Comments on: Thinking for the Future http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2007/08/03/thinking-for-the-future/ Mass Transit's editor, Fred Jandt, speaks weekly on critical issues facing the public transportation industry. Mon, 08 Sep 2008 08:58:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Keith Charles Edwards http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2007/08/03/thinking-for-the-future/#comment-1541 Keith Charles Edwards Tue, 02 Oct 2007 18:43:00 +0000 http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2007/08/03/thinking-for-the-future/#comment-1541 My carrier is hurting for more daily passengers. Yet, I see the same people sitting in traffic on major arteries into NYC. They deserve to be flogged in Macy's window at the Thanksgiving Day Parade. These people feel that they are too good to ride a bus or train. Then, there are PANYNJ administrators who grew up the same way. They are running the bridges, tunnels and the PATH. They have MBA's and MPA's and never rode or operated public transport. keithsy@masstransitmail.com My carrier is hurting for more daily passengers. Yet, I see the same people sitting in traffic on major arteries into NYC. They deserve to be flogged in Macy’s window at the Thanksgiving Day Parade. These people feel that they are too good to ride a bus or train. Then, there are PANYNJ administrators who grew up the same way. They are running the bridges, tunnels and the PATH. They have MBA’s and MPA’s and never rode or operated public transport.
keithsy@masstransitmail.com

]]> By: Keith Charles Edwards http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2007/08/03/thinking-for-the-future/#comment-1540 Keith Charles Edwards Tue, 02 Oct 2007 18:37:22 +0000 http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2007/08/03/thinking-for-the-future/#comment-1540 I am a commuter-intercity charter driver. I serve a large white middle-class population that is so ignorant of public transport. They look for seat belts on the bus. They and their children are are loathe to ride. The children say that "buses are not cool." I am a commuter-intercity charter driver. I serve a large white middle-class population that is so ignorant of public transport. They look for seat belts on the bus. They and their children are are loathe to ride. The children say that “buses are not cool.”

]]> By: Gunnar Henrioulle http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2007/08/03/thinking-for-the-future/#comment-864 Gunnar Henrioulle Fri, 03 Aug 2007 18:33:59 +0000 http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2007/08/03/thinking-for-the-future/#comment-864 Infrastucture rehab emergency now is on our minds, instead of hollywood follies... How about the transit leadership, boards and employees' unions get on the same page with this bridge rebuild saga and bring rail freight, transit, and BRT into the planning as we go forward. These are crucial priority corridors, and now is an opportunity to rehab & redesign bridge projects with alternative transport lanes/tracks. Most bridges built after 1960 had no provision for transit, mixing buses with too-heavy trucks and leaving bicycles and rail out of the design completely. The re-focus of long-haul freight to rail will go farther to prolong highway bridge longevity than any other single thing we can do. If you claim to be "Thinking For The Future, then you already know about "The Association For The Study Of Peak Oil & Gas" & "Postcarbon.org". Newbies- look up individual topics: "Jay Hanson"; "Matthew Simmons"; "Matt Savinar", see Rep. Roscoe Bartlett's presentation to Congress, download copy of the Robert L. Hirsch Report On Peaking Oil" & the 2007 update. The people who are employed in public transportation are receiving income from taxes and fare revenue. It is not asking too much for these same, plus the consultancies, equipment & parts suppliers and lobbyist organizations including the transit lip-service groups to get savvy on Peaking Oil. Like, being well-schooled in your craft. Alternative transport, mobility to complement & substitute for, the petroleum-consuming automobile is no small thing. You gotta know the territory! As practicioners of energy conservation, we should know our stuff, and that includes knowing what Peaking Oil is all about. We need to be fluent on EIOER issues regarding transport mode comparisons and sustainability over the long term. The idea of "Thinking For The Future" means getting some employee volunteers to the City Council Meetings, Chamber of Commerce & Town Haul Meetings, and getting the word out on the twin challenges Peaking Oil & Climate Change pose to mobility and the economy. Obviously, the fancier the title, bigger the paycheck, etc, the greater the responsibility to be the Peaking Oil expert in the room! The future starts with being prepared. Infrastucture rehab emergency now is on our minds, instead of hollywood follies…

How about the transit leadership, boards and employees’ unions get on the same page with this bridge rebuild saga and bring rail freight, transit, and BRT into the planning as we go forward. These are crucial priority corridors, and now is an opportunity to rehab & redesign bridge projects with alternative transport lanes/tracks.

