>>1043481>Bielefield is one of the few cities that actually developed their tramway into a proper light metro like system. Nice, except these widened cars are quite ugly. Thanks. I can see why you might think that, but they're quite impressive in real life. They remind me of spaceships and they're really comfortable to ride. Much better than the older trams, especially in rush hour traffic.
>Are you having problems with accessibility requirements thanks to mixed high and low platform usage?Yes. Back in the eighties, before the system was converted to partially grade-separated light rail, the people in charge opted for high-floor vehicles instead of low-floor technology. Currently, there are 64 stops, 50 of which are accessible because they are underground or because they have raised platforms. A bill was passed to have complete accessibility until 2022 in the whole country, so these last few stops have to be equipped with platforms as well.
This is met with resistance by a group of stupid people who own or work in shops and doctor's offices on the street in pic related. They don't want platforms in their street because they might lose customers. They don't want the rails to be put into a parallel street because they might lose customers. They want the city to build an entirely separate system of low-floor trams just for this one street, or even better, buy a fleet of trolleybuses. Their ideas of transport planning are pants-on-head retarded.
