Triad mass transit has a long way to go
N&R reporter Taft Wireback published an excellent package today (not online for some reason) on his experience riding the mass transit systems that operate in Greensboro. His unsurprising conclusion: They have a long way to go toward making the proposition palatable for time-strapped motorists considering the switch from private automobile.
We all know that times are changing and that no longer will buses be filled mostly with people who cannot afford or are unable to drive a car. High gas prices and concerns about climate change/pollution/health are motivating more middle class people to ride the bus.
But let's be honest: The structures of the bus systems here reinforce the stereotype that public transportation is for the poor and marginalized who should just be happy they have an option for getting to work. Do you think middle and upper middle class people in business suits are going to stand in the rain without cover at a bus stop? I've frequently driven by old black women doing just that.
On the other hand, private cars have their downsides and you suck up a lot of time waiting in traffic jams, buying gasoline, updating registration, taxes and insurance, and performing regular maintenance. You can't get work done in your car while driving, although unfortunately I catch drivers reading magazines from time to time. And not everyone can afford to drive a lush SUV with a navigation system and DVD player in the back for the kids. I bet just as many if not more people are cursing under their breath for car-related reasons than bus-related reasons.
I rode GTA once in my two years living in Greensboro and that is because my car battery died and I wasn't able to catch a ride with a coworker. I found the bus convenient (and nearly empty at the time), but I caught it in Lindley Park, just a couple miles from my job downtown. I now live in Glenwood and plan to take the bus in the future. But I cannot rely on the system the way it is currently set up.
The question came up in Taft's article of whether Greensboro Transit Authority employees actually ride the bus. I wonder this myself. Since it's the weekend, I can't call to find out but I want to know what the policy is for employees taking the bus to work. Many newspapers, including this one, require reporters to live in the cities or counties they cover. Shouldn't public transportation employees be required to take the bus at least occasionally? What about government employees in general or elected officials? That alone might motivate quicker changes.
Taft brought up a good point at the end of his main article. Other options exist for saving fuel costs other than taking the bus, such as riding a bike. Carpooling and telecommuting also get the job done.
Comments (1)
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Being from Berlin, Germany I can honestly agree that the public transportation in the Triad has a looong way to go to be as viable as public transportation in Europe. I have seen some hope, however, in HEAT, the Higher Education Area Transit. They actually work in cooperation with GTA, the Greensboro bus system. They have bus stops with benches and roofs over them and they have a regular schedule that even includes service after Midnight. If only this could be extended to all of the Triad! But I think that even PART can't seem to overcome some obstacles of local cooperation between the cities. Also the routes are not well advertised. One almost has to be a rocket scientist with a magnifying glas to figure out the bus routes/times in High Point. In Berlin, they are at every bus stop, clear and easy to read and understand. Hopefully the mass transit efforts will be better funded here and those who implement hoped-for improvements will take lessons from HEAT and Europe.
Posted on October 6, 2008 8:40 PM