, first look for what they are used to, the kinds of maps you usually see in other cities, which is what I did, and possibly be frustrated after not finding it.  The live bus tracker is the closest feature having what other maps have, but even there it's not obvious at first glance and might be passed by as not being the right thing and the person will move on to keep trying to find what they expect to find somewhere lol.   

You no doubt travel or have travelled. The infuriating thing about my city is its arrogance, provincialism and overblown ego. I often hear people say things like, "Why don't we use the model Scandinavian countries use in their education model?", "Why don't we use the model for bus routes they use in Paris?", or "Why don't we use the recycling, trash pickup model they used in OKC?" as though success anywhere else matters to us! There is a feeling here that we don't need no outside interference in our problems especially if its from an area we compete with or has different politics. Mostly you just hear our leaders say things like, "Its different here in Tulsa...Northeast Ok....Oklahoma..."

Well, its not. Maybe its because we have such a high number of higher education graduates here. Nothing more irritating than a fresh MBA!

[AquaMan]

That's the one with the link I  posted ending in vVh4w.   "Your" map doesn't show the stop by Mazzio's which actually has a bit of a shelter.  It also doesn't shot the stop which is almost to the RR tracks going eastbound on Main.

Ok. If the bus passes by there, wave it down. You have some idea of its time by looking at its stops.

It looks like I am defending them but I really don't care. Just sharing my experience.  I'm sure they have room for improvement.