Comments on: 10 Reasons to Use Mass Transit

By: Alek F

Alek F — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:59:37 +0000

Great article;
and I fully agree with you!
I’ve gone nearly 100% car-free, and use mass transit frequently (buses, subway, and light-rail),
up until recently…
MTA keeps cutting bus service, making it extremely hard to reach many destinations nowadays…
I’ve been writing letters to legislature and MTA, but… to no avail. While they keep reducing service and shortening (some of the busiest) bus routes, they’ll lose customers, while luring drivers back into their cars.
Shame on MTA! and Shame on our legislature!
(let’s all strive to improve our public transportation, like normal European countries do!)
Alek

By: FrugalNYC

FrugalNYC — Fri, 29 May 2009 00:55:48 +0000

Hi Lisa!

Love the photos as usual. I’m a big fan of Mass Transit, right after walking It’s much easier to get around NYC using Mass transit, for the most part. Though it does depend on your destination and if you are traveling with little ones.

I’ve recently been doing tons of walking, mostly around my own neighborhood and the surrounding areas.

Thanks for sharing and for describing the Big Blue Bus It’s like a name out of a children’s book

FrugalNYC’s last blog post..Cataclysmic Climate Effects

By: LisaNewton

LisaNewton — Thu, 28 May 2009 13:17:43 +0000

@D. Travis North I totally agree about NYC, at least the part I’ve visited many years ago. I went there, parked my car for three days, and then used the subway system. All I had was a map, and that was good enough. DC also has a good Metro system, with great access even from the suburbs.

I agree with the light rail. LA waited so long to get anything started, so it was extrememly expensive when they finally did. There are plans to expand the light rail lines, and the stimulus packages looks promising for mass transit.

@Lance For a smaller bus system, the Big Blue does a good job. Santa Monica has a large group of older citizens, and for some, they don’t drive, so the Big Blue is their only means of transportation besides walking. It definitely works……….:)

By: Lance

Lance — Thu, 28 May 2009 10:34:54 +0000

Hi Lisa, I wish at times that we had mass transit closer to us. What I really do love about it is the idea of not having to find a place to park, and of reduced stress from not fighting heavy traffic. Thanks for the reminder on the many benefits of public transportation! And I love the big blue bus! Lance’s last blog post..This Is Funtertainment

By: D. Travis North

D. Travis North — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:53:34 +0000

@Lisa - I think you have just uncovered one of the issues of public transportation...the ability to get to it. I think NYC is probably the model for public transportation - you never have to walk more than a few blocks to get to a subway station. It's pretty well covered in that regard, and that's why it works. The parking lots are therefore only really used by outsiders. Even many residents on Manhatten Island don't bother to own vehicles. Especially now with the Car Share programs that are available. But we're seeing a bit of a shift in the planning world. It is now starting to be desirable to live in the cities, again. And with that comes more of a need (and justification) for public transportation. Bus routes are certainly part of it, but you're starting to see light rail expansions popping up. D. Travis North’s last blog post..When There’s a Will…

By: LisaNewton

LisaNewton — Wed, 27 May 2009 12:58:58 +0000

@Positively Present I lived for many years in and around the DC area. In fact, many years ago, when I first moved there, I was car-free for several years. Back in the day of calling the Metro service to find the various routes. It’s hard not to take advantage of the DC Metro, especially the subway system.

@Urban Panther Yupp, riding the Metro isn’t common here. In fact, the figures I’ve read put the number at around 6%. I’d love to see that number go higher.

@Patricia Many cities are now playing catch-up as to the best mass transit routes to put together. A system between Seattle and Portland sounds like a great idea. And you’re right, small is a fantastic start………..:)

By: Patricia

Patricia — Wed, 27 May 2009 00:51:13 +0000

We have car sharing which I wished we did, but I kind of do that because the office car is parked in our garage and I can use it when no one has signed it out or for hauling bicycles and gear. We have great transit, which I use when I can not just walk there - small is good. I wish we would get better rail across our state, and to and from Seattle and Portland...what to do with the car once you get there? Great post. I would go and do more if I could get to the centers easier - I do adore my public library! Patricia’s last blog post..Hesitation

By: Urban Panther

Urban Panther — Tue, 26 May 2009 23:54:41 +0000

I take it riding the bus is not a way of life out there? Most of us commute to and from work using public transit. And quite a number of people who who live right downtown don't bother owning a car. If they need one to leave the city, they simply rent one. Urban Panther’s last blog post..Embarrassed by my fellow females

By: Positively Present

Positively Present — Tue, 26 May 2009 15:19:27 +0000

Great list! I live right next to a Metro station in DC and I really should use it more often. Thanks for posting this! Positively Present’s last blog post..it's a bella life

By: LisaNewton

LisaNewton — Tue, 26 May 2009 14:59:22 +0000

@D. Travis North The train in LA is good, too, but there isn’t any stop close by me. I have to take a bus to get to the train. But, one of the freedoms I love is the idea that I don’t have to look for parking, which in many locations here, is a premium, or expensive. I hate coming back to a meter only to discover I’m 5 minues late and have a ticket sitting on my windshield.

By: D. Travis North

D. Travis North — Tue, 26 May 2009 02:38:44 +0000

My favorite reason is somewhat similar to #7. I like the idea of not having to get back to the same point in the city just to go home. For example...I'll do a day-trip into the city, do my thing, but I like to wander. Well, I can pick up the train at any number of stations and still get home okay. Philly's trains are awesome. But the bus system really isn't that great - at least not compared to other cities. D. Travis North’s last blog post..SP@Flickr: Sand and Rock by Lisa Newton

By: LisaNewton

LisaNewton — Tue, 26 May 2009 02:09:23 +0000

@Henie LOL………….Yes, I like the “doing” part. Plus, I really get a chance to see LA. If you’re not drivin’, you’re lookin’.

@Paisley The more the merrier………..:)

@Sarah I hope so, too. If people actually see someone using it, they might be more inclined to do it themselves.

@Diane C. Yupp, and I enjoy everyone of those reasons.

@David Nope, it doesn’t. I really hope more people start to use it. Plus, Metro provides 2 bike racks on all of their buses. With the combination of a bike and Metro, it only gets better.

By: David

David — Tue, 26 May 2009 01:41:17 +0000

You’re right, choosing between sitting in traffic opposed to enjoying the fresh air and being able to do something constructive to get to where you want to go doesn’t take much brain power. Does it?

By: Diane C.

Diane C. — Tue, 26 May 2009 01:33:42 +0000

I think it's great that you're setting and example and raising awareness that "it’s just easier and more fun" to use mass transit. As you pointed out there are so many reasons to use it. Diane C.’s last blog post..Cactus Monday - More Bloomin' Saguaros

By: Sarah

Sarah — Tue, 26 May 2009 00:33:03 +0000

Love it! I went to a workshop for work a few days ago, and they mentioned aspects of communities that people want to live in– one was transit. The speaker made sure to mention that people like living in an area that has transit, but eh, most won’t use it, they just like the idea of transit. Hopefully this list will get some folks out of their cars!!

By: Paisley (Paisley Thoughts)

Paisley (Paisley Thoughts) — Mon, 25 May 2009 19:25:36 +0000

I'm inspired to do some bus riding myself. Great post and great list. Paisley (Paisley Thoughts)’s last blog post..My 'Salad Days'

By: Henie

Henie — Mon, 25 May 2009 16:54:36 +0000

Awesome suggestions, Lisa! I admire you for utilizing this! Imagine the possibilities...hmmm, it's *doing* the possibilities in this case! :~) Henie’s last blog post..Memorial Day