Bettering the SkyTrain experience

I've been taking a yoga class in the morning on the eastside this week, and am finding myself on the SkyTrain again to get to work. Just as I remember, getting on and off the crowded morning train drives me a bit mental. Getting pushed on and off the train is not pleasant in the morning, and I've been pondering this experience.

I've deduced that it is not that people are rude or impolite, but that the design of the train is not conducive to a pleasant experience. It seems to me the SeaBus has got it right - enter on one side of the boat, exit on the other side. None of this jammy jammy, get out of my way business for those poor early morning commuters who would rather be back home in bed.

Why weren't the trains designed in the same way? Seems to make sense, and wouldn't it speed up the process of loading and unloading passengers? However, this does bring expense into the question - the train stations would be much more expensive if you built the platforms in this manner. Possibly you'd have to build two platforms for trains going in either direction, not to mention the extra escalators and elevators and stairs.

It makes me wonder - how many great features that emphasize user experience get left on the cutting room floor?

out of the clouds ...

into the clouds. Dang I thought we had some sun coming our way!



This pick I grabbed with Skitch, a cool snapshot tool that you can use on the web and share images easily with firends. I've been meaning to try it for a while, and want to introduce it to my students so they have another means to make digital sketchbooks.