I may have been very late in the game with cycling, but that is not the case with riding the bus. I took the MATA, the public city bus, to school in Memphis when I was in 2nd grade. Since then, I’ve been on school buses, Greyhound, and many other city buses ever since then. I even spent a total of 5 hours each day on a school bus (a personal record) for a couple years in order to avoid attending the underfunded and overcrowded high schools in my own neighborhood.
This may all sound impressive, but it really isn’t. This is what you do when you do not have a car.
From the early '90s to the early '00s, my family was made up of what we call “captive riders,” because no matter what changes were made to transit fares or policy, we were still going to get on a bus at some point because we did not have access to a personal vehicle. I did not become a “choice rider” until 2006, when I had my own vehicle and lived in Los Angeles, which has what seems like 2 million bus routes.
Or maybe you were not at all impressed with how much time I have spent on a bus, because buses have almost zero mystery. Let’s face it – riding the bus is not a sexy mode. At the same civic association meeting where the residents wanted to know more about safe cycling, I was met with silence when I reminded them that two buses ran through their neighborhood and very few people took one of the bus schedules fanned out on the table. Showing up to work sweaty after riding a bike is way more acceptable than showing up messy after running to a bus stop and standing in the aisle for 20 minutes. Apartment complexes are ready to tout the walking or driving distance to neighborhood attractions before letting you know how long it will take to get anywhere by bus. And most unfortunately of all, policymakers often assume that buses are not modern or desirable enough to meet the needs of road users. A local news website1 recently quoted an elected official when he said, “I myself know that when I go to another city, do I jump on buses? No. Really, would I get on a rail system that’s fixed and tells you where you’re going? Yes.” Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority had a very difficult time convincing stakeholders that a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line would work, but the ridership of the Orange Line is even higher than projected. In fact, it has been so successful since its 2005 implementation that transit advocates are calling for the line to be converted to light rail in order to carry more passengers.
Sigh.
The problem with all of this is that no matter how attractive the other modes appear, buses will always be necessary. Not everyone can afford to live in a neighborhood close to a light rail line or can bike to work (including me…I have a knee injury from riding so much with an improperly adjusted seat). There is nothing wrong with trying to spur economic development or encouraging the most active modes of transportation. However, we must not forget that moving people is our job; increasing mobility, access and safety for all road users should always be our priority, and that includes people who currently choose to ride a bus or have no choice except to ride a bus.
Over the past month, I rode the bus about 3-4 times a week like I usually do, but I decided to be more actively involved in the process. I have submitted both complaints and compliments to my local transit authority, engaged bus riders in conversations about their commutes (and no, not everyone was receptive to this) and even paid special attention to certain intersections along the route so that I would not have to complete field visits for them later. I honestly did not think I would learn much since I’ve been doing this for over 20 years, but I did.
What I learned:
- A bus commute is a great way to get progress reports on construction projects or catch up on your e-books.
- Most bus riders are very punctual and all would appreciate more timely arrivals.
- I am very fortunate – there are 9 bus routes within 1 block of where I live, and all of the drivers wait for me when I run to the stops (I’m not very punctual).
If we as transportation professionals choose to ride the bus more often, then we will have more opportunities to get directly involved with improving the level of service and maintaining a low-cost transit option for residents who need it the most. We have the knowledge and the networks to apply the most effective and meaningful upgrades to bus facilities, and hopefully our support will help decrease the stigma of bus ridership to policymakers and potential choice riders alike.
Next Month: DRIVING
1 – ARLnow, June 25, 2014. www.arlnow.com