Clallam County Transit — More Riders, Reduced Funding
Where do we go from here? Gas prices have finally gotten some motorists to take the bus instead of driving. And they get rewarded with crowded buses and the vague threat of reduced service because of reduced funds.
This is happening all over the country, not just here. In some cities the buses are so full, the driver can't even let anybody else on. Would-be passengers are left standing there until the next bus comes along and hoping there'll be room on that bus.
When more people are using mass transit, we have less fuel consumption (hence less dependence on the Middle East) and a smoother flow of traffic. And cleaner air. It would seem to me that funding for mass transit — whatever it takes — should be a top priority.
I can certainly think of a few local spending projects that are less important. Can you?
This is happening all over the country, not just here. In some cities the buses are so full, the driver can't even let anybody else on. Would-be passengers are left standing there until the next bus comes along and hoping there'll be room on that bus.
When more people are using mass transit, we have less fuel consumption (hence less dependence on the Middle East) and a smoother flow of traffic. And cleaner air. It would seem to me that funding for mass transit — whatever it takes — should be a top priority.
I can certainly think of a few local spending projects that are less important. Can you?
Labels: Clallam County Transit
posted by Tom Harper at 7:01 PM
5 Comments:
Only a quasi-municipal entity could be swamped with customers and still not be able to pay the bills. Only the most foolish of private business owners would find themselves in this dilemma. Maybe CT should go private and raise rates.
Public transit is Socialism at its best, Comrades!
The Peninsula's mindset has never been for mass transit. This is why it's such a weak system, because everyone drives here. Count the pedestrians on the sidewalks, they're practically non-existent. I don't know if people are driving from Gottschalks to Maurices, but it wouldn't surprise me.
So now gas is higher and there's increased ridership. That really doesn't matter for finances in the short term. It takes a long time for increased public funding to cycle through, and it takes awhile for increased revenue from fares to build up enough to add more buses.
I mean, think about. You run a small hole-in-the-wall restaurant. Suddenly it becomes popular and you need to expand. How long would it take you to double the size of your floorspace? People keep coming in, so you need to expand now. Will it be tomorrow? Next week? No, it's going to take a lot longer than that, even in the private sector. And you have to consider that you might not need to expand. There's the chance that people will stop flooding your business in a few months (ie, gas prices go down or, not to mix metaphors, the cook leaves), so should you invest in the expansion?
Myself, I'd love to see a light rail from the Hood Canal bridge to P.T. to Sequim to P.A., but I know the demand isn't there. I'd also love C.T. to run more buses but, again, I know the demand isn't there. For that matter, I'd love it if motorists watch out for pedestrians in crosswalks and bicycles on the road but, yet again, I know the demand isn't there. We're in a car environment and that's all we'll ever be.
get a Segway!
Who wants to ride a bus with the tatooed, pierced, dredlocked stenchies??
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