Comments on: International Transit

By: Torin Reid

Torin Reid — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 05:01:58 +0000

Of course we should look at Europe….and Japan and Asia and the rest of the world, where they see mass transit as a necessity, not as the “last resort” mode of transit.
Over here,please interview the customers who use the service as well.

By: M Fulton

M Fulton — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 17:04:30 +0000

I would like to see more coverage of rail transit in Asia, particularly in Hong Kong and in Japan. I understand that Mainland China is also implementing more rail service across the country.

By: Steve Abernathy

Steve Abernathy — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 04:32:52 +0000

Fred,

International coverage? Absolutely! There are plenty of things we can learn from global public transport operations. Funding mechanisms is one that any North American transit operation should be keenly interested in learning about.

As a side note, operationally North American urban systems are on par with European systems when it comes to technology. Service frequency and rural public transport however, the Europeans can teach us a few things. However, in one area where U.S. public transport can teach the Europeans is in the provision of paratransit. The U.S. provides more comprehensive public transport to persons with disabilities than in Europe.

By: J. Drake

J. Drake — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 19:46:07 +0000

Yes! Tell us…but also include the amount of TIME these overseas systems take to implement & why (i.e. delivery methods/funding sources/priorities). Bet it’s eons less than here.

By: Ron Kilcoyne

Ron Kilcoyne — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 19:28:24 +0000

I agree that we should learn lessons from everywhere and not be parochial. Yes there are differences between wherever we live and other countries as well other parts of the US. We need to distinguish between differences that matter and those that don’t. We also need to acknowledge that even when there are differences there are also many similarities. Actually there is a human tendency to follow one of two extremes - blindly accept what we see elsewhere will work at our agency or blindly reject what we see work elsewhere because they are different. To be truly successful we need to avoid both extremes.

An example of each. When is comes to integrating transit services among multiple operators and modes the Germans are far superior to anything we do here in the US. Their “transit federation” is a model for integrating fares, routes, schedules and public information. I have been told the German model wouldn’t work in the US because they are different. When I was on a study mission in 2000 and listened to representatives of the systems we visited, I heard complaints about how everyone thought the funding mechanisms were unfair, small operators distrusted the big operators and on and on. It sounded just like the many discussions I have heard here in the US. I asked if these federations were purely voluntary and if it seems there is a lot of disagreement, how come they seem to work. The answer – it’s what the customer wants. I think we can learn a lot from the Germans on service integration – the differences between the two countries are not the reason it works there and not here – it is the attitude toward the customer, an attitude we should all have.

For several years politicians have been going to Curitiba Brazil to see BRT and coming back claiming the BRT will save the world – or at least their community. However they usually miss the bigger point. The reason for the success is the holistic or integrated approach to planning that occurred there. There are a lot of lessons that can be learned from Curitiba but it’s what makes transit work not the choice of mode that is the important lesson.

By all means look beyond the US, but in doing so put into context the real lessons to be learned.

By: Bob Campbell

Bob Campbell — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 17:50:08 +0000

I would appreciate international coverage. We have similarities and idfferences.

By: Lenny Anderson

Lenny Anderson — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 17:21:22 +0000

The public transit model for me in Europe is Frankfurt a Main, Germany, which is typical of mid-sized cities in that country. S-Bahn or commuter rail; U-Bahn or light rail; Strassenbahn or streetcar; and bus. All are interconnected, portions of some are in subways, fares are common to all in the FFM region.
Next time you fly to Europe via Frankfurt…very common…take a day and ride the S14 into the city and check out how it all works.

By: Bill Cook

Bill Cook — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 17:08:03 +0000

Though I don’t have any direct ties to the Mass Transit Industry, my clients do. My belief is having an international perspective would be of value. It would not only show alternative processes and systems but perhaps validate ones already in place in the US.

By: Lisa Callaghan

Lisa Callaghan — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 17:04:14 +0000

I think more coverage of overseas systems would be useful. It helps to see how other countries address public transit issues, whether they are successful or not.

By: Chuck Neal

Chuck Neal — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 16:50:47 +0000

If they do it better “over there” we should be copying as much as possible. A wider view of practices and procedures can only help us to develop better practices and procedures for our own Authorities.