I sometimes catch the bus at the busy Fremont intersection of 34th and Fremont here in Seattle. I'd estimate that at least 90 percent of the vehicles heading west over the Fremont Bridge have one occupant. This, of course, frustrates me to no end.
Here are all these people heading in the same general direction, at the same time. I've often wanted to stand on the side of the road with a sign that reads, "Your car seats four, why are you driving alone?"
So, why are they driving alone? Richard Seven attempts to answer this question in the most recent edition of The Seattle Times' Pacific Northwest Magazine.
Here is one of my favorite snippets from the piece:
Convenience is the drug that salves commuting guilt.
And here is another gem:
So we drive alone and pine for relief as we idle. We spew outrage at the price of gas while we burn it into fumes. We whine about clogged roads as we help clog them. We grumble about Sound Transit yet we throw Monorail Hail Marys. We're addicted to flexibility but completely inflexible about what commuting options we will accept. Some experts say it boils down to control.
So, the possible answer boils down to convenience and control -- or, rather, the lack of it. What do you think? Also, how can we encourage more people to change their commuting behavior?
Personally, I would love it if Seattle implemented a system where the arrival time of the next bus was displayed at the bus stop (like I've seen in London). This would help reduce the anxiety I sometimes experience when running late. It would be very helpful in deciding whether or not I should walk to another bus stop.
In my book, a well-informed rider is a happy rider.
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Comments
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Icelander Posted 7:57 am
13 Mar 2006
- They don't have access
- They work irregular hours
- They don't want to be "stuck" at work.
However, there are other ways to handle commuting issues. Telecommute. Or go from five 8-hour-days to four 10-hour-days. Yeah, it sounds long, but imagine cutting your gas use by 20% or more! (Not only are you driving less, but traffic is significantly lighter at 6PM than at 4PM, meaning better mileage).
Or you could do like I did: Take the leap and move closer to work. I was lucky enough to work in a city I didn't mind living in at all. I've got a 1300 square foot, 4 bedroom house in a great neighborhood that's a half mile from work. And I even have a yard.
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Chris Schults Posted 8:22 am
13 Mar 2006
Several years ago, the Puget Sound Regional Council asked residents why they eschewed regular carpooling and vanpooling. The overwhelming reason was my favorite: an irregular work schedule. A very distant second but related reason was "errands." As Greenwood dropped me off at work around 8:15, I asked when she would pick me up. "Oh, about 5:30." The thought of being marooned in the office for more than nine hours robbed me of my job's greatest reward. So I found myself canceling on her a lot after that. Finally, I figured out the rudimentary but effective solution: Take the bus home.
As this snippet suggests, perhaps those people who fear being stuck at work could take the bus home (assuming they have access).
As far as modifying work schedules, I found this bit about flex time interesting:
Hallenbeck recently learned he lives in the same neighborhood as a UW professor. He'd like to carpool, but their schedules are too different. That's the irony of flex time. We stagger starting times to ease congestion, but it makes sharing that much more complicated for some, including me.
Look out! It's a media shower!
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Jim Gagnepain Posted 12:44 pm
13 Mar 2006
Prior to moving to my current location in Fort Collins, Colorado, I lived in St. Louis, Mo. It was a longer commute, and the area wasn't nearly as bike friendly. Nonetheless, I sold our 2nd family car in St. Louis, and started taking the bus. I was dropped off about 3/4 mile from work, and would carry my umbrella and jog or walk the remainder.
I've always enjoyed the challenge of travelling without the auto. I think our society needs to do a better job at educating people about the ramifications of habitual driving.
Jim Gagnepain
http://home.comcast.net/~oil_free_and_happy/
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bookerly Posted 4:44 pm
13 Mar 2006
Most Americans are super-sized these days. Most bus seats are extremely narrow. It seems to me that these narrow small bus seats discourage people who are large from riding the bus.
I remember a guy on my regular route. He was a very big man. When he sat down, he took up a seat and a half (and made of molded plastic, they had to be uncomfortable. People stared. I thought he had to really really want to take the bus to put up with this.
I began to wonder if bus designers are really trying to discourage ridership for some reason...
patrick
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cyclelicious Posted 3:55 pm
14 Mar 2006
I could've been late if I rented a car and got stuck in traffic on 101, but getting stuck in traffic is more socially acceptable than saying "I missed the train."
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jdhlax Posted 5:51 am
15 Mar 2006
However, Cyclelicious is correct about the lack of reliability of mass transit. It's more likely to be late because of mass transit than because of a traffic backup on the highway, because the oil/car/tire company lackies that run the government spend fortunes on roads but totally insufficient amounts on public transit. When I was kid in Chicago, the El trains were far more reliable than BART trains are today in the SF Bay Area. We should all urge our legislators and other representatives to spend a lot more on public transit and quit spending money on environmentally devastatin roads and car travel.
Jeff Hoffman
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