Socialized Transportation: Public Transit

[GeeBee]

Discuss likes/dislikes, ideas, critiques, etc. regarding public transportation on any scale, from local to national.

My .02:

I've lived in 2 former soviet republics...both of whose public transit systems DWARF any I've encountered in the states in terms of reliability, quality, and cost.

[Animalhill]

Discuss likes/dislikes, ideas, critiques, etc. regarding public transportation on any scale, from local to national.

My .02:

I've lived in 2 former soviet republics...both of whose public transit systems DWARF any I've encountered in the states in terms of reliability, quality, and cost.
Haha I LOVE the thread title. I personally am 100% for, "Socialized Transportation".

[My Broken Fever]

It should be introduced in every developed country in my opinion. It's better for the environment (and it's actually faster than taking the car a lot of the times here; although I'm ignorant at how public the transportation system is here) and it can help a great deal with solving traffic jams and so on.

[Brand-new-123]

It would certainly be nice but in most major cities the infrastructure necessary to develop, say a subway system or light rail on a large enough scale to where it would be a feasible option, for a high enough percentage of the population, to make it worthwhile would require so much deconstruction and reconstruction to where I just don't see it as a realistic option anytime soon. Most cities have public buses, but at least where I live they actually cause more pollution than if the handful of riders were to drive their own vehicles.

[GeeBee]

There should, however, be a rule on public transit...
ALL PASSENGERS MUST HAVE BATHED WITHIN THE PAST 72 HOURS.

[My Broken Fever]

There should, however, be a rule on public transit...
ALL PASSENGERS MUST HAVE BATHED WITHIN THE PAST 72 HOURS.
And realize that the person sitting next to them can hear their trivial little conversation about their boyfriend on their mobile. /rant

[TeachBirds2Fly]

I can't really tell if this is a joke, the buses where I'm from are run by the local Council and they kick the asses of the private bus firms

[GeeBee]

And realize that the person sitting next to them can hear their trivial little conversation about their boyfriend on their mobile. /rant

YES! All passengers must STFU if they are on their cell phones. Above a certain decibel level, and the other passengers can simply throw you off the next stop.

[saysmydoctor]

The US lacks. Major.

[GeeBee]

The US lacks. Major.

Totes M'Goats.

[saysmydoctor]

The Japanese, the Europeans, the Chinese, they are all miles ahead of us with their transportation systems. Amtrak is pathetic. I hate it.

I'd say airwise, we have an edge, but on the ground, we are so far behind. The Interstate System is ridiculously underfunded. And yet, transportation appropriations are always through the fucking roof. Which has a lot to do with who we contract out with.

[GeeBee]

The Japanese, the Europeans, the Chinese, they are all miles ahead of us with their transportation systems. Amtrak is pathetic. I hate it.

I'd say airwise, we have an edge, but on the ground, we are so far behind. The Interstate System is ridiculously underfunded. And yet, transportation appropriations are always through the fucking roof. Which has a lot to do with who we contract out with.

Barely. With the exception of JetBlue, the airline business in the U.S. is DISMAL compared to the stellar choices people in Europe have to choose from...at FAR cheaper rates.

[saysmydoctor]

Europe is a lot smaller by comparison, so that would explain cheaper rates, but there is probably stricter regulations over there as well.

[Richard Maxim]

I've been taking the public bus since elementary school, Glad to say that will change by next month. =-)

[bladerdude360]

I never really took public transportation at home (in the suburbs of Chicago) other than going downtown every once in a while, but now that I'm at school at the University of Illinois and don't have a car I am taking it more and more. It's pretty good here, easy to get around. However, whenever I have been in Europe (France, Russia, and Sweden), the public transportation systems have been way more convenient and accessible than they are here. If it were more viable at home I would definitely use it more.

[jwicklun]

sucks being california. For San Francisco transit they jacked the 1.50 fare to 2.00 for an adult. It keeps getting worse and worse.

[GeeBee]

sucks being california. For San Francisco transit they jacked the 1.50 fare to 2.00 for an adult. It keeps getting worse and worse.

Utah Transit Authority's head honcho is the highest paid official in the state. Makes more than the governor. Makes more than his counterparts in LA, Seattle, Denver.

[Analog Rebellion]

You're A Marxist Nazi! Socialized Transportation Will Kill Your Grand Parents!!!

[Analog Rebellion]

sucks being california. For San Francisco transit they jacked the 1.50 fare to 2.00 for an adult. It keeps getting worse and worse.

At least you have SOMETHING in California. Here in Texas, we have practically nothing. Austin is an exception. Getting around that city is a breeze on their free buses/trollies.

[Machu505]

I hear al-Qaeda likes public transportation too...

[Praetor]

I hear al-Qaeda likes public transportation too...
HAHAHAHAhAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA holy shit Matt this is the best thing you've ever said

[GuitarR0cker1]

In my area(which has about 70,000 people) public transportation consists of 5 buses.

[iheartmusic043]

Pittsburgh by far has the worst public transportation. I swear the price for a ride goes up every day.

[xshady121]

My hatred of public transportation is based solely upon Boston's green line.

[GeeBee]

My hatred of public transportation is based solely upon Boston's green line.

Can't argue with that. Incomprehensible.

