4 ms·

Plus the public's usage of public transit is going down. Americans are, for whatever reasons, not interested in public transport unless they're forced to use it

Plus the public's usage of public transit is going down. Americans are, for whatever reasons, not interested in public transport unless they're forced to use it. And they don't like to be forced.

closeparen 9y ago
It's not actually clear that this is a lack of interest. Socioeconomically disadvantaged urban populations had the highest rates of transit usage, and resurgent upper-middle-class interest in cities means those populations are displaced to cheaper pastures that don't necessarily have usable transit. It could actually be the case that the gentrifiers are deliberately increasing their transit utilization from zero (just not enough to make up for the loss due to displacement), and displaced populations still want to be transit users, but can't afford areas with good transit anymore.
- yostrovs 9y ago
  Maybe. In my experience, simply the idea of getting on a bus frightens average Americans. The train seems less scary. So for those that have the freedom to make the choice, the bus is not the choice they make. And trains are rare save for a few cities.
  - closeparen 9y ago
    Regardless of the role fear/classism play, the average speed for American bus systems is in the vicinity of a brisk walk, and that's while you're in motion. Throw in a 15 minute headway and it becomes a hilariously poor option to someone who has alternatives.
    - wbl 9y ago
      Fixable issues. You'ld be shocked to know the Model T was less reliable than a horse.
jakecopp 9y ago
They're not interested in bad public transport. Why catch a bus when it is caught in the same traffic as a car? When a bus is faster than a car, including the last mile time - hopefully people will make the rational choice. This is why I think dedicated bus lanes are important - they are a cheap and cost effective method of increasing transport ridership and also increasing throughput.
- yostrovs 9y ago
  If you add the cost of the ticket and the money the city spends on buses, they are cost effective only in a few places in America. Moreover, given the choice I estimate 90% of Americans will choose the car where they have privacy, safety, their radio and not someone's speakerphone, and smells that they like. Plus, having lived in big cities and used public transport at night, I always felt lucky to be a male in those situations.

Plus the public's usage of public transit is going down. Americans are, for whatever reasons, not interested in public transport unless they're forced to use it. And they don't like to be forced.

closeparen 9y ago

It's not actually clear that this is a lack of interest. Socioeconomically disadvantaged urban populations had the highest rates of transit usage, and resurgent upper-middle-class interest in cities means those populations are displaced to cheaper pastures that don't necessarily have usable transit. It could actually be the case that the gentrifiers are deliberately increasing their transit utilization from zero (just not enough to make up for the loss due to displacement), and displaced populations still want to be transit users, but can't afford areas with good transit anymore.

yostrovs 9y ago
Maybe. In my experience, simply the idea of getting on a bus frightens average Americans. The train seems less scary. So for those that have the freedom to make the choice, the bus is not the choice they make. And trains are rare save for a few cities.
- closeparen 9y ago
  Regardless of the role fear/classism play, the average speed for American bus systems is in the vicinity of a brisk walk, and that's while you're in motion. Throw in a 15 minute headway and it becomes a hilariously poor option to someone who has alternatives.
  - wbl 9y ago
    Fixable issues. You'ld be shocked to know the Model T was less reliable than a horse.

jakecopp 9y ago

They're not interested in bad public transport. Why catch a bus when it is caught in the same traffic as a car? When a bus is faster than a car, including the last mile time - hopefully people will make the rational choice. This is why I think dedicated bus lanes are important - they are a cheap and cost effective method of increasing transport ridership and also increasing throughput.

yostrovs 9y ago
If you add the cost of the ticket and the money the city spends on buses, they are cost effective only in a few places in America. Moreover, given the choice I estimate 90% of Americans will choose the car where they have privacy, safety, their radio and not someone's speakerphone, and smells that they like. Plus, having lived in big cities and used public transport at night, I always felt lucky to be a male in those situations.