Tag: Transit

Tutorial and AMA’s on Planning with #CitiesSkylines. Part 1 of 6: The Overview

A look at Planning, Cities Skylines and how via Mixed Reality I work with both (in game play)

I have started a series via Twitch which will be uploaded to my YouTube channel on Planning with Cities Skylines. It is a six-part series look at the more advanced mechanics of Transport Planning in the game as well as my playthrough style.

I will be uploading both the raw and edited versions to YouTube for you consumption, as well as sharing it here with any further commentary on this blog.

A rundown on the series:

Part 1 of 6: The Overview The first of a series of Live Tutorials and AMAs on all things Planning, and Planning with Cities Skylines. Mods are in use including Real Time, Transport Manager: Presidents Edition, and Transport Lines Manager.

  • Part 1: Overview
  • Part 2: Buses and Trams Part
  • 3: Metro, Heavy and Mono Rail
  • Part 4: Freight and Roads
  • Part 5: Active Modes and Hubs
  • Part 6: New City

Part 1: The Overview

[This is the raw version; highlights will also be available]

Part Two I look at buses and trams (aka Light Rail)

Riding the Pukekohe Circuit, Using the Prefix System with Transit #CitiesSkylines

Explaining the Transport Lines Manager Prefix system while riding a bus

While we go riding the Pukekohe Circuit between Pukekohe and the Airport, I explain in brief how the Transport Lines Manager mod can help make the most of your transit system especially with Rolling Stock allocations for each respective route.

Let’s ride the bus shall we as I go over the basics of the Prefix system.

Remember, keep an eye on your transit lines and alter the supply of rolling stock accordingly so that you don’t either have overcrowding nor large buses with 20 passengers running around on respective routes.

Transport Lines Manager in action

First Overview of Palpatine International Airprt (using the Airport DLC) #CitiesSkylines

My first attempt at a small international airport

While I saw my counterparts attempt some of the most complex multi runway airports possible I decided to go right down to basics (given this was also an existing mature city meaning I have limited space). Introducing Palpatine International Airport, a single runway small international airport using the Classic terminals.

First view of my international airport

The airport has 4 of each of the Gate classes (small, medium and large), 3 cargo parks, and 15 apron parks for aircraft not in use. The airport has short- and long-term parking, and can be reached by bus, taxi, tram, heavy and metro rail, and even Helicopter.

Of course, this is when the airport just opened and since the video the complex has evolved to include supporting services, a better tram stops, and auxiliary services including dedicated long-term parking, hotels, Airline HQ, and residential for all those workers.

I will have other videos of the transit services using the airport.

Bus Gates and Bus Malls. Why I might do them in Cities Skylines (and how to do so)

Simple techniques without destroying an entire City for transit measures!

Bus Gates in the UK? What were they as I found them on Twitter? Well I went to find out then though rather than do an “upgrade” of a road to a full blown bus mall in my current Cities Skylines’ city I would try this very simple Bus Gate instead.

Here is the video around me using bus malls then discovering the Bus Gate:

Bus Malls and Bus Gates

Riding the Bus Lines in Papakura, and an old one too. Neo South Auckland #CitiesSkylines

Finally Completed Busway moves buses efficiently

Time to go riding the new bus lines in what was at the time the latest suburb to be added to Neo South Auckland, the suburb of Papakura.

Wheels on the bus go round and round

In an upcoming video I we would tour the Papakura-Riccarton Bus Way. One of only two Bus Rapid Transit systems I have ever built in the six years I have owned Cities Skylines!

Papakura (to the right), the latest suburb in Neo South Auckland!

Riding the Helicopter again in Neo South Auckland #CitieSkylines

Because why get stuck in traffic

As the title and heading says; why get stuck in traffic when you can take a helicopter from A to B to C and back again. Let’s go travelling like the elite do across Neo South Auckland!

GET TO DA CHOPPA!

With the new Airport DLC coming out at the end of the month I will have to see how helicopters are dealt with at the new modular airport as currently it is only the Metropolitan Airport that handles them (apart from the stand alone helicopter stops).

Long (Raw) Playthrough of Neo South Auckland, Establish Bus Rapid Transit Infrastructure to Support Riccarton Centre. #CitiesSkylines

Going to try BRT’s again

After a break I am slowing getting back into streaming and creating Cities Skylines content using Neo South Auckland as my current example.

