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While reading the article, I can't help but get the impression that public transit in the US is for poor people. Lots of quotes and stats about income levels, h
by sowbug 3y ago
While reading the article, I can't help but get the impression that public transit in the US is for poor people. Lots of quotes and stats about income levels, hardships, etc. No wonder most US public transit is viewed as a last-resort solution for getting from point A to point B.
In London, Paris, Taipei, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and New York City, you see people from all walks of life on the subway and bus. I've even seen A-list celebrities waiting for NY trains. Riding isn't a referendum on one's social status.
I don't know which is the cart and which is the horse. I do support free public transit because congestion is a public nuisance that everyone should have an interest in reducing. But the marketing needs to emphasize something other than hardship, or else it'll continue to be associated with hardship.
- cratermoon 3y agoIt's not really the fault of the transit agencies. For decades the US has lived with the Automobile Culture and advertising-driving associations of cars with status and luxury. That dovetailed into the white-flight suburbs and far-flung roads and streets that necessitated a car. Malls built with cars in mind, out of walking distance from where people lived. Over the decades, especially since the 60s, one could equate 'hardship' and 'low social status' with being non-white and living in multi-family housing. NYC and a couple of other cities in the US are the exceptions. Compare with LA, SF, Dallas, and most of Florida.