CarpoolMania & Transportation Alternatives
Keeping roadways clear and our minds at ease...
CarpoolMania is a forum for discussion on the logistics and benefits of carpooling and taking various modes of public transportation. These days there is a wide array of ways to get to and fro, but most of us (Americans anyway) stick to the convenience of our personal vehicle. This group is to educate individuals interested in stepping out of their car a ...learn more
GROUP DETAILS
Created: Oct 04, 2007
Updated: Nov 25, 2009
Membership: Open
Public
Topic: What Do We Do About Lousy Mass Transit Systems?
Posts (1 - 4 of 4)
|
|
Can anyone parse this confusing and ambiguous website?
http://www.mtc.ca.gov/services/fastrak/hybrids.htm #5 reads that if you're traveling on the Bay Bridge to San Francisco in the carpool lane, you have to use Fastrak to pay your toll. But the designated carpool lane doesn't have a place where you can pay, either cash or Fastrak, so I don't understand what this means. Can anyone clarify this issue for me? I don't think that you can go through the carpool lane on the Bay Bridge and pay the toll. Am I wrong about this? |
|
Sorry to hear about the disappointing experiences with our current mass transit systems.
Some ways (big and small) we have power to improve it: 1. Using these imperfect resources demonstrates the need and support for alternatives 2. Find out who the specfic transit planners are for your area. Often they have review meetings open to the public or they are required to take public comment. Since many don't exercise their democratic right to participate in these forums, whatever you say will have impact. 3. Write letters to the editor and CC local officials letting them know you are voting based on their action or lack thereof on transit issues. 4. Seek out and promote existing carpool and transit solutions, such as Space Share - started by a member of our WE group. 5. Do something fun and positive to support the bus system. For example in King County, Washington State we can apply to decorate a bus shelter ourselves or with a community group. I'm also frustrated that we're not further along in our transit systems. Now that gas is so expensive, some bus routes in Seattle have been filled to overflowing. Once folks face economic hardship by driving there will be more pressure to fix our transit systems. |
|
Went and bought my bus pass for July today. I'd like to write a short article/blog and post many places, suggesting we buy a monthly bus pass even when currently you don't need it. 1) Think of it as a political or charitable contribution to support and "grow" mass transit. More bang, or buses, for the buck! 2) Spend a little time studying routes and thinking what errands you do that would fit well with existing system. You will use it more if you have a pass; there is a tendency to want to get something out of your investment. 3) Can be a lifesaver when/if your car has to go to the shop! 4) Figure out the economics. Here in Eugene, we have a county transit system. For adults, a day pass is $3, a monthly pass is $45. So 15 times in a month breaks even, more is a savings, less is still a way to support the system for others who will use it. But a monthly pass is more likely to get used than buying as you go. You don't have to have the right change and is unlimited, so why not jump on a bus here and there for short trips? * * * Side benefit here is our bus system goes up a river into national forest. I like to go hiking without having to worry about possible car break ins. On the way up I can enjoy the views without paying attention to driving. Maybe there are some outings in your town that would be more fun on the bus. Today i wanted to walk downtown one way for the fresh air, exercise and who knows what on the way, but had neither the time and energy to walk home again. No, didn't want to ride my bike, due to traffic and also I see things differently on foot. So i walked one way and bused back. I feel really rich to have 4 options! Walk, bike, car or bus! |
I had the great pleasure of visiting San Francisco in the '90s with my daughter. From Denver we took the Amtrak, which stopped at Emeryville, and there they put us on the bus to a station in San Francisco, from there we caught another bus, to a commuter train station, which took us right next to the car rental place (as it turned out not necessary). While there we went all around the area--we took BART over to Berkeley (my IQ got a spontaneous 10-point bump--up--alas, it did not last), we road the boat to Alcatraz and under the Golden Gate Bridge, and to round it out we took the cable car. We really could have done without the rental car (although we did drive to see the Marin Headlands and the WW II gun emplacements), so efficient, reasonable, widely used, and available was the mass transit system.
In contrast, in Texas, Dallas is the only big city that has a comprehensive public mass transit system using rail in any meaningful way. Another system connects to Fort Worth and DFW Airport between them, but even between them the system is still very modest, especially for the needs of that many people. However, it seems pretty well used, and expansion is planned.
On the other hand, the Houston light rail system runs a whopping 6 miles, +/- a couple of whops. And speaking of whops, each train can carry a whopping 400 people. It takes ~32 minutes to ride the full distance one way, and it is a single line, only connecting two end points in the nation's 5th largest city.
I wish I really knew why this state is so backward and parochial in its mass transit policy. It still is a gas-and-oil state (Spindletop in Beaumont, Texas in the early 20th Century was the start of the big worldwide oil boom, and two of the world's biggest oil companies, Exxon and Texaco, started in Texas), so I don't see much changing. And in most cities, buses are the only public mass transit means available, poorly used, and for many the attitude is that no one with any money would get caught dead on one.
I think one of two things will happen--we will get really thoughtful, independent, progressive, assertive leaders who will right now initiate programs to kill Carbon as an energy source, using sustainable energy powered mass transit as part of the program--or we will remain in the clutches of the Corporate Oligarchy until they have squeezed all the Carbon out of the ground, and the money out of our pockets. Tack on thousands of other negative social, economic, health, political, ecological, and environmental issues as you wish. Chances are very high they are pertinent.
Does anyone know anyone who fits the 'thoughtful, independent, progressive, assertive leader' description? Or anyone close?
David
Messages done with sustainable energy, with Wind and Sun!