Walking the Gauntlet

Cramped Aisles Adds to
Rider Discomfort

As ridership increases, the design flaws of the ChicagoDASH buses are more glaring with every ride.  While we've previously talked about the narrowness of the buses' main aisle, we didn't realize then how this flaw would  contribute to the buses' overall cramped feeling.  Riders now have to cram into the aisle seats and because the seats themselves are wrong-sized, riders seated in the aisle seat have to lean into the main aisle thereby reducing the aisle width further and effectively creating a gauntlet for passengers to pass through as they get on and off.  The result is not enjoyable for either the passengers moving down the aisle or the unfortunate ones seated along the aisle.

It's safe to say that designing buses with 16" aisles is not a good idea.

Coming Soon: Longer Ride, More Discomfort



Two hour rides with bruised knees



Apparently the ChicaGO DASH "powers that be" aren't yet satisfied with taking a good concept down a few notches with the purchase of poorly designed buses (purchased, of course, with taxpayer money).  Now, as reported in local Northwest Indiana newspapers, the government officials who brought to you ridicuously uncomfortable buses, now want to add a stop in another city to cram more riders on these buses.

Of course, adding another stop will make the trip between Valparaiso and Chicago.  Currently, this trip runs well over an hour.  The real problem though is putting more riders on buses that seem to be designed by a group of old Soviet engineers.  Had someone thought about rider comfort and safety, filling every seat wouldn't be a problem.