REVscene - Vancouver Automotive Forum

hotjoint · 01-21-2013, 09:03 AM

Looks like I didn't get tolled for making my way back into surrey yesterday. it was really foggy coming back so maybe I got lucky. I was tolled on the way out of surrey though. Looking here at my treo account. I didn't see that the $30 credit we have has an expiration date. It say "Any unused credit will expire May 31, 2013". Was that always there? I just noticed it.

Traum · 01-21-2013, 09:12 AM

^^ Yup, the free credits' expiration date was always there since day 1. It's just that it was shown in small print somewhere.

inv4zn · 01-21-2013, 09:13 AM

^That was always there.

Soundy · 01-21-2013, 11:36 AM

Local News Story - CKNW AM 980: News. Talk. Sports.

Quote:

Engineers devise plan to combat Port Mann "ice-bombs"
VANCOUVER/CKNW (AM980)

1/21/2013

Engineers working on the Port Mann bridge have come up with some solutions to hopefully prevent any more "ice-bombs" from forming on the cables and falling onto vehicles on the bridge deck below.

A custom-designed cable sweeper will be fitted onto the cables, removing snow and ice before it can build up.

The sweepers will be installed on all 152 cables crossing the roadway.

Engineers have also identified a de-icing solution that can be sprayed on the cables if need be.
More than 250 claims came in to ICBC after ice bombs fell on vehicles mid-December.

250 now? Why does this number seem to keep going up over a month later?

Graeme S · 01-21-2013, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soundy

Local News Story - CKNW AM 980: News. Talk. Sports.

250 now? Why does this number seem to keep going up over a month later?

People delaying calling in claims; injuries related to accidents which were not initially considered to be part of the ice-bombs, and quite probably an inflation of the numbers by including the Alex Fraser ice bombs along with the Port Mann.

StylinRed · 01-21-2013, 12:06 PM

i read 250 about a week after it happened i think

edit: nope it was "over 100"

but yeah what graeme said

Soundy · 01-21-2013, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graeme S

People delaying calling in claims; injuries related to accidents which were not initially considered to be part of the ice-bombs, and quite probably an inflation of the numbers by including the Alex Fraser ice bombs along with the Port Mann.

Yeah, because so many people didn't notice the big spiderweb in their windshields until three weeks later.

I think it's more because a lot of people think they're going to get other damage covered by claiming it as "ice bombs". Expect a press release from ICBC in about six months about all the "attempted fraud" cases.

6o4_dc · 01-21-2013, 05:18 PM

wrong thread

Cr33pUh · 01-21-2013, 05:21 PM

Ice build up solution. Taxpayers aren't on the hook apparently

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=389917611099026

StylinRed · 01-21-2013, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soundy

Local News Story - CKNW AM 980: News. Talk. Sports.

250 now? Why does this number seem to keep going up over a month later?

CBC news just said 350 claims

and said ICBC is checking toll information to see if those drivers were on the bridge

Soundy · 01-21-2013, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StylinRed

CBC news just said 350 claims

and said ICBC is checking toll information to see if those drivers were on the bridge

That should eliminate quite a few... shouldn't take more than a cursory inspection of the cars to eliminate a lot more. Your average estimator is a lot brighter than most people realize - like cops, they have lots of experience, have seen it all, and have heard all the excuses twice.

You'd be amazed some of the shit people try to put over on them. Was talking to one once, said a guy tried to claim he came out to his car and found a bunch of damage from someone ramming a shopping cart into it... yeah, except the damage also had clearly visible concrete powder in the gouges, from scraping it across something like a light-pole base or jersey barrier or other stationary heavy object. Estimator called him on it on-the-spot and the guy fessed up.

RRxtar · 01-21-2013, 10:41 PM

^ and then the guy went home, signed online on RS, and made a thread about how ICBC screwed him.

fliptuner · 01-22-2013, 03:50 PM

Finally got my refund..... 2 fucking weeks later.

Got the supervisor go above the accounting and billing departments heads, just to get me off their back. Stupid that they've been getting so much shit publicity lately and wouldn't just make every attempt to handle the situation more expeditiously, instead of keeping me hanging for so long.

Huge waste of my time and not even an offer of extra credits or anything for wasting my time. Way to handle business.

GLOW · 01-22-2013, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soundy

Local News Story - CKNW AM 980: News. Talk. Sports.

sounds like they're doing this

ruthless · 01-22-2013, 05:16 PM

http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2013/01/s...bombs-problem/

Gridlock · 01-23-2013, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soundy

That should eliminate quite a few... shouldn't take more than a cursory inspection of the cars to eliminate a lot more. Your average estimator is a lot brighter than most people realize - like cops, they have lots of experience, have seen it all, and have heard all the excuses twice.

You'd be amazed some of the shit people try to put over on them. Was talking to one once, said a guy tried to claim he came out to his car and found a bunch of damage from someone ramming a shopping cart into it... yeah, except the damage also had clearly visible concrete powder in the gouges, from scraping it across something like a light-pole base or jersey barrier or other stationary heavy object. Estimator called him on it on-the-spot and the guy fessed up.

I can see it now...oh shit! you people can do that?

Nah, you know what...I'll just go with it. Pretend you never saw me!

