3 ms·

While I agree that part of the solution is to increase density (and more importantly provide affordable housing close to where people work; and also—just as imp

While I agree that part of the solution is to increase density (and more importantly provide affordable housing close to where people work; and also—just as important—provide good jobs close to where people live), you can for sure improve peoples lives a lot in the mean time by throwing some money at the problem. A frequent bus route from the less dense neighborhoods to the center might not be profitable in the strict sense, and might run many trips empty or near empty, but it will certainly improve many people’s lives.

lotsofpulp 6y ago
Politically, it has and will be seen as a waste of resources to run empty buses which then translates to “public transit does not work, it’s a waste of money, cancel it”.
- runarberg 6y ago
  In my experience people are generally in favor of this kind of “waste of money” if it is done in their neighborhood. A good example is ST3 in the Seattle area. Seattleites and their neighbors overwhelmingly supported the expensive and radical expansion of the rapid transit system in the area and were more then willing to pay the increased taxes for it... Opposition came mostly from the eastern parts of the state even though the taxes are only to be collected in the proximate areas to the expansion. In fact I can’t recall any examples of people calling for the cancellation of existing public transit. The backlash is usually against planed expansions from distant areas.
  - lotsofpulp 6y ago
    Seattle is in the middle of an exceptional economic boom. Typically, these things start showing when budgets start getting strained and taxes are already high and cuts have to be made. I’ve seen a few places on the East coast where voters resonate with political candidates that decry the subsidies to public transit, and call for increases in fares or decrease in frequency of bus/train service.

lotsofpulp 6y ago

Politically, it has and will be seen as a waste of resources to run empty buses which then translates to “public transit does not work, it’s a waste of money, cancel it”.

runarberg 6y ago
In my experience people are generally in favor of this kind of “waste of money” if it is done in their neighborhood. A good example is ST3 in the Seattle area. Seattleites and their neighbors overwhelmingly supported the expensive and radical expansion of the rapid transit system in the area and were more then willing to pay the increased taxes for it... Opposition came mostly from the eastern parts of the state even though the taxes are only to be collected in the proximate areas to the expansion. In fact I can’t recall any examples of people calling for the cancellation of existing public transit. The backlash is usually against planed expansions from distant areas.
- lotsofpulp 6y ago
  Seattle is in the middle of an exceptional economic boom. Typically, these things start showing when budgets start getting strained and taxes are already high and cuts have to be made. I’ve seen a few places on the East coast where voters resonate with political candidates that decry the subsidies to public transit, and call for increases in fares or decrease in frequency of bus/train service.