America’s Buses Need Our Love More Than Ever (2018)
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Re: America’s Buses Need Our Love More Than Ever (2018)
#2The thing I hate about buses in many cities is that they take longer than driving to get somewhere. I think if this can be changed, more people will use them.
Cities like Sydney get it right, by having dedicated express lanes on many highways for buses (and taxis). When it becomes faster to catch the bus in peak hour because they can drive in lanes that bypass the gridlock, there is an incentive to leave your car at home if you know you'll be leaving work during peak hour and need to be somewhere ASAP.
Interestingly, this has also allowed taxis to have an edge over Uber et. al. Just recently I was catching a ride to the airport in an Uber and forgot about how bad peak hour traffic would be. We were stuck in awful traffic for over an hour, and meanwhile, all these buses and taxis were flying past us in the transit lane. The fare of the Uber ended up costing more than the fare it would have been in a taxi due to how much longer it took.
If transit lanes can be put in more places, bus lanes created at more intersections (so that buses can get ahead of traffic), and fares set at the right amount, I think that with the rising cost of fuel, insurance etc., more people will be willing to catch public transport, especially if it is more convenient to do so.
Re: America’s Buses Need Our Love More Than Ever (2018)
#3The thing I hate about buses in many cities is that they take longer than driving to get somewhere. I think if this can be changed, more people will use them. Cities like Sydney get it right, by having dedicated express lanes on many highways for buses (and taxis). When it becomes faster to catch the bus in peak hour because they can drive in lanes that bypass the gridlock, there is an incentive to leave your car at…
I understand privileging buses but under what pretenses should we privilege taxis over transportation network companies?
If anything, only pool ridesharing companies should get the benefit of these intracity HOV lanes.
Re: America’s Buses Need Our Love More Than Ever (2018)
#4In Boston because of traffic, even with dedicated bus lanes, bikes and/or electric scooters were always faster than public transit. Only downside was in the winter when bike lanes and sidewalks were covered in snow / ice.
Re: America’s Buses Need Our Love More Than Ever (2018)
#5The thing I hate about buses in many cities is that they take longer than driving to get somewhere. I think if this can be changed, more people will use them. Cities like Sydney get it right, by having dedicated express lanes on many highways for buses (and taxis). When it becomes faster to catch the bus in peak hour because they can drive in lanes that bypass the gridlock, there is an incentive to leave your car at…
I understand privileging buses but under what pretenses should we privilege taxis over transportation network companies? If anything, only pool ridesharing companies should get the benefit of these intracity HOV lanes.
My comment wasn't a justification of allowing taxis to use those lanes, I was just pointing out how well they worked anecdotally.
I think the transit lanes can be used by buses, taxis, chauffeured cars, etc. Mainly for politicians/important people to get the airport or city quickly I suppose.
I think since taxis pay heavy license fees to the state (whereas Uber etc. cars only pay car registration like all other cars) allowing them to use the lanes has been justified by the city. But of course, these licenses aren't open to Uber or other providers so it's a difficult situation that does stifle competition.
Re: America’s Buses Need Our Love More Than Ever (2018)
#6The school bus system is an interesting microcosm of transportation to look at; Over the last 30 years, bus use has dropped while [privileged] parents drive their children to school, wait in a carpool lane;
Interesting concepts
- Time Wasted in the pickup lane (and often the drop off lane)
- Traffic in the pickup and drop-off lanes
- High School parking lot size
- Use during inclement weather
In Snowpocalypse in Atlanta, a large portion of the mess was contributed to by the 3 trips; Parent to Home, Parent to School, Parent and Child to home; Instead of offering for parents to pickup their children from school, much of the traffic could have been resolved with the existing bus system; In the end; if chains were needed, it's easier to fit 50 busses with chains in a bus yard than 1000+ cars.
Re: America’s Buses Need Our Love More Than Ever (2018)
#7The author completely forgets there is a whole world outside the US, where public transportation is efficient, preferred, and often makes good profts too.
- Singapore has a very good bus+ metro system and people actually prefer it. Cars are heavily taxed which contributed to it, but their well planning has helped too. Airport served by metro, so is the Malaysia border, and every neighborhood has at least two nearby metro lines and a plethora of bus lines.
- Kuala Lumpur has quite heavy traffic, but they have two free public bus lines going around the important places in the city. They are free of charge, every 15-30 minutes, have their routes well marked, and even has free WiFi.
- Jakarta: they have the world's biggest bus rapid transit system. Dedicated lanes, platforms, cashless payments, and the massive coverage help this massive city to have slightly less traffic jams.
Jakarta also has motorbike taxis (ojek, Gojek/Uber apps) that serve the last miles well. They are quite cheap (about 10 US cents per km) and I doubt they will be economical once the VC money is burnt, but they are better than a sedan with a driver and a passenger.
- Berlin/Munich: Good tram system with commuter passes, day passes, etc. It's common to give the day passes to someone at the ticket machines when we are done for the day. They help keep the costs low in otherwise expensive cities in Munich.
Re: America’s Buses Need Our Love More Than Ever (2018)
#8Fortunately in Canada, we view busses as transport for the plebes. So when we finally brought LRT service up (a bit late) and the bus trip from home to work went from 45 minutes to an hour, my 15 minute driv was unaffected.
Re: America’s Buses Need Our Love More Than Ever (2018)
#9The author completely forgets there is a whole world outside the US, where public transportation is efficient, preferred, and often makes good profts too. - Singapore has a very good bus+ metro system and people actually prefer it. Cars are heavily taxed which contributed to it, but their well planning has helped too. Airport served by metro, so is the Malaysia border, and every neighborhood has at least two nearby m…
I think it’s clear the author is only talking about bus transit in the US.
Re: America’s Buses Need Our Love More Than Ever (2018)
#10The thing I hate about buses in many cities is that they take longer than driving to get somewhere. I think if this can be changed, more people will use them. Cities like Sydney get it right, by having dedicated express lanes on many highways for buses (and taxis). When it becomes faster to catch the bus in peak hour because they can drive in lanes that bypass the gridlock, there is an incentive to leave your car at…
I understand privileging buses but under what pretenses should we privilege taxis over transportation network companies? If anything, only pool ridesharing companies should get the benefit of these intracity HOV lanes.
Can't say I agree with it but the thinking goes that taxis are an alternative to owning/using your car so are privileged in various ways like this, dedicated short-term parking in ranks etc. It's not _only_ rich people who use taxis, so the thinking goes. (Rich people are also banned from sleeping under the bridges, just like poor people...)
When Uber et al took all the value out of the expensive taxi number plate one of the few ways the government had to compensate their owners is that advantage they still have, so they haven't leveled the field there. That conversation might open up the entire concept to evaluation though.