Comments on: Friday reading: An unplanned transition to transit

By: pdxtran

pdxtran — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:21:34 +0000

You’re an excellent writer!

By: Elydog

Elydog — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 20:56:48 +0000

Nice narrative. Busboy grows up. I have not noticed the ‘attractiveness’ factor. Perhaps the white collars get to work earlier in downtown? Always thought it was the blue collars.

Eventually you time it so you get the last available bus you need.

By: Joe G

Joe G — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:06:58 +0000

Let’s not forget that one of the biggest hurdles to changing school bus routes is the parents themselves. Every parent wants their kid picked up right at their front door, which is obviously very inefficent. Having kids walk a few blocks to the bus would vastly improve bus route efficiency, but the parents don’t want kids walking that far lest they get hit crossing a street or picked up by some sicko.

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:53:32 +0000

Josh R: When you ding in with your Go To card, the reader displays the amount remaining. I’ve been using it for a couple of months now, and haven’t had any of the problems I used to have with the stored value passes such as misreads, unrecorded transfers, getting around to buy a new one, etc.

By: Josh R

Josh R — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:25:01 +0000

The new hybrid buses are “low riders” that allow much faster access for wheelchairs and other mobility aids. I was pleasantly reminded of this last week when my bus stopped for two older people who were using those wheeled walkers. On an older bus that would have meant a good 5 minute delay as the lift was deployed twice, but with the new bus the driver just extended the ramp and they walked on. We were back on the road in no time flat.

I really have to switch to a go-to card, the only thing that’s really stopped me is the fact that I like being able to keep track of how much I have left on my pass by looking at the back.

By: Matty

Matty — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:01:46 +0000

The Go-To Card is the best thing that’s happened to Metro Transit since rail was added to the mix on the Hiawatha Corridor. This drastically speeds up the ride as fare paying doesn’t take as long.

What would really speed things up (and increase ridership) would be charging no fare and allowing folks to board and disembark from both ends of the bus (or streetcar in a few years when they start coming back). Upgrading certain high frequency lines to streetcars also will speed up the commute as streetcars allow wheel chair users and other folks who need the lift to roll/or walk right on without waiting for the lift, like LRT.

By: Josh R

Josh R — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 14:15:30 +0000

DGB said “Nothing but a big fat excuse. It all starts at the top Josh. It all boils down to an enficcient system, riddled with rules, unions, etc.”

Um, yes that was my point. The contractors would have the incentive to be doing things more efficiently, but the school district insists on keeping it’s hand in by planning the routes.

(Insert snarky comment about reading comprehension here.)

By: Aaron Vehling

Aaron Vehling — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 00:32:41 +0000

Jim,

I ride the 6 as well, but usually between 6:30 and 7:30 am. I can attest to your assessment of beauty. A boatload of them get off at Hennepin and 11th. I think they’re all Targetrons.

Also, if you get a Go-To Card, the same discount applies as the other cards, despite what previous commentors have said. I usually put on $20 at a time and get $22 in fare…that schematic works its way up to $100 yielding you $110 in fare.

By: DGB

DGB — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 00:30:01 +0000

Josh R says: “Of course one problem is that the school district plots out the routes without regard to how fuel or time efficient they are, or even if they work at all, then give them to the contractors and expect them to make it work. Getting a route changed involves going through the school district red tape factory and can be difficult unless there’s some really obvious problem. (“I can’t go that way because the bridge is out, remember?”)”

Nothing but a big fat excuse. It all starts at the top Josh. It all boils down to an enficcient system, riddled with rules, unions, etc.

By: Josh R

Josh R — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 16:57:58 +0000

DGB. On the other hand, my wife works for a school bus company which contracts with the Minneapolis schools to transport kids. High gas prices directly impact their profits, so they have a vested interest in making sure that they’re getting as much bang for their buck as possible. At the company picnic this year the owner talked about the need to conserve and even told the drivers to mention if they saw inefficiencies like you talked about.

Of course one problem is that the school district plots out the routes without regard to how fuel or time efficient they are, or even if they work at all, then give them to the contractors and expect them to make it work. Getting a route changed involves going through the school district red tape factory and can be difficult unless there’s some really obvious problem. (“I can’t go that way because the bridge is out, remember?”)

Seems like a pretty clear lesson to me, make sure that the people planning the bus routes are the ones who’s paycheck goes down if they’re wasting gas.