Daily Routine
Posted by Fred Jandt
Editor, Mass Transit
With the passing of Labor Day weekend, we’ve ended our summer hours and got back to the daily routine here at Mass Transit. Summer hours for us go from Memorial Day until Labor Day and basically, we come in a little earlier Monday through Thursday and get our Friday afternoons off. It’s a nice perk for those summer days, but it is nice to get back to the usual routine as fall blows in.
I recently read an article in the USA Today about people changing their daily routines as a result of commuting. A lot of people are starting work earlier or staying later so they can skip the rush hour traffic. The new routine is to sacrifice time at home to forestall too much time in the car.
For those people who have no transit option or have a job that prevents them from taking transit readily, I can see where they are coming from. Really, I can imagine it is preferable to get to work a little earlier so you can sit and read the paper for a little while before everyone else gets there rather than spending the same amount of time behind the wheel in start-and-stop traffic.
Those who chose this routine over using transit, though, get no sympathy from me. You hear it every day, the belabored call for more roads to ease congestion so people can make better time driving to work. The same people who complain as they get up at the crack of dawn to beat the traffic cast aspersions to those who sleep in a little later and catch that train or bus into work.
Does the bus or train pick you up at your doorstep and drop you off at work? Probably not, but would adding a little walking to our daily routine kill any of us?
Thanks for reading the MT Position, updated every Friday.
September 14th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
Revising commuting times isn’t confined to those who drive. I use transit daily (minus one day weekly because of where I go after work that day) and I’ve made the effort to get up earlier and get into the office about 45 minutes to an hour earlier than required. I also leave a corresponding amount of time earlier in the afternoon. The commuting benefit is a more-or-less guaranteed seat for the full 25-minute ride in both directions. But the lifestyle benefit is that I’m home that much earlier to be able to be with my kid, who’s already been home three hours. And the walk to and from the station really does help the waistline!
September 14th, 2007 at 8:57 pm
I only wish we in rural New Mexico had the opportunity to catch a train or bus to/from work. I would gladly come in to work 1 hour earlier if it meant that I could use the time in transit to relax, catch up on some reading, save wear and tear on my vehicle, and at the same time benefit the environment, and less traffic on the highway means less wear. I think the saying that “we don’t know what we have until it is gone” comes in to play here. Some urbanites may not realize how lucky they are that public transit is available.
September 15th, 2007 at 11:54 am
Fred, I have been reading and enjoying your column for a year or more now. I’m a mass transit designer/imagineer. I agree with your position whole heartedly, however, the only other alternative for people that don’t have transit options currently is for large & medium sized communities to think of transit systems that are not the conventional type like big trains & buses. They need to think out of the box. I have designed a system called AIM-T (Automated Intermediate Mass Transit). It is a single rail, center of gravity design that has automated control by several integrated computer/GPS/radio/EM technologies. Now this is really thinking out of the box. The “intermediate” part refers to the vehicle size from 4 to 6 to 8 passenger vehicles traveling at up to a possible 200mph. It is designed to be a national transit system as well as a urban commuter system. It is a fully electric drive vehicle with battery back-up so in times of power outages, the vehicles & passengers can make it to their final destinations. In addition, it is an above ground system so the construction costs are minimal compared to underground & large train systems. I have not published my designs yet, but I have approached Ford Motor Co. and IBM about partnering with me in development of AIM-T. There are many, many other facts and benefits of this design that I would love to discuss with you. I am the President & CEO of C.T. Price Design Technologies…….. regards….. Charlie Tindell
September 15th, 2007 at 4:42 pm
There is such a disconnect in America, the transit savvy and the majority of the population who are alternative transport ignorant. Some car slaves try transit, and it is so much more grueling than the car routine, they are back doing roadwork. Few workable choices result in few riders by choice.
Incrementally increasing transit service, at the present pace, is a losing proposition. This is largely because the distance, capitalwise, from where we are -to where we must be, to have sufficient schedule options to reach the “tipping point”. Or call it the “critical mass”, whereby public transportation meets expectations, as well as becomes a cultural “norm”. We are in more trouble than we know.