GabAlmighty · 01-25-2013, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ruthless

Solution found for Port Mann Bridge ice bombs problem | Vancity Buzz | Vancouver Blog

Holy f'ing tits that's overkill.

falcon · 01-26-2013, 04:49 PM

I think that's a very clever solution to a problem that seems to have no other fix. I'd imagine they would go very slowly and constantly when it is snowing/sleeting.

On a related note, when it's raining does anyone else notice how big giant rain drop accumulations hit your windsheild pretty hard? I noticed this my first crossing but I never thought that it would turn into something much worse when it was snow instead of rain.

melloman · 01-28-2013, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by falcon

I think that's a very clever solution to a problem that seems to have no other fix.

Meh, there's lots of fixes.

I figure each cable is made up of 100's of smaller cables all wound together, but I'm not sure whether they are encased in a pipe or just have a sleeve overtop. If they were in a sort of pipe, easiest way to solve this problem would've been to add heat tracing to each cable..

Fuck a custom design sweeper. =/

Gridlock · 01-28-2013, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melloman

Meh, there's lots of fixes.

I figure each cable is made up of 100's of smaller cables all wound together, but I'm not sure whether they are encased in a pipe or just have a sleeve overtop. If they were in a sort of pipe, easiest way to solve this problem would've been to add heat tracing to each cable..

Fuck a custom design sweeper. =/

That would be where I'd go in a solution. Because we all know that the true solution to a problem for the next 100 years is....moving parts.

GLOW · 01-28-2013, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melloman

Meh, there's lots of fixes.

I figure each cable is made up of 100's of smaller cables all wound together, but I'm not sure whether they are encased in a pipe or just have a sleeve overtop. If they were in a sort of pipe, easiest way to solve this problem would've been to add heat tracing to each cable..

Fuck a custom design sweeper. =/

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gridlock

That would be where I'd go in a solution. Because we all know that the true solution to a problem for the next 100 years is....moving parts.

heat trace/snow melt solutions would be great and probably the most obvious. i'm guessing why they're not going that route is because of up front cost. i wonder if the roomba solution is cheaper and by how much...actually seems pretty creative after looking at it... of course last thing we need now are little metal robots dropping from 100' up on to cars

falcon · 01-28-2013, 01:08 PM

And because the bridge and cables are already built. Way to be realistic, guys...

SpuGen · 01-28-2013, 08:01 PM

Uhh. Couldn't they just coat it in Teflon for next to nothing? (In comparison)

Some Engineers don't deserve thier job. The engineers at my job are just as bad, and they're a huge engineering firm.
We had some frame/bases that needed to be sent out to be galvanized. Not a single one of them figured out that it gets dipped, and the design had huge flaws where the shit would pool into cavities. Long story short, 2 re-designs, and triple the amount of prep/welding/finishing hours.

They call it : "Engineering Oversight"
We call it : Overpaid dogfuckers

Soundy · 01-28-2013, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpuGen

Uhh. Couldn't they just coat it in Teflon for next to nothing? (In comparison)

And how much does it cost to regularly maintain and re-do that coating? How much would it cost to constantly inspect it for damage? What happens when damage is missed and ice manages to build up and fall off again?

As far as the heated cables, you'll recall it was mentioned that that idea was originally considered and rejected for cost vs. risk concerns. Cheaper to implement? Maybe. Cheaper to operate? Have you SEEN the cost of electricity these days? Consider the size and length of the cables, and the sheer number of them, you're talking a dedicated substation to run them. Remember that there's a sheath around them, so you have to run the heaters high enough to penetrate that. It's not anywhere near the same thing as wrapping a little heat tape around your outside faucets at home.

While everyone is getting all wiggy about the cost of the solution, keep in mind that the builder is responsible to cover it. It comes out of their profits. You don't think if the other options were cheaper in the long run they would have gone with something else? Remember that they have to take care of the ongoing operating costs of this solution, so they would have necessarily looked at how much the solution would cost them over the next 20 years (or however long the maintenance contract is), not just whatever is the cheapest to install.

MG1 · 01-28-2013, 09:41 PM

On Friday, I received an e-mail notification from TReO that I owed them 86 bucks. I didn't think anything of it until I checked the statement. I found some major errors. I got overcharged. Not only that, I was not qualified for the 20 free trips ($30.00 credit). I signed up before the dealine and even did so in person, so I should have gotten the freebie.

According to them, I did not provide them with credit card info. Since no CC info, no freebie.

I recall, when signing up, giving the person behind the counter my credit card. Anyway, I was not getting anywhere with the person answering the phone, so I went in today to give them the "what for".

I had to speak to a supervisor. Dude was very polite and apologetic, so I kept my calm. There have been cases where the person taking the info forgets or neglects to check off a box on one of the screens. If this hapens, all CC info does not get saved. Long story short, I got them to give me the $30.00 credit and adjust the overcharges.

After I got that all taken care of, I asked the guy what the laser was for. It's there to detect height and length of the vehicle. This explains why my radar detector only goes off once in a while and not all the time. The supervisor also admitted that they had issues with the laser system and they are working on fixing it. When it is raining hard and the road is soaking wet, the laser picks up the overspray (for lack of a better word) from the vehicle, making it seem like the vehicle is longer than it really is. I guess this is why my little sub compact becomes a truck, LOL.