Tresure hunt (MTD bus)

Assignment: Locate and photograph all of the surveillance equipment on an MTD bus and find out how it works.

In order to learn and photograph the surveillance equipment, naturally I had to ride a bus so I rode the 22 South around campus while I took pictures. I located all the cameras on the bus and the mirrors that the driver can use to see things not in his/her line of sight. While talking to the driver, she told me that there were five cameras, however I counted seven. In addition to the cameras inside the bus, there was also a bus pointed toward the street in front of the bus. This was there in case there were ever any accidents I was told. That way, there is video evidence that can be referenced. I was unable to photograph this camera though, because I would have had to stand directly in front of the bus. Either way, the bus company obviously makes sure its buses are well monitored. She also told me that inside all the cameras are recorders that tape visual and audio. This information is all relayed to a black box at the front of the bus where it is stored and then emptied periodically and filed in case the information on those tapes ever needs to be reviewed. I took a picture of all seven cameras located throughout the bus (3 in back, 4 in the front) but since they all look the same, I'll only put a few up along with the mirrors and the information box.

camera 1

camera 2

mirror3

Information box

All in all, I think the MTD does a good job of keeping its buses under control and the surveillance system seems to contribute to the overall effectiveness of the bus system. Now I can't speak for others, but I know I have never been on an MTD bus where an incident has arisen and I doubt that they have to refer to the tapes very often, but if they had to, they could and I suppose that is the entire point.