Most bridges built after 1960 had no provision for transit, mixing buses with too-heavy trucks and leaving bicycles and rail out of the design completely. The re-focus of long-haul freight to rail will go farther to prolong highway bridge longevity than any other single thing we can do.

If you claim to be “Thinking For The Future, then you already know about “The Association For The Study Of Peak Oil & Gas” & “Postcarbon.org”. Newbies- look up individual topics: “Jay Hanson”; “Matthew Simmons”; “Matt Savinar”, see Rep. Roscoe Bartlett’s presentation to Congress, download copy of the Robert L. Hirsch Report On Peaking Oil” & the 2007 update.

The people who are employed in public transportation are receiving income from taxes and fare revenue. It is not asking too much for these same, plus the consultancies, equipment & parts suppliers and lobbyist organizations including the transit lip-service groups to get savvy on Peaking Oil. Like, being well-schooled in your craft. Alternative transport, mobility to complement & substitute for, the petroleum-consuming automobile is no small thing. You gotta know the territory!

As practicioners of energy conservation, we should know our stuff, and that includes knowing what Peaking Oil is all about. We need to be fluent on EIOER issues regarding transport mode comparisons and sustainability over the long term. The idea of “Thinking For The Future” means getting some employee volunteers to the City Council Meetings, Chamber of Commerce & Town Haul Meetings, and getting the word out on the twin challenges Peaking Oil & Climate Change pose to mobility and the economy.

Obviously, the fancier the title, bigger the paycheck, etc, the greater the responsibility to be the Peaking Oil expert in the room! The future starts with being prepared.

]]> By: Galen L. Dutch http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2007/08/03/thinking-for-the-future/#comment-863 Galen L. Dutch Fri, 03 Aug 2007 18:29:44 +0000 http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2007/08/03/thinking-for-the-future/#comment-863 Here’s the problem: Mass transit is plain too slow and most people prefer to drive to work because it’s much, much faster. I tried riding the bus to work a couple of times, however it took me three times as long as it does to drive over the exact same route that the bus uses. My experience on every bus trip was a nothing more than a repeated “Go And Stop” routine to pick up or drop off passengers on practically every block. I looked out the window and I noticed that cars were sailing along and leaving the bus far behind. Let’s face this reality: Mass transit relies heavily on buses that are constantly stopping just to pick up or drop off riders and that’s an inevitable flaw that makes the whole concept unworkable. Although moderate to high speed commuter rail works quite well, most people still have to ride a bus to get to get to and from the rail station. To attract people who now drive, agencies should try spacing bus stops every three blocks and also use express service on those lines that run to and from a rail station. Here’s the problem: Mass transit is plain too slow and most people prefer to drive to work because it’s much, much faster.

I tried riding the bus to work a couple of times, however it took me three times as long as it does to drive over the exact same route that the bus uses. My experience on every bus trip was a nothing more than a repeated “Go And Stop” routine to pick up or drop off passengers on practically every block. I looked out the window and I noticed that cars were sailing along and leaving the bus far behind.

Let’s face this reality: Mass transit relies heavily on buses that are constantly stopping just to pick up or drop off riders and that’s an inevitable flaw that makes the whole concept unworkable. Although moderate to high speed commuter rail works quite well, most people still have to ride a bus to get to get to and from the rail station.

To attract people who now drive, agencies should try spacing bus stops every three blocks and also use express service on those lines that run to and from a rail station.

