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Preferences for Trains vs. Buses

citylab.com

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Re: Preferences for Trains vs. Buses

#11

Post by archagon »

bryanlarsen wrote: post #7
archagon wrote: post #2

The problem with buses is that they're completely unpredictable. You might as well not even look at the schedule. There's also the issue of having to purchase your ticket; buses rarely have automatic kiosks as do trains and light rail, and you often have to talk to the operator to get your ticket. Finally, bus routes are byzantine and completely impossible to unravel by looking at a map. Rail systems are much more am…

None of those problems apply to proper BRT systems. That's the author's point.

I don't see how you can avoid delays if you still have to follow traffic.

Re: Preferences for Trains vs. Buses

#12

Post by archagon »

Mister_Snuggles wrote: post #8
archagon wrote: post #2

The problem with buses is that they're completely unpredictable. You might as well not even look at the schedule. There's also the issue of having to purchase your ticket; buses rarely have automatic kiosks as do trains and light rail, and you often have to talk to the operator to get your ticket. Finally, bus routes are byzantine and completely impossible to unravel by looking at a map. Rail systems are much more am…

As always, it depends. Some transit systems are better than others, and some routes are better than others. I've recently started taking the bus to work and have found that most of the routes keep to their schedule quite well. The local transit system is also rolling out smart bus technology which, among other things, provides real-time location information on each bus. This is available online and through the transi…

Oh, that reminds me: there's also the creeping paranoia that your bus could get there early and leave you behind. I have never had this happen with a train, but I routinely see busses barreling past the stop. And when a route has dozens of stops, you just know the driver isn't checking their clock at every one.

But yeah, smart buses are a great improvement. I love bus stops where they actually tell you how much time is left until the next bus. Can't wait until Apple/Google implement real-time bus tracking in their mapping apps. (I think Google is already doing this in certain areas?)

Re: Preferences for Trains vs. Buses

#13

Post by baldfat »

robotcookies wrote: post #6

People do in general prefer trains over buses. This article is basically just saying that as you make the buses more train-like by giving them dedicated lanes and more reliability, people start to like buses more. Make them longer (articulated), faster, with dedicated lanes, and basically they start to become like a train with rubber tires. I think that is in fact, confirming people like trains better. Titles do matt…

Boses have traffic. People don't like traffic. Trains don't have traffic.

Re: Preferences for Trains vs. Buses

#14

Post by Fargren »

andrewf wrote: post #3

I'm prone to motion sickness on buses. Even for people who aren't, I can't imagine the joltiness of travelling in a geared vehicle that's not on tracks is more pleasant than a train.

That's very personal. I really enjoy the rustle of a bus engine. It makes me dozy in a very pleasant (if inconvenient when I have to get down) way. Trains are great for transportation, but I don't enjoy the trip as much.

Re: Preferences for Trains vs. Buses

#15

Post by jkarneges »

andrewf wrote: post #3

I'm prone to motion sickness on buses. Even for people who aren't, I can't imagine the joltiness of travelling in a geared vehicle that's not on tracks is more pleasant than a train.

Yep, motion sickness is a big deal for me. I can use my laptop and work on Caltrain, which is something I'm pretty much unable to do on any other moving vehicle. Not even on an airplane. :(

Has to be a smooth train though. Can't work on BART either.

Re: Preferences for Trains vs. Buses

#17

Post by giancarlostoro »

baldfat wrote: post #13
robotcookies wrote: post #6

People do in general prefer trains over buses. This article is basically just saying that as you make the buses more train-like by giving them dedicated lanes and more reliability, people start to like buses more. Make them longer (articulated), faster, with dedicated lanes, and basically they start to become like a train with rubber tires. I think that is in fact, confirming people like trains better. Titles do matt…

Boses have traffic. People don't like traffic. Trains don't have traffic.

I've had to wait in a train for over 30 minutes due to another train passing by. I guess it depends where you're at.

Re: Preferences for Trains vs. Buses

#18

Post by uhwhat »

baldfat wrote: post #13
robotcookies wrote: post #6

People do in general prefer trains over buses. This article is basically just saying that as you make the buses more train-like by giving them dedicated lanes and more reliability, people start to like buses more. Make them longer (articulated), faster, with dedicated lanes, and basically they start to become like a train with rubber tires. I think that is in fact, confirming people like trains better. Titles do matt…

Boses have traffic. People don't like traffic. Trains don't have traffic.

Trains also sometimes have lounge cars, dining cars and theaters.

Buses confine you to a cramped seat and if you're lucky there's a tiny bathroom on board.

Re: Preferences for Trains vs. Buses

#19

Post by louisphilippe »

There is a catch-22 with buses.

Buses would be a lot better if cities had congestion pricing that could greatly reduce traffic delays. Buses would also be a lot better if there were more routes and better frequency.

But people oppose congestion pricing because it would make commutes much more expensive for the poor. But if you actually had it, then the bus would be a much more feasible form of transportation, because it would be quicker. And as it became quicker, more people would take it, and the frequency would increase. And that would altogether be much cheaper for the poor than commuting by car.

So we cannot have good bus transportation until we have congestion pricing. But we cannot have congestion pricing until busses are a much better way to get to work.

Re: Preferences for Trains vs. Buses

#20

Post by Macha »

Can only speak from the experience of my own country, but in Ireland

This is the inside of a bus: http://www.cityswifty.com/SC241interior1.JPG

This is the inside of a train: https://c3.staticflickr.com/3/2831/9337782850_41264e4fd4_b.j...

That should say it all as to why people like trains more.

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