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Buses Need Our Love More Than Ever

citylab.com

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Re: Buses Need Our Love More Than Ever

#241

Post by KozmoNau7 »

maoistinquisitr wrote: post #232
KozmoNau7 wrote: post #231

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That article lists a number of problems that are almost purely US-specific. In actuality and outside of those artificial limitations, rail is one of the most efficient forms of transport we have, especially electric rail.

Not really. You are underestimating the massive energy efficiency advantages of modern diesel engines, across many contexts. It's the same reason why water pumps and freight locomotives and all kinds of other equipment that could theoretically be electrified isn't.

The energy efficiency of a diesel engine is nothing compared to electric power plants.

Re: Buses Need Our Love More Than Ever

#242

Post by jstanley »

Johnny555 wrote: post #71
jstanley wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"You're not important enough for buses to cater to your needs" is not a very strong argument for using buses.

But it is a strong argument to people to take the initiative to live where transit is feasible rather than live where it's not and complain about it. I live a 10 minute bike ride from a park-and-ride bus stop where I have several bus line options to get to work, my bike+bus commute is faster than my driving commute because the bus takes the express lanes (and can legally drive on road shoulders in some places). I do…

That only works for people who already want to take the bus.

If you like your car and you don't like buses, why would you pay any attention to the buses when choosing where to live?

You don't win people over by saying they need to go out of their way to come over to your side, you win people over by showing how good your alternative is.

Buses are great if you're poor, but otherwise they're very inconvenient everywhere I've ever lived.

Re: Buses Need Our Love More Than Ever

#243

Post by icebraining »

stevejb wrote: post #86
et-al wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> But, they do not stop at my door, and they do not stop at where I want to go. Sometimes they stop close, sometimes a few blocks away. I think it's reasonable to expect a commuter to walk 4-5 blocks on either end of a ride unless they happen to be handicapped. And winter jackets, boots, and umbrellas are available for the conditions you've mentioned. No one is saying we should ban private cars from cities. Those wil…

From this same thread: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17034959 > God I would love it Manhattan banned Uber and all non-commercial traffic (exile all civilian traffic to the highways and parking garages alongside them) and upped the number of buses. Clean new yellow cabs too and tougher requirements to drive them (raise the fares, I don't care).

Manhattan is not a city, it's the smallest borough of a city.

Re: Buses Need Our Love More Than Ever

#244

Post by edaemon »

ajmurmann wrote: post #148
edaemon wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Part of Portland's problem is that its transit is built to move people into and out of downtown. Very little of it is built to move people between neighborhoods or across routes. That's somewhat understandable since downtown is the most common destination, but plenty of people (like you) end up without many options.

Some cities I've lived in have a star model. In Munich I'd take the subway downtown, change trains and head into a different suburb. Because the train was quick and the stops reasonable spaced resulting in a decent experience. In Portland the MAX stops so frequently downtown that taking it for example from the west side to the airport is way too slow. You spend way too much time just slogging through downtown. It sta…

Yep, the MAX is sluggish enough downtown that it's often faster to bike to the other side of downtown to catch it. Say you want to get to Beaverton from the South Waterfront: you could take the Orange from there to Pioneer Square, then the Blue to Beaverton, but it would be faster for you to just bike to the Goose Hollow station. All because the Orange Line takes 12 minutes to travel the 1.5 miles from the South Waterfront to Pioneer Square. It takes 25 minutes to traverse downtown.

I've long been an advocate to bury the MAX downtown (via cut-and-cover, not tunneling), but obviously even that could cost billions of dollars.

Re: Buses Need Our Love More Than Ever

#245

Post by maoistinquisitr »

KozmoNau7 wrote: post #241
maoistinquisitr wrote: post #232

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not really. You are underestimating the massive energy efficiency advantages of modern diesel engines, across many contexts. It's the same reason why water pumps and freight locomotives and all kinds of other equipment that could theoretically be electrified isn't.

The energy efficiency of a diesel engine is nothing compared to electric power plants.

Well then why is the water in your city pumped by diesel engines, and why are all the goods delivered by diesel locomotives, barges, and trucks? The entire logistics industry is just full of morons that didn't get the memo over the last 80 years that electrified motors are better than diesel?

No, they use diesel motors for almost a century because they are more efficient and cost effective.

Re: Buses Need Our Love More Than Ever

#246

Post by KozmoNau7 »

maoistinquisitr wrote: post #245
KozmoNau7 wrote: post #241

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The energy efficiency of a diesel engine is nothing compared to electric power plants.

Well then why is the water in your city pumped by diesel engines, and why are all the goods delivered by diesel locomotives, barges, and trucks? The entire logistics industry is just full of morons that didn't get the memo over the last 80 years that electrified motors are better than diesel? No, they use diesel motors for almost a century because they are more efficient and cost effective.

The water in my city sure as hell isn't pumped by diesel power.

As for the rest, that is due to historical reason, back when those networks were established, we didn't have the electrical grid and power available. We do now.

The main reason they still use diesel is because it's cheaper to keep the existing gear running, rather than replacing everything. Electric trains are so much more efficient (in modern kV systems), it's not even funny.

Re: Buses Need Our Love More Than Ever

#247

Post by photojosh »

ciguy wrote: post #173
photojosh wrote: post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I experienced the bus rapid transit in Quito, Ecuador as a kid. [0] It was superb. The stations are enclosed with payment as you enter. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trolleybuses_in_Quito

Don't know what it was like years ago, but these days it's a mess and universally hated by Quito residents. The Trolley bus is dirty, crowded and a haven for pickpockets and thugs. The schedule is completely irregular now and it often stops running early for no reason.

Bummer. Maybe it was bad 20 years ago, but from the perspective of a kid who could get all around the city at age 15, it was fantastic. We did also hitchhike by jumping into the backs of trucks too... those were the days.

You're not still there are you?

Re: Buses Need Our Love More Than Ever

#248

Post by ciguy »

photojosh wrote: post #247
ciguy wrote: post #173

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't know what it was like years ago, but these days it's a mess and universally hated by Quito residents. The Trolley bus is dirty, crowded and a haven for pickpockets and thugs. The schedule is completely irregular now and it often stops running early for no reason.

Bummer. Maybe it was bad 20 years ago, but from the perspective of a kid who could get all around the city at age 15, it was fantastic. We did also hitchhike by jumping into the backs of trucks too... those were the days. You're not still there are you?

No I just spent 6 months working there and studying Spanish. Loved the city in general but it does have very real safety issues. I was never robbed myself (I'm 6'3" and scary looking) but every single other person I know who has lived or visited Quito was robbed at least once, usually multiple times. My local Spanish teacher was robbed 4 times in 3 months.
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