[jwicklun]

At least you have SOMETHING in California. Here in Texas, we have practically nothing. Austin is an exception. Getting around that city is a breeze on their free buses/trollies.
don't get me wrong, I greatly apprecitate SFs transit system. I now go to school in AZ and their is virtually no transit system except for the shitty lite rail which has gotten in like 10 accidents in only 8 months. It was a better time when I was in high school in SF and the fare was only .50. Sucks growing older.

[Manicapathy]

"I'm scared of public transportation."
bLv4_mmg1Ls

[thatwasamoment]

I actually enjoy Amtrak. The CA line is very clean, comfortable, and the price isn't too bad. The passengers... not so much.

I can't wait for the day when I can take a 2 hour high speed rail from LA to SF.

[yves.]

I actually enjoy Amtrak. The CA line is very clean, comfortable, and the price isn't too bad. The passengers... not so much.

I can't wait for the day when I can take a 2 hour high speed rail from LA to SF.


please buy a train ticket from one side of Europe to the other and then remake this statement.

a train ticket from Omaha to Minneapolis is about $300 and it takes 14 hours to get there. you can drive there and back for cheaper AND quicker.

[saysmydoctor]

"he's right! put your goddamn cock away!"

[thatwasamoment]

please buy a train ticket from one side of Europe to the other and then remake this statement.

a train ticket from Omaha to Minneapolis is about $300 and it takes 14 hours to get there. you can drive there and back for cheaper AND quicker.
Yes, I understand that and the need for high speed rail system. I was referring to the CA line which can take me across this long state for $40. Not too shabby in my opinion.

[open mind]

when public transportation is done right it's faster, cheaper, cleaner, safer, and just flat out better then driving a car.

the metro system in moscow is something every major city should aspire to.

[TurbulentCo]

I like to take the metra into the city (Chicago) because it's comfortable and you get drunk and you don't have to worry about parking.

[wesgemm08]

A sizeable portion of the stimulus package should have been invested in a high speed rail system between major cities.

[ISO1600]

I'm taking public transit with my bike to school now instead of forking over 700 dollars for school bus service.

Pros:
Cheaper (1 dollar on bus, 1.50 on CalTrain)
Ability to take bike on (Bus racks and bike cars)
Flexibility/Variety (I can leave my house/school when I please, or have any combination of transit services.)
Presence (CalTrain and SamTrans do have frequent service up and down the Peninsula, this couples into flexibility too)

Things that can be improved:
Connections/Timing (Sometimes buses can be late to the train station, resulting in a longer wait time for the train, or from bus to bus, train to bus, etc. It's not uncommon for a bus to come 5 minutes early or 10 minutes late, but they are pretty good at being punctual.)
Safety (Too many suicides along the CalTrain line, crossing gates holding up people who want to get to the train opposite but end up missing it)
Staff (You meet some of the nicest drivers/conductors most of the time but sometimes they can be completely rude to you.)

I can always bike all the way. Thank god for bikes. I don't like walking.

European transit systems are more punctual and have generally high public awareness--in contrast to some routes here which are mostly utilized by youth, the eldery/infirm and disabled. The ICE and TGV in Germany and France respectively make Amtrak's Acela service along the Northeast Corridor (NEC: Runs from Washington D.C. to Boston) look like a joke. BART here can be likened to the S-Bahn and RER systems of Europe again, sharing subway charatersitics with commuter rail. CalTrain here utterly pales in comparison in regards to commuter rail and don't even talk about Amtrak's routes outside the Northeast Corridor.

I can't wait for HSR to come into being in California.

[GeeBee]

Wave of the transportation future:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maglev_(transport)

[saysmydoctor]

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/08/27/tenther-highway/
LOL

[loveisdead]

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/08/27/tenther-highway/
LOL
Sort of a bullshit article. Bashes the hell out of what they're saying but never comes up with a legitimate argument against it.

[saysmydoctor]

I think it's because it's that kind of ridiculous opinion.

[Kozzy333]

Public transit here is okay, nothing special.

[fightoffyrdmns]

As an Urban Planning major this is relevant to my interests.

Agreed, Europe does it better.

[Brand-new-123]

Most of Europe's countries with the great mass transportation systems are smaller geographically with much higher population density than your average state in the USA. making it much easier and cost effective to have intercity mass transit.
.

[saysmydoctor]

Most of Europe's countries with the great mass transportation systems are smaller geographically with much higher population density than your average state in the USA. making it much easier and cost effective to have intercity mass transit.
.
Do you have any idea the number of MSAs there are in the US?

[mattmatumbo]

Salt Lake's Trax system is good... if you want to go to the University from downtown, or to the suburb Sandy from downtown. There are no other options aside from interval stops between them. The bus system to the U is really fast, but it only comes every half hour, so for the most part it's get to class really early, or almost late.

[GeeBee]

Salt Lake's Trax system is good... if you want to go to the University from downtown, or to the suburb Sandy from downtown. There are no other options aside from interval stops between them. The bus system to the U is really fast, but it only comes every half hour, so for the most part it's get to class really early, or almost late.

It's a good system...they just can't get their conductors or drivers to actually stick to the schedule. You'd think it was rocket science.

[Brand-new-123]

It's a good system...they just can't get their conductors or drivers to actually stick to the schedule. You'd think it was rocket science.
it may be decent in some parts of the country but it is virtually non existent in most places I've lived.

[keepitwolf]

This bus smells like piss!