Thank you, Alan for presenting a bus driver's perspective in operating a trolleybus. On a personal note, some of the narrower streets should be devoided of parked cars and trucks, unless the motorists resided/visited the residential areas along the route and truck drivers were making quick deliveries. But, in a major city such as San Francisco, that's probably close to impossible to implement without pushback from certain civic groups.
This is a unique way to look at the world! As a kid, I always wanted to sit up front in the bus, or trolley. Loved the Birds Eye unobstructed view. Especially in tunnels! As adult I try to do this but am mindful of passengers who may be challenged & in need of the front seat. Excellent video.
Wow! I love these SlowTV real time journey videos of transit lines. I mostly see them of various European trains and trams and buses. I wish it were more a thing here too but I’m guessing there’s a lot more red tape involved to make videos like this here in North America.
6:48 ok, now I’m irritated that Boston got rid of their trolley buses because one of the main reasons was “outdated technology.” Clearly it’s still in use. Especially on the silver line, for example. On the SL2 we could easily use this type of tech. Not sure how far it could go off wire, but maybe on SL3 if they really wanted to stretch how far the buses could go on battery.
VTA light rail is getting a ton of random hate online for some reason. It's actually a pretty good system. The segment that I ride on the green line is faster than driving with excellent signal priority and a largely grade separated right of way. What it really needs is a ton of TOD which thankfully the VTA is building like crazy. It will be a great system in 5-10 years when all the empty lots are filled up.
@@TohaBgood2 ok system when I used it, was my introduction to rail transit for daily commute. but the coverage to the rest of the area sucks, and it probably wont get an east-west line for a long time. should be connected to the airport and not be so slow in DTSJ. Also I got ok frequency when riding north-south taking either the blue or green but it still would suffer delays with signal priority not being perfect.
the wires don’t continue all the way down 4th street, and that stop (market) is the fourth-to-last stop. the bus could make it down to folsom with the wires still being attached, but i think the technology to bring the wires down automatically is set at that stop. someone can correct me if i’m wrong
Was the camera placed outside? I can hear the wind flow. I imagine you had permission from that bus operator to film it this way. Anyways cool video!😉👍💯🚎
I rode this route back in 2018 when I visited SF, out of curiosity does anyone know how the driver stays in line with the wire, does it steer automatically?
Not familiar with this particular route, but in all cases I know about staying in line with the wire is just something the driver has to be careful about. If they're not, the trolley poles dewire, and that does happen from time to time.
Apparently there's enough flexibility that a trolleybus can usually move into an adjacent lane to pass a stopped car. And wires typically continue straight even where the bus pulls to the side for a stop. But drivers do have to be careful not to go through switches too fast, or the poles can jump off the wire. And some branching switches are passive and require poles to be already tugging in the right direction.
6:48 ok, now I’m irritated that Boston got rid of their trolley buses because one of the main reasons was “outdated technology.” Clearly it’s still in use. Especially on the silver line, for example. On the SL2 we could easily use this type of tech. Not sure how far it could go off wire, but maybe on SL3 if they really wanted to stretch how far the buses could go on battery.
SF is even testing some xcelsior trolleybuses that have been upgraded with long-range batteries! they’re taking the trolleybuses out to areas that have no catenary anywhere nearby (places like visitacion valley and twin peaks) and routes that are normally served by hybrid electric buses (like 7 haight-noriega). i hope we can expand our trolleybus network further!
man trolleybuses are just so damn cool. I wish we had more of them in the US. The wires are cool, and they're quiet as hell
Unlike the loud diesel buses from GM that my old hometown of NYC had when I was a boy in NYC during the Mad Men era of the 1960s. 😮
Seeing a bus in San Francisco makes me remember Mrs Doubtfire.
for a good year i took the 22 bus, the same one in the movie every day, just never to north beach
Thank you, Alan for presenting a bus driver's perspective in operating a trolleybus. On a personal note, some of the narrower streets should be devoided of parked cars and trucks, unless the motorists resided/visited the residential areas along the route and truck drivers were making quick deliveries. But, in a major city such as San Francisco, that's probably close to impossible to implement without pushback from certain civic groups.
i wish i could afford to live in sf. it has everything i want except for reasonably priced rents.
Yep. If only SF built normal amounts of housing it would be the perfect city.
They need to build taller in more places outside downtown
There are so many people who share this sentiment, that they’d need to build an immense amount of housing to affect prices.
@@conorreynolds9739 The land is so valuable and in most of the peninsula they only go three or four stories up
This is a unique way to look at the world! As a kid, I always wanted to sit up front in the bus, or trolley. Loved the Birds Eye unobstructed view. Especially in tunnels! As adult I try to do this but am mindful of passengers who may be challenged & in need of the front seat. Excellent video.