The fading of public transit routes & options of the 1940’s & 1950’s took place without undue public policy anti transit bias- rather- the situation was really moreso robust pro-car and bus and truck methodology. The rails and many bus systems faded line by line, disappeared locale by locale. Stronger numbers kept some rail commuters going, while the freight mains consolidated, peeling off the branches to smaller operators where there was (and still is) enough revenue to thrive under the radar. Bus rapid transit emerges, but will struggle with Peaking Oil soon.
The reverse of the 1950-s scenario will be required to emplace crucial public access transportation infrastructure- more a re-direction of capital to transit than restrictions on the automobile. To refine that statement, as cheap fuel encouraged the roadgang over the last fifty years, constantly increasing cost of motor fuel will encourage alternative transportation over the next fifty years. Redirection of capital must come with entrepeneurs who smell the ramifications of Peaking Oil and will spearhead the move away from the motormania now gripping our foreigh policy imperatives.
One fears the chaos that will surely be our national lot when the gasoline pumps aren’t ready for us when we show up! The busy commuter rail or bus administrator should have a circumspect assistant who will research “Cantarell” & North Sea oilfield depletion, and look at the site: “theoildrum” and get savvy enough to leave some info for the boss now & then. Elected leaders and local/state planners must be found with the nerve & skill to spread the alarm; hello?
Of course there are readers who are not connected to the tranport industry. No excuse. You must think the groceries will arrive and the toilet paper and the garbage will be picked up without a hitch in a diesel fuel shortage. Think some more- The feds will, when they have no choice, allocate diesel from trucking to agriculture in whatever measure to protect that most critical sector. Must we wait for these Federal johnny-come-latelys before local and State responsibles get going?
There is substantiation for these stark comments, (starker still), in the August 10 US News back page- “The Energy Emergency”. That’s the issue with the boy standing on the doctor’s weighing scale. We too, are going to be measured, and found wanting. Fred? Hillary? Barack? Governator? You other candidates (staffers) too, looking for the plank to grab the imagination…. May I suggest tackling Peaking Oil and addressing James Howard Kunstler’s LONG EMERGENCY?
September 16th, 2007 at 12:50 pm
Why am I a constructive critic of Mass Transportation? Simple. When I drive the family car, I enjoy stoping at the corner store for my morning coffee. My books, maps and such are scattered all over the seat next to me. I’m not beyond pulling off with some idea, and reading over something. When I wait for gas, or a traffic light, I sit in air conditioned comfort, and listen to my choice of music.
Transit? Our system is designed to get the working class to and from the domestic jobs, in the upper class neighborhoods, or downtown. If I use Mass Transit in Jacksonville, (or perhaps your city), I sit in the blazing sun waiting for a bus that runs on 45 minute headways. Time-keeping? Forget it. Consumer friendly? Well, it’s a moving bus bench, that’s about the best I can offer.
So why is Joe-Passenger waiting in the blazing sun? Why isn’t the bus equiped with a couple of tables for the quality passenger, or business customer we all claim to be fishing for? Why can’t I serve myself a nice cup of coffee onboard? Does your bus have TV? radio? headphones? probably not, but my car does. Air-conditioned C-Store with restrooms? Air Conditioned bus stop with restrooms? Think about it. We need to think outside of our comfort zone and be more then the automobile. It might take some creative thinking, but then isn’t that what we get paid for?
Robert Mann
lightrailjacksonville
September 16th, 2007 at 11:59 pm
Public Transport does not really serve to satisfy the public. For example in Los Angeles, hours of service create curfue times, typically between 12 - 5am which singificantly encurages those that should not be driving intoxicated into driving.
Similarily, my wife reciently was forced to go to training in San Diego (we live in LA). The amtrack train only stopped near the place of training at 7am or 9:20am. My wife had the choice of being an hour and half earily or an hour late… neither being realistic. She would also have to wait a full hour after getting off work to take the train back. Instead she drives 4 hours a day (150 mi).
I want to take the metro to work as well.. it’s about 22mi each way. I would have to take 1 bus with 2 transfers each way, and spend aprox 3 hours a day on the bus (not counting wait times). instead, I drive about 2 hours a day (the 91 freeway is packed each way).
Before people think that the problem is the commuter who just doesn’t know of the “wonderful” public transportation system this country has, they should be first forced to use it…
We need a game changing investment in public transportation…. something along the lines of what our European and Canadian peers have. Even Mexico seems to have a more effective public transportation system.
October 12th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
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