New tram routes announced

[FlyinAdamBadger]

WOW! No more Green trams. How are the handicap going to get to to the EAA Aviation Museum? Walk from the end of the yellow route to the Bus Park drop off to get to the museum. The green route was used by how much traffic last year? Why eliminate a popular route?

I for one in my 25 year life have been using the Vintage Area stop for many occasions (easy access to Boeing Plaza, easy access to the Vintage Area and easy access to the airshow center that is straight out from the Vintage Barn). These are big mistakes that EAA did by eliminating this route and stops.

[Bill Greenwood]

Smoking might in theory be illegal INSIDE Friar Tucks, but just outside on the patio is a swarm of smokers and when customers or waitresses open the door it goes inside. I haven't been there in a few years,but I doubt if they have changed.
I was recently in Turkey, all the hotels say that they don't allow smoking. But the managers stand literly in the doorway to the office or lobby with the door open and smoke. I didn't seen any adult male there who was not smoking.
We have a state law here against animals inside restaurants, even on patios. It is widely ignored, some places even have bowls of water for dogs.

[L16 Pilot]

I've been going to Friar Tucks for at least 10 years and never had any issues with smokers. It's about the only place you can ride the bus and walk through the fence and get a good meal with an adult beverage. Did I also mention it's air conditioned (my tent isn't). I made my first trip to Oshkosh in either 1969 or 1970 whatever year the first Oshkosh fly in and I think I've only missed one. For me it's a three hour drive or 1 1/2 hour flight
in my "put put". It's correct that you had to have some kind of a pilot's license, etc. to get on the flight line during the early years. You also couldn't carry any beverage, etc. in and if I remember correctly we parked along the road between the large parking lot and present main gate. How thing have changed.

[skyfixer8]

As a tram volunteer, I see a safety issue there. As we make turn, slowing down, people and kids jumping on and off while still moving.

[CHICAGORANDY]

As a tram volunteer, I see a safety issue there. As we make turn, slowing down, people and kids jumping on and off while still moving.

Since tram jumping at the Vern corner has happened EVERY year I've been a conductor even WITH the stop at Vintage, I can just about guarantee it will happen with alarming frequency on a host of runs IF they proceed with eliminating that particular stop. Each time tram-jumping happens the odds of an injury go up exponentially I'm thinking.

[Bill Greenwood]

Randy, tram operations should serve the needs of the passengers which includes being able to get off. We are not captives, even when you are trying to do a good job. If you come to a stop people should be able to exit. If I can climb up on my wing to service 5 fuel tanks I can step 2 feet off a tram. I did this one day and Brunhilda really had a fit and started screaming at me. It was like road rage and I don't doubt if she had a gun she would have pointed it at me. Thank God someone with some common sense, maybe you, got rid of that shrew. So many, most of the people at Oshkosh are nice, seem to like people and are there to have a good time, but she wasn't and wanted to make sure others didn't have fun either.
The tram going north for instance stops once just across from A an P root beer, which they call forurms. But is it only the workshops and the 10 or so forum buildings where most people go is quite a ways father to walk, not to mention homebuilt parking up to the runway. its frustrating to sit there while the tram drives right by where you really want to go and often even stops for traffic.

[skyfixer8]

Bill, reason no stop at forum buildings is because they don t want the tram noise or conductors talking on speakers. If memory serves, Tom Poberezny started that cause speakers were complaining.

[CHICAGORANDY]

The entire forum area is a 'tram quiet zone' - NO talking on the mike - and throughout the grounds we stop only at designated tram stops by design, none of which are in the forum area per the decision of whoever at EAA HQ makes such decisions.

If/when tram passengers feel the rules do not apply to the likes of them and they therefore are free to jump on and off trams whenever and wherever they please I can assure you chaos ensues and injuries WILL happen, needless injuries. That someone at EAA HQ plans to create passenger chaos by eliminating the Vern turn stop is IMHO quite unfortunate and simply need not be. Once one mope jumps on/off a tram, EVERYONE thinks it's OK for them to do so too.

But I just yap on a microphone and go where the John Deere pilot drags me. I ain't the King of Trams ner nuthin'. But I have in the past stopped a tram to throw off a jumper and will likely continue to do so in my role as a conductor responsible for passenger safety.

[Bill Greenwood]

RANDY, I don't see why anyone needs to talk on a mike just to stop at forums. i'll try to check with EAA also.

[steve]

The entire forum area is a 'tram quiet zone' - NO talking on the mike

I'm pretty sure your tram speaker is quite a bit less noisy/invasive/bothersome than the jet biplane, T6 props and F35 flybys.