Trolleybusses, wooh (largest system in the Western Hemisphere)!
SF's gonna have overhead electrification for busses and trains!
Mexico City has entered the chat
@@rlwelch I didn't know that, but you're right. Mexico City has more vehicles.
They’re both definitely impressive though!
Wow! I love these SlowTV real time journey videos of transit lines. I mostly see them of various European trains and trams and buses. I wish it were more a thing here too but I’m guessing there’s a lot more red tape involved to make videos like this here in North America.
you just have to know the right people 😉
6:48 ok, now I’m irritated that Boston got rid of their trolley buses because one of the main reasons was “outdated technology.” Clearly it’s still in use. Especially on the silver line, for example. On the SL2 we could easily use this type of tech. Not sure how far it could go off wire, but maybe on SL3 if they really wanted to stretch how far the buses could go on battery.
Nice lookin' trip!
I presume this is a hybrid battery electric bus that uses a battery before reaching the spot to release the double trolley poles.
Vibes, Go down to San Jose its not as bad as everyone makes it out to be
VTA light rail is getting a ton of random hate online for some reason. It's actually a pretty good system. The segment that I ride on the green line is faster than driving with excellent signal priority and a largely grade separated right of way. What it really needs is a ton of TOD which thankfully the VTA is building like crazy. It will be a great system in 5-10 years when all the empty lots are filled up.
@@TohaBgood2 ok system when I used it, was my introduction to rail transit for daily commute. but the coverage to the rest of the area sucks, and it probably wont get an east-west line for a long time. should be connected to the airport and not be so slow in DTSJ. Also I got ok frequency when riding north-south taking either the blue or green but it still would suffer delays with signal priority not being perfect.
@@TohaBgood2 how busy does it get
TROLLEYS ARE THE BEST RAHHHH
48:30 My eyes. He took my fucking eyes
Alan turned my face off at the end and now I can't see.
39:24 why did they lower the trolley polls?
the wires don’t continue all the way down 4th street, and that stop (market) is the fourth-to-last stop. the bus could make it down to folsom with the wires still being attached, but i think the technology to bring the wires down automatically is set at that stop. someone can correct me if i’m wrong
lets gooo!
Was the camera placed outside? I can hear the wind flow. I imagine you had permission from that bus operator to film it this way. Anyways cool video!😉👍💯🚎
Green traffic lights are so satisfying and red so disappointing.
cars, ew
Wake up babe, new alan fisher video
Only thing this needs now is some commentary about the system and an interview with a long time ‘cab’ operator
Then someday you can take a true electric bus to an electric caltrain. A sight we need more of in this country.
later this year!
I remember taking the 30, I took it for all sorts of reasons because it serves so many diverse locations in the city.
Figured "Sports Basement" was a snarky nickname for something but, nah. It's an actual place.
did u just stick a go pro to the bus and hope the driver didn't see lol
How did you film that? GoPro on the bike rack?
I rode this route back in 2018 when I visited SF, out of curiosity does anyone know how the driver stays in line with the wire, does it steer automatically?
Not familiar with this particular route, but in all cases I know about staying in line with the wire is just something the driver has to be careful about. If they're not, the trolley poles dewire, and that does happen from time to time.
Apparently there's enough flexibility that a trolleybus can usually move into an adjacent lane to pass a stopped car. And wires typically continue straight even where the bus pulls to the side for a stop. But drivers do have to be careful not to go through switches too fast, or the poles can jump off the wire. And some branching switches are passive and require poles to be already tugging in the right direction.
trolley poles can rotate up to 110 degrees so its no problem, for passing a standing object
Very nice, is this the full route by any chance?
the amount of entitled people just parking in the middle of the road is insufferable. Uber was the biggest mistake to our cities.
That's a beautiful ride!
The 30 Stockton runs artics on that line? I recall the they were 40' because the artics couldn't maneuver Chinatown's narrow streets.
6:48 ok, now I’m irritated that Boston got rid of their trolley buses because one of the main reasons was “outdated technology.” Clearly it’s still in use. Especially on the silver line, for example. On the SL2 we could easily use this type of tech. Not sure how far it could go off wire, but maybe on SL3 if they really wanted to stretch how far the buses could go on battery.
SF is even testing some xcelsior trolleybuses that have been upgraded with long-range batteries! they’re taking the trolleybuses out to areas that have no catenary anywhere nearby (places like visitacion valley and twin peaks) and routes that are normally served by hybrid electric buses (like 7 haight-noriega). i hope we can expand our trolleybus network further!
the dirty 30! I LOVE SF