[OuterVale]

They've been slowly replacing the flip-disc displays on the buses where I live with LEDs and LCD panels which has been such a shame. There is a beautiful mechanical satisfaction to a panel of flip-discs inverting and I genuinely find them easier to read.

[Gigachad]

They seemed less reliable than LEDs. When they were common here they would always have tens of dots stuck in the wrong position.

[Perz1val]

I'd imagine the vibrations didn't do them any good

[OuterVale]

Interestingly, I've never noticed any stuck discs. I'm pretty observant of them as well, because I think they're so cool.

[Gigachad]

The ones here could have been nearing the end of their life to be fair. They have basically all been replaced with LED signs now.

[breakfastny]

This is BREAKFAST (AKA Zolty) mentioned above.

The old panels had diode issues. It wasn’t the mechanism failing — the simplicity of electromagnets means they last an insanely long time, significantly longer than an LED. The diodes were just cheap and undersized. If you have a stuck disc on an old board, 99% chance you just need to replace the diode. If it still flips but gets stuck on one side, a pin has gotten sticky and needs graphite applied.

[xattt]

The Luminator MAX 3000 is an interesting hybrid between a flip dot display and an LED display. I find it very pleasing to the eye and easy to read, particularly at night.

In front of the flip dots is a frame that has a mini-LED that faces and front-lights each flip dot. This gives the appearance that each flip dot is glowing.

(1) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ru1DSs1tjQ

[sschueller]

Yes, even the ones that have an LED behind each disk which are on in the dark. This display [1] is the same but in the dark [2] you see the LEDs instead.

[2] https://www.urban-transport-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/...

[1] https://cdn.unitycms.io/images/2padXosoqh99o13dcrN3co.jpg

[nandomrumber]

The LED / LCD displays are probably lighter (less heavy), and someone figured they can save 0.001 gallons of diesel a year fleet wide if they replace displays.

Net Zero Fatigue is real.

[pastel8739]

Much more likely, I think, the mechanical displays had some maintenance cost which cheap LED displays will not.

[Rodeoclash]

You've confabulated a reason why they replaced them, linked it to initiative then complained about them doing it all in two sentences. A gold medal in mental gymnastics is warranted here!

[MrBuddyCasino]

They’re probably just cheaper and require less maintenance.

You’re not doing your cause any favors by projecting everything on an ill-fitting frame.