I usually upload both the RAW version for those wanting the entire run through of a city building session, as well as snippets highlighting specific elements like a piece of Urban Design or a Scene.

My latest raw run through from last week can be seen below. The focus was on building the supporting infrastructure for the Riccarton Centre I was also building alongside. This is my second ever attempt in 6 years to build Bus Rapid Transit (it is not my normal play style as I use the rail types more) given I have actual dedicated BRT assets available to do so.

So how did it map out and where will this lead next run through?

I will fetch highlights of the completion of Riccarton Centre, the set up of Riccarton South as a residential support node, further establishment of more residential for the City, and the full operation of one if not two of the Rapid Bus Transit Lines.

The photos below give a preview of this:

More soon.

Tactical Urbanism, Traffic/Transit Checks/Fixes in #CitiesSkylines (Moderate-Advanced Modded Playthrough)

Fine tuning the city to avoid massive rebuilds and expensive motorways

Once you have settled into the basic mechanics of Cities Skylines with a functioning transport system, the zones nicely laid out and the civic infrastructure all working does the fun really begin.

Fun what fun?

As the city gets larger it gets more complex as an organism especially if playing modded as I do. This means regular check ups across the City to make sure the transport and transit systems are working as optimally as they should. The good news is that most fixes you come upon are not major and can be done very quickly and cheaply. That said from time to time a major overhaul might be needed but that is for another day. The point being that six lane roads and motorways are not and should not be the go to fix – PUBLIC AUTHORITIES TAKE NOTE.

In this post I go through some medium and advanced play throughs in using some extended tools to help fine tune your City as well as giving it more realism. Note: I use Real Time Mod which simulates the full day/night cycle and includes the rush hours, shopping, events, and shift work effects upon a City. More HERE.

Standardised Cargo Terminals that also work for Transit Hubs

How to do a standardised, universal but effective cargo terminal that also works for bus or transit terminals. No mods need to be used so can work for Vanilla or Modded. But the purpose is to get interchanging traffic doing their business while not interfering with thoroughfare traffic.

Using Traffic Flow Tool, TMPE, and basic fixes to get traffic going

Traffic sucks most days, and your transit gets stuck from time to time. Using TMPE, and Traffic Flow data we do basic fixes (so no grand 8 lane roads and 6 lane highways) to get things moving again.

Tactical Urbanism 102 in Antarctic City – the Downtown 

How to do some more advanced but still small tactical urbanism in this time the Downtown of your City. This would be used until a more permanent solution is built. The tactical urbanism is on a 4-way, one way and stops opposing traffic crashing.

Tactical Urbanism 103 using one way streets in a leisure district

Doing more basic Tactical Urbanism, this time in the Leisure District. Find It, Procedural Objects, Move It, Line Marking Tool, Traffic Manager Presidents Edition mods were used.

Using TMPE, Line Marking Tool, and Decals on Roads (Advanced Play Through) 

Using TMPE, Line Marking Tool and Decals to give more realism at intersections. Note: Real Time Mod is used so this is more Advanced game play with Cities Skylines.

Using Transport Lines Manager to check up on Transit

At about every 15,000 of new population one should check their transit. I do so using Transport Lines Manager mod.

Of course as the City continues to grow and evolve more checks and tweaks are done, especially as more transit lines are added and old ones might need replacing.

I can be found on Twitch doing Cities Skylines play throughs: https://www.twitch.tv/palpatine001

One Metro + One Micro District = Another Day in #CitiesSkylines (Grand City of Solaria)

Got to move and house those Cims

Another day and more work to do in the Grand City of Solaria. Recently I did a podcast on Micro Districts and the Soviet Union (see: Micro Districts, the Soviet Union and Modern City Planning). In the most recent streams of Cities Skylines I put the Micro District theory to the test as well as finally building the new Metro system to serve the City.

The following three videos look at where the Grand City of Solaria is or was at as of the 17th June before I started the Harbour District, followed by the Metro being built, and two Micro Districts being laid out.

The Grand City of Solaria as of June 17

The Complexities of Building a Multi Tier Metro System

Building Micro Districts

I did manage to get one of the three Metro Lines working as well. The other two will be done once the Harbour District, and Palpatine Shores are both built up. You might also see the Northern/Southern Lights are enabled when it is night time giving some absolute stunning shots.

Once I have the Harbour District set up I will get some night shots of the Monorail working as it goes through the entire City. The night shots are just stunning.

Next post will cover the Harbour District and Palpatine Shores!