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Getting off topic here but actually I would love to invest in transit. And judging from the kickstarter in the link below so would many other people. https://

by vivekd 7y ago

Getting off topic here but actually I would love to invest in transit. And judging from the kickstarter in the link below so would many other people. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/crowd-funded-bus-takes-a-run-at-transit-starved-liberty-village-1.2771419 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/crowd-funded-bus-take... Unfortunately in my city (Toronto) and I would assume in many others it's illegal to run a private bus service. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/liberty-village-shuttle-bus-axed-1.2916451 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/liberty-village-shutt... So we're stuck with the government monopoly burdened with the enormous costs of public service transit unions with some transit union workers making six figures for things like being bus drivers or ticket collectors. Then you have bus routes that are not decided by numbers business purposes but by politics. Finally you have rude drivers and buses and trains that smell like urine. And you have buses and trains provided by special favored contractors that are technologically and mechanically less than what is available. My aging mother says it hurts her body to ride the bus because it doesn't provide a smooth comfortable ride. So if we want funding into buses and trains we can start by dealing with the political quagmire that has made buses and trains inefficient and unfriendly to users. But the familiar government cry of "just keep throwing more money at it until the problem is solved" is likely not the best solution.

username223 7y ago
> transit union workers making six figures for things like being bus drivers or ticket collectors You say that like it's a bad thing. We also have "tech workers making six figures for things like increasing engagement on social networks by 0.1%." What do you think about that? > Finally you have rude drivers and buses and trains that smell like urine. This would change right-quick if congestion pricing pushed wealthier people onto public transit.
pferde 7y ago
I have utmost respect for anyone who can safely and responsibly drive a huge vehicle full of people, day in and day out, on cramped city streets with precision down to centimeters on some complicated turns and crossroads. If anything, good bus drivers aren't paid enough.

by vivekd 7y ago

username223 7y ago

> transit union workers making six figures for things like being bus drivers or ticket collectors You say that like it's a bad thing. We also have "tech workers making six figures for things like increasing engagement on social networks by 0.1%." What do you think about that? > Finally you have rude drivers and buses and trains that smell like urine. This would change right-quick if congestion pricing pushed wealthier people onto public transit.

pferde 7y ago

I have utmost respect for anyone who can safely and responsibly drive a huge vehicle full of people, day in and day out, on cramped city streets with precision down to centimeters on some complicated turns and crossroads. If anything, good bus drivers aren't paid enough.