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BART Outfitted With Wireless
wyldeone writes "The San Fransico Chronicle reports that the BART subway system has been completely outfitted with cells to allow cellphone usage everywhere on the line. The network has been paid for entirely by Nextel, who leased out the lines to the other carriers." From the article: "Rae said BART and the wireless companies know some riders will try to make calls over the din as BART roars and screeches through tunnels. But most of the business, he said, will be from people using wireless devices to read and send e-mail or browse the Internet. 'You could use your Blackberry to take care of all your e-mail on your way to work,' he said. 'But the trains are really too noisy (underground) to have an intelligent conversation.'"
There's a difference between being able to have a regular conversation in a loud space and being able to have a cellphone conversation in the same space. Particularly, it can be hard for the person on the other side to hear you over the din, even though you can hear them just fine.
"[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz
> "The network has been payed for entirely by Nextel"
I'm pretty sure you meant "paid for"
Wouldn't it be a better technology upgrade to reduce the noise on BART while traveling underground so people can talk to each other? Of course, you would have to ban cell phones since it's so damn annoying as some people don't care if everyone knows about their sex life play-by-play.
When I was in Paris [last november] I was making calls in the subway without excessive noise or trouble.
:-)
I'm glad they're getting wireless though. So I'm not complaining, just comparing
Tom
Someday, I'll have a real sig.
Best transportation system in america? Are you aware the discussion is in regard to BART? Or as it should more reasonably be known, BAT? Or at least Bay Area Moderately Expensive, Underwhelmingly slow, Usually Mildly Smelly Transportion? BAMEUSUMST?
It's only decent when you compare it to the light rail fiasco of the south bay.
Yup.
I always wear earplugs on BART.
Some sections of track, especially in the tunnel and a few of the underground bits in Oakland are painfully loud. It's really pretty astounding, and far worse than any other subway I've encountered.
Best is really a subjective term. I recently moved from SF to Chicago, after having lived in SF for close to 20 years. First, in those 20 years I'd seen all sorts of changes done to BART, some for the better, some for the worse.
It's nice that BART finally goes to SFO, after such a long battle with San Mateo.
But that's really the only tangible improvement I've seen from them in a LONG time.
On the other hand, I'm now experiencing the "El" in Chicago. They run 24/7. And to a greater land area. To both airports. Directly.
Now, I don't work the evening shift, but I can completely get by without a car here. I couldn't do that in SF. Ever.
Have you ever been on another subway system? The BART is incredibly loud in the transbay tube and most of the underground in SF.
Incredibly. Loud. My mom had her ear's plugged. I can't have a conversation with the person next to me without shouting. And its rarely on time, and its carpeted, and its pretty freaking expensive. So terrible.
Best transportation system? I've lived in San Francisco and rode BART every day. I've also lived in DC, and I've also lived in New York.. BART and DC Metro are roughly even (though BART's interior is more comfortable). But realistically, come on.. New York has the best transit system in the US by far.
Coverage is the most important thing for a transit system, that and affordability. Let me know how BART's coverage map compares to this. And that's just the subway, not the buses, and not the commuter rails..
New York City puts the rest of the country to shame when it comes to public transit. San Francisco's a nice compared to cities like LA, Phoenix, Denver, etc. But there are definitely some eastern cities that have it beat.
The Simpsons is anti-culture. I mean that in the sense that there is nothing about it artistic or redeeming to our society. It's just entertainment.
I don't know how many times I browse through wikipedia, find a serious article, and then some idiot has to throw in a Simpsons reference as if its absolutely necessary to include every Simpsons related fact when applicable.
wireless means 802.11
Since when? Wireless can be used to refer to any wire-free technology. "Wireless Phone". "Wireless Broadband". "Wireless Speakers". "Wireless Mouse".
in a time and place where cell phones have become affixed to our ears, the subway system once provided a welcome relief from the people who talk to thin air. practically anywhere else you go (out to dinner, at the movies, walking down the street), the everpresent hoards of obnoxious cell-phoners have taken over. it might be argued the subway has become one of the few urban areas where people are actually likely to talk to the people around them or to take in their surroundings. in small doses technological advances in connectivity, which allow us to talk with people when we want and where we want, are generally a good thing. particularly in emergency situations, and in light of recent terrorist activity on subways, subway cell phones may bring greater safety. however, when cell phones, instant messengers, and ultra high speed internet start to dominate our lifestyles, the value of a face-to-face conversation is largely ignored.
(( (CRAYON) )) >