Public Transit Rant
Sept 2, 2008 7:31:04 GMT -5
Post by BadCompany on Sept 2, 2008 7:31:04 GMT -5
And people wonder why nobody takes public transit.
www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=aeff53a7-b7db-4bae-99cc-5433e506333e
Everybody must be equal I guess.
Brief summary; Montreal was set to introduce two new express bus services today, with the kicker being that these buses would be luxurious, coach-style buses, with comfortable seats, toilets, air conditioning, even wi-fi internet service. They would cost more to take, of course, and they are run by a private company, but so what? The regions that would have been served by these buses are generally car regions, meaning the people that live there usually drive into work. I live in one of these regions, and as much as I would like to there is just not enough public transit for to get me to and from work. Not unless I want a two-hour commute each way. So I of course was very interested in this service, as it would have actually stopped right outside my office. Two other car drivers in my company were also considering taking it.
But alas…
The buses were too nice. Can’t have that. If it isn’t possible to for everybody to take a nice bus, then everybody has to take the crap buses. Fair is fair.
When will the public transit people get it?? People drive their cars into work because they are more comfortable, and more convenient. Cost is not an issue as everybody knows driving to work is like a million times more expensive than taking the bus. But people don’t want to sit on a crowded, over-heated bus that isn’t going to get them to work in time anyways. If I’m going to be stuck in traffic, I might as well take my car, sip my coffee, blast my Lionel Ritchie music (all night long). By refusing to allow a more comfortable bus experience the transit authority is cutting off its nose to spite its face. Would this have created a two-tier system? Yes, and so what? If more people take the “expensive” bus, then that works for everyone, no? Less traffic, more money in the system, a better reputation for a public transit system that is generally regarded as mediocre at best by the paying public. The more successful these buses becomes, the more people will want to take them, the more routes that can be added. More “luxury” routes. Offering better service is NEVER a bad thing. Unless you are a public service, I guess, in which case the lowest common denominator prevails. By maintaining the status quo the transit authority is maintaining its reputation as something people would – should – only take when they have no choice. Like when they have no cars. Uncomfortable, inconvenient, time-consuming. But hey, at least everyone will be equal, right?
For the record, I drove to work today, as did the two others in my office who were thinking of taking that bus.
www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=aeff53a7-b7db-4bae-99cc-5433e506333e
Everybody must be equal I guess.
Brief summary; Montreal was set to introduce two new express bus services today, with the kicker being that these buses would be luxurious, coach-style buses, with comfortable seats, toilets, air conditioning, even wi-fi internet service. They would cost more to take, of course, and they are run by a private company, but so what? The regions that would have been served by these buses are generally car regions, meaning the people that live there usually drive into work. I live in one of these regions, and as much as I would like to there is just not enough public transit for to get me to and from work. Not unless I want a two-hour commute each way. So I of course was very interested in this service, as it would have actually stopped right outside my office. Two other car drivers in my company were also considering taking it.
But alas…
The buses were too nice. Can’t have that. If it isn’t possible to for everybody to take a nice bus, then everybody has to take the crap buses. Fair is fair.
When will the public transit people get it?? People drive their cars into work because they are more comfortable, and more convenient. Cost is not an issue as everybody knows driving to work is like a million times more expensive than taking the bus. But people don’t want to sit on a crowded, over-heated bus that isn’t going to get them to work in time anyways. If I’m going to be stuck in traffic, I might as well take my car, sip my coffee, blast my Lionel Ritchie music (all night long). By refusing to allow a more comfortable bus experience the transit authority is cutting off its nose to spite its face. Would this have created a two-tier system? Yes, and so what? If more people take the “expensive” bus, then that works for everyone, no? Less traffic, more money in the system, a better reputation for a public transit system that is generally regarded as mediocre at best by the paying public. The more successful these buses becomes, the more people will want to take them, the more routes that can be added. More “luxury” routes. Offering better service is NEVER a bad thing. Unless you are a public service, I guess, in which case the lowest common denominator prevails. By maintaining the status quo the transit authority is maintaining its reputation as something people would – should – only take when they have no choice. Like when they have no cars. Uncomfortable, inconvenient, time-consuming. But hey, at least everyone will be equal, right?
For the record, I drove to work today, as did the two others in my office who were thinking of taking that bus.