]]> By: Cesar Cavalcanti http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2007/08/03/thinking-for-the-future/#comment-860 Cesar Cavalcanti Fri, 03 Aug 2007 15:20:54 +0000 http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2007/08/03/thinking-for-the-future/#comment-860 I entirely agree with Mr. Auchincloss comment (August 3rd., 2007, at 9:49 am), but I think he did not produce the complete picture about transit. It is important to consider also the contribution of transit to the following aspects of urban mobility: 1)Pollution reduction; 2)Reduction of urban land requirements for mobility purposes; 3)Minimisation of the "barrier" effect of expressways; 4)Reduction of costs associated with personal mobility, especially when single occupant trips come into consideration; 5)Availability of a mobility alternative for the very young, the old, the sick, the non-car-owning segment of communities or, simply, those who refuse to waste their time, money and patience in recurrent/increasing gridlocks. Yes, it is about time to convince the mainstream about the rationality of transit who, in turn, will convince elected officials in charge of providing mobility to urban populations. Will gladly engage in a more detailed discussion of these aspects. Cesar Cavalcanti National Association for Public Transport - ANTP Brasil Vice President I entirely agree with Mr. Auchincloss comment (August 3rd., 2007, at 9:49 am), but I think he did not produce the complete picture about transit.
It is important to consider also the contribution of transit to the following aspects of urban mobility:
1)Pollution reduction;
2)Reduction of urban land requirements for mobility purposes;
3)Minimisation of the “barrier” effect of expressways;
4)Reduction of costs associated with personal mobility, especially when single occupant trips come into consideration;
5)Availability of a mobility alternative for the very young, the old, the sick, the non-car-owning segment of communities or, simply, those who refuse to waste their time, money and patience in recurrent/increasing gridlocks.
Yes, it is about time to convince the mainstream about the rationality of transit who, in turn, will convince elected officials in charge of providing mobility to urban populations.
Will gladly engage in a more detailed discussion of these aspects.
Cesar Cavalcanti
National Association for Public Transport - ANTP Brasil
Vice President

]]> By: Sloan Auchincloss http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2007/08/03/thinking-for-the-future/#comment-859 Sloan Auchincloss Fri, 03 Aug 2007 14:49:25 +0000 http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2007/08/03/thinking-for-the-future/#comment-859 Some people can't use transit because they make mutiple stops off line or they work irregular hours that don't coincide with transit schedules. To convince those who could use transit and have yet to decide to give it a try, transit providers must promote that transit delivers the following benefits: 1. economic development 2. traffic congestion relief 3. energy efficiency as measured by BTUs 4. emergency management redundancy Some people can’t use transit because they make mutiple stops off line or they work irregular hours that don’t coincide with transit schedules. To convince those who could use transit and have yet to decide to give it a try, transit providers must promote that transit delivers the following benefits:

1. economic development
2. traffic congestion relief
3. energy efficiency as measured by BTUs
4. emergency management redundancy

]]> By: RICHARD ORAM http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2007/08/03/thinking-for-the-future/#comment-858 RICHARD ORAM Fri, 03 Aug 2007 14:26:54 +0000 http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2007/08/03/thinking-for-the-future/#comment-858 YEP, MOST EVERYONE DISDAINS SPRAWL, BUT FEW WHO LIVE IN SUBURABN AREAS WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH INCREASED DENSITY. THEY SEE IT AS WHAT THEY LEFT OR DON'T LIKE ABOUT "THE CITY." ADDED DENSITY IT IS SEEN AS REDUCING THE PRIZED QUALITY OF LIFE. AND TWO OR THREE STORY BUILDINGS THAT HAVE TOO MUCH PARKING BUILT INTO THEM ARE NO BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT THAT A STRIP MALL, SO YOU REALLY DO NEED ENLIGHTENMENT. IT IS A RARE SKILL TO SELL ADDED DENSITY. WHEN I TELL PEOPLE THAT "DENSITY IS GOOD" I GET FEW POSITIVE HEAD SHAKES. YEP, MOST EVERYONE DISDAINS SPRAWL, BUT FEW WHO LIVE IN SUBURABN AREAS WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH INCREASED DENSITY. THEY SEE IT AS WHAT THEY LEFT OR DON’T LIKE ABOUT “THE CITY.” ADDED DENSITY IT IS SEEN AS REDUCING THE PRIZED QUALITY OF LIFE. AND TWO OR THREE STORY BUILDINGS THAT HAVE TOO MUCH PARKING BUILT INTO THEM ARE NO BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT THAT A STRIP MALL, SO YOU REALLY DO NEED ENLIGHTENMENT. IT IS A RARE SKILL TO SELL ADDED DENSITY. WHEN I TELL PEOPLE THAT “DENSITY IS GOOD” I GET FEW POSITIVE HEAD SHAKES.

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