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| [CBS-2 Chicago] : A Look At Recent Megabus Problems: Coincidence Or Pattern? (265024) | |
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[CBS-2 Chicago] : A Look At Recent Megabus Problems: Coincidence Or Pattern? |
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Posted by Gold_12TH on Thu Aug 9 21:20:57 2012 video embedded:video link: http://chicago.cbslocal.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=7597104 It’s been a rough week for Megabus, as the discount intercity bus line has been involved in two fatal accidents in Illinois, and agreed to pay $5 million to settle a lawsuit filed by the family of a man struck and killed by a Megabus two years ago. The list of problems for Megabus got a bit longer on Thursday, when Chopper 2 HD spotted a Megabus near Joliet, pulled over to get a new tire on I-55, forcing passengers to switch to another bus. Is all of this just a coincidence, or a more troubling pattern of problems for Megabus? Megabus is a fast-growing, discount intercity bus line, but are they cutting safety as well? The company has been involved in four public incidents in the past week, two of them fatal. Gov. Pat Quinn on Thursday added his voice to the list of critics. He urged U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to have the federal government investigate the company, the Sun-Times Media Wire reported. “We believe that a full federal investigation into the operations and history of the firm would provide a baseline for any policy changes or other considerations that might logically result from what is learned about these crashes,” Quinn wrote. Ald. Robert Fioretti (2nd) is asking the Chicago Department of Transportation to take a closer look at Megabus operations, and make sure they’re complying with all state and local laws. “I’m always concerned with discount prices and what they mean for the service to the individual,” he said. “We have to make sure that the passenger safety is utmost of concern of anybody. Since they’re in, and they use the streets of the city of Chicago … we’ve got to make sure it’s a safe bus, it’s a safe entity, it’s a safe transportation.” Fioretti’s personal friend, 76-year-old Donna Halstead, was hit and killed by a Megabus on Tuesday near Union Station. That’s just two blocks away from where a Megbus fatally struck 76-year-old Wes Krueger in 2010, resulting in the company’s agreement Wednesday to pay $5.1 million to settle a wrongful death lawsuit against Megabus, while admitting no wrongdoing. Last week, a Megabus passenger was killed when a bus blew a tire on I-55 near downstate Litchfield, Ill., and crashed into a concrete pillar. Dozens of other passengers were hurt. And, on Wednesday, a Megabus caught fire after blowing a tire on I-85 in Georgia, while traveling from Atlanta to Charlotte, N.C. All of the passengers and the driver were evacuated safely. In light of Megabus’ recent problems, Krueger family attorney Dan Kotin said, “I think we need to start looking at the industry as a whole.” To cut expenses, Megabus operates without terminals, picking up and unloading passengers right from the street. It’s a business model that’s growing, but in a report last year, the National Transportation Safety Board found the curbside pickup bus industry has a troubling safety record. The fatal accident rate for traditional bus companies is two deaths per 1,000 vehicles. For curbside companies, it’s 14 per 1,000 vehicles – seven times higher. The Chicago office for Megabus said an executive wasn’t available to comment. A Megabus spokesperson said each accident is under investigation, and they won’t speculate about the cause. The company said it’s continuing to focus on preventative measures to safeguard customers, staff, and other drivers. A unit of the U.S. Department of Transportation is reviewing Megabus’ safety record, but that agency – which regulates bus companies – is so overburdened, they have one inspector for every 1,000 bus companies. ---http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/08/09/a-look-at-recent-megabus-problems-coincidence-or-pattern/ |
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Re: [CBS-2 Chicago] : A Look At Recent Megabus Problems: Coincidence Or Pattern? |
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Posted by 167t on Thu Aug 9 21:26:03 2012, in response to [CBS-2 Chicago] : A Look At Recent Megabus Problems: Coincidence Or Pattern?, posted by Gold_12TH on Thu Aug 9 21:20:57 2012. Any vehicle can have a flat tire. That's pushing the issue a little bit. |
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Re: [CBS-2 Chicago] : A Look At Recent Megabus Problems: Coincidence Or Pattern? |
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Posted by NIMBYkiller on Fri Aug 10 01:38:17 2012, in response to Re: [CBS-2 Chicago] : A Look At Recent Megabus Problems: Coincidence Or Pattern?, posted by 167t on Thu Aug 9 21:26:03 2012. Yes, but it seems like more Megabuses are blowing tires than any other company/model (specifically the double deckers). |
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Re: [CBS-2 Chicago] : A Look At Recent Megabus Problems: Coincidence Or Pattern? |
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Posted by Bill from Maspeth on Fri Aug 10 05:04:35 2012, in response to Re: [CBS-2 Chicago] : A Look At Recent Megabus Problems: Coincidence Or Pattern?, posted by NIMBYkiller on Fri Aug 10 01:38:17 2012. A flat tire may not mean a tire was blown. Maybe that MegaaBus hit a sharp object on the road? |
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Re: [CBS-2 Chicago] : A Look At Recent Megabus Problems: Coincidence Or Pattern? |
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Posted by 167t on Fri Aug 10 13:15:24 2012, in response to [CBS-2 Chicago] : A Look At Recent Megabus Problems: Coincidence Or Pattern?, posted by Gold_12TH on Thu Aug 9 21:20:57 2012. ...cheap tires |
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Re: [CBS-2 Chicago] : A Look At Recent Megabus Problems: Coincidence Or Pattern? |
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Posted by NJT Oradell on Fri Aug 10 15:27:11 2012, in response to [CBS-2 Chicago] : A Look At Recent Megabus Problems: Coincidence Or Pattern?, posted by Gold_12TH on Thu Aug 9 21:20:57 2012. I would look at tires in a new way. Megabus wouldn't use tires that aren't graded to their coaches, but how often do they check the pressure? Are they checking tires by gauge when cold, or by eye when being fueled? Are drivers watching for signs of a flat tire when they're in motion? Most tires will smoke before they burn, and if the driver is paying attention he can often see a flat smoking prior to burning.This has been an exceptionally hot summer. I believe tire maintenance should be upgraded, at least in the near term, until these tire problems lessen. Even with full buses traveling at highway speeds in hot weather bus tires shouldn't blow out of be driven flat without being observed. Maybe I was lucky, but in 35 years of operating commuter coaches I never had a wreck or fire due to a flat or blown tire. But I checked tires anytime I passed one, and made sure they were adequate to the task. |
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Re: [CBS-2 Chicago] : A Look At Recent Megabus Problems: Coincidence Or Pattern? |
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Posted by orange blossom special on Fri Aug 10 17:22:24 2012, in response to [CBS-2 Chicago] : A Look At Recent Megabus Problems: Coincidence Or Pattern?, posted by Gold_12TH on Thu Aug 9 21:20:57 2012. What does the terminal have to do with their record??Doesn't state DOT police deal with all of this too like they do with trucks and commercial vehicles? I'm baffled by the story unless it's a Chicago thing. |
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Re: [CBS-2 Chicago] : A Look At Recent Megabus Problems: Coincidence Or Pattern? |
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Posted by NIMBYkiller on Mon Aug 13 11:25:33 2012, in response to Re: [CBS-2 Chicago] : A Look At Recent Megabus Problems: Coincidence Or Pattern?, posted by Bill from Maspeth on Fri Aug 10 05:04:35 2012. So far every report said the fire and Chicago crash were blown tires, not flat tires. There have been several other incidents involving "blown" tires as well. |
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