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But most people don't bring luggage to work. It is doable with (ugh, they really do impact transit usage) multiple bus/light rail transfers to work without lugg

But most people don't bring luggage to work. It is doable with (ugh, they really do impact transit usage) multiple bus/light rail transfers to work without luggage. And good luck getting transit to get you to the airport at 0500 on a Saturday morning.

smsm42 9y ago
There's not only luggage. There are groceries. There are other purchases. There's just a strain of standing on your feet for an hour, which may not be easy for someone who is not in the peak physical condition.
- isostatic 9y ago
  Standing up for an hour does not require a "peak of physical fitness"!!! It's probably a good thing to do - that's why standing desks are so popular.
  - untog 9y ago
    Standing for an hour is absolutely not something you can expect of the general population, especially the elderly.
    - smileysteve 9y ago
      > expect of the general population Reminder that chronic obesity is a leading cost of healthcare in the U.S.
      - untog 9y ago
        Come on, that chronic obesity is because of bad diet, not because people don't stand on buses. And I reiterate: what about the elderly? Public transit has to cater to these people, it can't just ignore them like a startup can.
        isostatic 9y ago
        You know buses have seats right?
  - kofejnik 9y ago
    Freedom of choice is better than having to stand on the bus, even if it is possibly better for your health. Which it probably isn't, as public transit is how infections spread quickly and efficiently.
  - seanmcdirmid 9y ago
    Standing while working on your terms vs. standing on a crowded bus or subway are totally different things. You aren't really burning calories standing either, it is just time spent in discomfort. I don't think someone who actually has to stand a hour a day on their commute would actually say this (and better to take a bike at that point). Obviously, it is better if the subway car or bus is just totally packed so you can just lean on your neighbors (a unique advantage when living in china, I guess).
    - isostatic 9y ago
      When I used to commute I would often have to stand for 40 plus minutes twice a day. It's quite normal for millions of Brits, why is America different?
      - seanmcdirmid 9y ago
        So I take it you would be perfectly happy commuting into London from Cambridge on a train without being able to sit? Our commutes are a bit longer (20-30 minutes standing isn't the problem, but an hour is). Articles like https://www.the-tls.co.uk/kings-cross-to-cambridge-how-nasty-can-a-journey-get/ https://www.the-tls.co.uk/kings-cross-to-cambridge-how-nasty... are written by Brits, not Americans.
        isostatic 9y ago
        Typical trip home would be Walk to central line - 10 minutes Central line - standing for 15 minutes Change at oxford circus Stand on platform/Victoria line for 10 minutes, manage to squeze on Stand in euston scrum for 10 minutes Go to platform Stand for 30 minutes to first stop Walk 10 minute home Occasionally I'd get a seat on the central line, or on the euston train. I wouldn't be happy with it, but nor would I be happy with a 2 hour drive instead. Go back to 2004 when I lived in Tywford, it was standing on the central line to Ealing Broadway, Standing on the platform, then if I was lucky I would get on the 1802 train - most of the time I couldn't actually get on, and ended up standing on the platform for another 30 minutes to get the next train, which was standing room only for for the first 30 minutes. The author of that article was 57 year old (at the time), did she ask to sit down? I'm surprised the train was so busy at 2207 (I assume that's what time she meant - hardly anyone in the UK writes "1007" unless they are referring to the morning). Full of bias and inaccuracies (an armed policeman? noone belongs to the same company despite they actually do). I suspect this article is actually a Corbyn-esque lie, but lets assume there had been major problems earlier in the day and the train was full because the previous 2 trains had been cancelled. Her story basically boils down to 1) Passenger unwilling to stand for 50 minutes on a train that was unusually overcrowded didn't ask for a seat, or sit on the floor 2) Passenger decides to break the law by not offering her ticket when asked (why else would she be engaging with the ticket collector for a few minutes) 3) Passenger complains when the police turn up and tell her that 4) Ticket collector and police officer paragons of virtue and deal patiently with an arrogant person without taking details and charging her for a clear bylaw breach.
zinckiwi 9y ago
I’m writing from the airport after going there at 5am on a Monday morning, but the day doesn’t matter. The Airlink 100 passes through central Edinburgh six times an hour or more, from 4am to midnight, every day.

