3 ms·

> de-stigmatizing public transport I don't avoid it because of "stigma" but lived experience where it takes 2x as long to get anywhere and I'm far more likely

by Natsu 1y ago

> de-stigmatizing public transport I don't avoid it because of "stigma" but lived experience where it takes 2x as long to get anywhere and I'm far more likely to get assaulted by some rando while minding my own business or having to deal with someone else's bodily fluids or public intoxication. But I loved public transport back in places and times where I felt safer.

rglullis 1y ago
Are you campaigning with your city council to favor more/better public transit options? Are you discussing with your neighbors about changing zoning laws so that small business and shops can be located closer to you?
- Natsu 1y ago
  I feel like you just skipped over half of the problem keeping people from using the public transport that does exist.
  - rglullis 1y ago
    No, I did not. I understand that right now you might prefer to use car because you can not rely on public transit and you don't feel safe. My question is the sense of "are you doing anything to change this reality, or are you just going to accept that now that you have a car you see no point in advocating better public transit for your community?"
    - Natsu 1y ago
      > you don't feel safe. I cited lived experience, not feelings, and it's hard to see how expanding transport more is going to fix that when they don't care for what we have now.
      - rglullis 1y ago
        > it's hard to see how expanding transport more is going to fix that when they don't care for what we have now. Improvements in public transport could be made simply by having more frequent buses on a route, for example. Or longer hours of operation. Or (in the cities that have them) getting streetcars to be properly isolated from the cars. Sometimes it can be as simple as having the bus stops properly illuminated so that people feel more safe waiting for the bus at night. Any of these improvements can make a big difference in ridership numbers, and any increase in public transit adoption is better for everyone. More people using public transport means less cars on the road and less traffic for those who still depend on a car. To go back to the original point: I'm hoping you realize that what I'm trying to do is that we are exactly part of the pendulum that my History teacher was talking about. If you wish to live in a less car-centric society and if you wish that more people had access to fair, safe and affordable public transit, then it's up to people like you to push for this change.
        DougMerritt 1y ago
        You're arguing with people talking about how things are currently by talking about how things could be or should be and how people should change how things are. That can be a great topic on its own, but it's not the same topic others are discussing. And unless I missed it, you didn't say "let's switch the topic", you just went off in your own direction.
        bpt3 1y ago
        Of course they did. I've never met an online public transit advocate who didn't come off as a zealot, lecturing the uninformed masses about the obvious benefits that will come from joining them while dismissing any criticism or skepticism as ignorance.
        yeasku 1y ago
        And I have never meet an American that was not fat.
- bpt3 1y ago
  > Are you campaigning with your city council to favor more/better public transit options? Why would I do this? It's just not possible for public transit to provide equal quality of service to a private vehicle unless I lived in one of the most densely populated areas on Earth, which I do not (though I do live in a major metropolitan area). On top of that, my area has spent tens of billions to expand the subway system, to little effect and with many, many delays and cost increases that indicate that the local government is not capable of successfully managing a large scale infrastructure project. > Are you discussing with your neighbors about changing zoning laws so that small business and shops can be located closer to you? I already live in a pretty walkable area and things are already trending towards making things even more walkable, so no I'm not because it's not needed.

by Natsu 1y ago

rglullis 1y ago

Are you campaigning with your city council to favor more/better public transit options? Are you discussing with your neighbors about changing zoning laws so that small business and shops can be located closer to you?

Natsu 1y ago
I feel like you just skipped over half of the problem keeping people from using the public transport that does exist.
- rglullis 1y ago
  No, I did not. I understand that right now you might prefer to use car because you can not rely on public transit and you don't feel safe. My question is the sense of "are you doing anything to change this reality, or are you just going to accept that now that you have a car you see no point in advocating better public transit for your community?"
  - Natsu 1y ago
    > you don't feel safe. I cited lived experience, not feelings, and it's hard to see how expanding transport more is going to fix that when they don't care for what we have now.
    - rglullis 1y ago
      > it's hard to see how expanding transport more is going to fix that when they don't care for what we have now. Improvements in public transport could be made simply by having more frequent buses on a route, for example. Or longer hours of operation. Or (in the cities that have them) getting streetcars to be properly isolated from the cars. Sometimes it can be as simple as having the bus stops properly illuminated so that people feel more safe waiting for the bus at night. Any of these improvements can make a big difference in ridership numbers, and any increase in public transit adoption is better for everyone. More people using public transport means less cars on the road and less traffic for those who still depend on a car. To go back to the original point: I'm hoping you realize that what I'm trying to do is that we are exactly part of the pendulum that my History teacher was talking about. If you wish to live in a less car-centric society and if you wish that more people had access to fair, safe and affordable public transit, then it's up to people like you to push for this change.
      - DougMerritt 1y ago
        You're arguing with people talking about how things are currently by talking about how things could be or should be and how people should change how things are. That can be a great topic on its own, but it's not the same topic others are discussing. And unless I missed it, you didn't say "let's switch the topic", you just went off in your own direction.
        bpt3 1y ago
        Of course they did. I've never met an online public transit advocate who didn't come off as a zealot, lecturing the uninformed masses about the obvious benefits that will come from joining them while dismissing any criticism or skepticism as ignorance.
        yeasku 1y ago
        And I have never meet an American that was not fat.
bpt3 1y ago
> Are you campaigning with your city council to favor more/better public transit options? Why would I do this? It's just not possible for public transit to provide equal quality of service to a private vehicle unless I lived in one of the most densely populated areas on Earth, which I do not (though I do live in a major metropolitan area). On top of that, my area has spent tens of billions to expand the subway system, to little effect and with many, many delays and cost increases that indicate that the local government is not capable of successfully managing a large scale infrastructure project. > Are you discussing with your neighbors about changing zoning laws so that small business and shops can be located closer to you? I already live in a pretty walkable area and things are already trending towards making things even more walkable, so no I'm not because it's not needed.