smsm42 9y ago

There's not only luggage. There are groceries. There are other purchases. There's just a strain of standing on your feet for an hour, which may not be easy for someone who is not in the peak physical condition.

isostatic 9y ago
Standing up for an hour does not require a "peak of physical fitness"!!! It's probably a good thing to do - that's why standing desks are so popular.
- untog 9y ago
  Standing for an hour is absolutely not something you can expect of the general population, especially the elderly.
  - smileysteve 9y ago
    > expect of the general population Reminder that chronic obesity is a leading cost of healthcare in the U.S.
    - untog 9y ago
      Come on, that chronic obesity is because of bad diet, not because people don't stand on buses. And I reiterate: what about the elderly? Public transit has to cater to these people, it can't just ignore them like a startup can.
      - isostatic 9y ago
        You know buses have seats right?
- kofejnik 9y ago
  Freedom of choice is better than having to stand on the bus, even if it is possibly better for your health. Which it probably isn't, as public transit is how infections spread quickly and efficiently.
- seanmcdirmid 9y ago
  Standing while working on your terms vs. standing on a crowded bus or subway are totally different things. You aren't really burning calories standing either, it is just time spent in discomfort. I don't think someone who actually has to stand a hour a day on their commute would actually say this (and better to take a bike at that point). Obviously, it is better if the subway car or bus is just totally packed so you can just lean on your neighbors (a unique advantage when living in china, I guess).
  - isostatic 9y ago
    When I used to commute I would often have to stand for 40 plus minutes twice a day. It's quite normal for millions of Brits, why is America different?
    - seanmcdirmid 9y ago
      So I take it you would be perfectly happy commuting into London from Cambridge on a train without being able to sit? Our commutes are a bit longer (20-30 minutes standing isn't the problem, but an hour is). Articles like https://www.the-tls.co.uk/kings-cross-to-cambridge-how-nasty-can-a-journey-get/ https://www.the-tls.co.uk/kings-cross-to-cambridge-how-nasty... are written by Brits, not Americans.
      - isostatic 9y ago
        Typical trip home would be Walk to central line - 10 minutes Central line - standing for 15 minutes Change at oxford circus Stand on platform/Victoria line for 10 minutes, manage to squeze on Stand in euston scrum for 10 minutes Go to platform Stand for 30 minutes to first stop Walk 10 minute home Occasionally I'd get a seat on the central line, or on the euston train. I wouldn't be happy with it, but nor would I be happy with a 2 hour drive instead. Go back to 2004 when I lived in Tywford, it was standing on the central line to Ealing Broadway, Standing on the platform, then if I was lucky I would get on the 1802 train - most of the time I couldn't actually get on, and ended up standing on the platform for another 30 minutes to get the next train, which was standing room only for for the first 30 minutes. The author of that article was 57 year old (at the time), did she ask to sit down? I'm surprised the train was so busy at 2207 (I assume that's what time she meant - hardly anyone in the UK writes "1007" unless they are referring to the morning). Full of bias and inaccuracies (an armed policeman? noone belongs to the same company despite they actually do). I suspect this article is actually a Corbyn-esque lie, but lets assume there had been major problems earlier in the day and the train was full because the previous 2 trains had been cancelled. Her story basically boils down to 1) Passenger unwilling to stand for 50 minutes on a train that was unusually overcrowded didn't ask for a seat, or sit on the floor 2) Passenger decides to break the law by not offering her ticket when asked (why else would she be engaging with the ticket collector for a few minutes) 3) Passenger complains when the police turn up and tell her that 4) Ticket collector and police officer paragons of virtue and deal patiently with an arrogant person without taking details and charging her for a clear bylaw breach.

zinckiwi 9y ago

I’m writing from the airport after going there at 5am on a Monday morning, but the day doesn’t matter. The Airlink 100 passes through central Edinburgh six times an hour or more, from 4am to midnight, every day.