WLRN Public Media’s Post

Can we have an honest conversation about the @SunRunner in St. Pete? When hard numbers aren’t released to support the results of studies, it raises obvious questions and creates distrust. For those traveling on 1st Avenue North and South, you undoubtably know commute times are slower. Telling the community times have “hardly changed” is simply not true and unbelievable. But, there are trade offs to examine. Elimination of the 3rd lane results in the inability to pass slower drivers that obviously (and noticeably) increase commute times; however, it also reduced people’s ability to “speed at 10 or 15 miles over the speed limit”. The benefit? - Forward Pinellas shows that “[accidents] declined from more than 800 in the earlier period to fewer than 600 in the latter, with fatal collisions dropping from six to three”. And no one is trying to strategically and “massively” eliminate our lanes. St. Pete is built out, so common sense should tell you if you create a new bus lane or bike lane, you must convert an existing lane. We need to get people from downtown to the beaches, and vice versa. We also desperately need service workers in both locations and they can’t afford to live in either one and parking is expensive, so mass transit can play a key role. Eliminating the free fare has also largely elimated homeless riders. Public transportation never pays for itself (like roads) but it’s a public service — like getting our workers to their jobs to service jobs which we need 4 for every higher paying job that’s created. There should be some fee for this service that is paid by the rider. Just be honest. It’s slowed commute times, but there have been benefits. The conversation should be about the value of the trade offs which is difficult because there are subjective values to be debated but actual “facts” would certainly help have an honest conversation. #stpete #stpetersburg #tampabay #transportation https://lnkd.in/eyxe_q-Q.

US intercity bus operator, Greyhound Lines, Inc., is shutting down some of its bus stations due to high operating cost, lack of govt support and real estate buy outs. Just as urban city bus sevices, intercity bus operations were not spared from the impact of Covid-19 pandemic. However, the difference is that whilst urban bus services enjoyed govt financial support, intercity bus services did not. And when you consider that 75% of intercity bus passengers earn less than $40,000 a year, then it’s safe to conclude that intercity buses also do have a role to play in facilitating social mobility. This situation is however not unique to the US. In many countries around the world, intercity bus operation are largely unregulated. In some developing countries for example, any man and his dog can just buy a vehicle and start ferrying pax across different cities without regard for basic safety rules. This lack of regulation has also encouraged exploitation of passengers, and predatory practices. In developed cities, the challenge is that intercity buses are often viewed as providing ‘luxury’ service as air travel, which is clearly not the case if the stats from the US are anything to go by. In fact, aviation experts will tell you that air travel is no more a ‘luxury’. The challenge going forward will be how to make a compelling case for govt support in intercity bus travel. And when we talk of support, it doesn’t always have to be about funding. It could something as simple as govt providing infrastructure( station, terminals, etc) for operators. #publictransport #Intercitybusoperations

"Bradford’s #accessibility advisory committee wants to keep the motor running on plans to improve #mobility options within the town. Based on a recommendation from the committee, council approved going to public procurement for #accessible taxi services in town, during its April 2 meeting. "'That includes offering two contracts that 'will not only increase the availability of #wheelchair-accessible taxicab services to residents, but will also assist in creating an awareness of accessible transit services offered within the town,' says a report by Valerie Vicary, committee coordinator and recently appointed deputy clerk. "Ward 7 Coun. Peter Dykie also chairs the committee and was optimistic about the benefits to residents. 'It provides a very important service and now we could have a second one in this municipality which could be very helpful,' he said. "The first contract is to operate the accessible taxi exclusively in Bradford West Gwillimbury for a period of five years, during which time the taxi must be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. "That contract also includes a one-time grant of $38,000 from the committee’s budget to help cover the typical costs of upfitting a minivan to become wheelchair-accessible with a rear entrance #ramp, or to be used toward the cost of purchasing a new van with those features, which costs between $80,000 and $95,000 according to the report. "The contract also includes a partnership with the town to promote the service via the town’s website, news releases and social media." Read more here: https://lnkd.in/evDe3z8d #AccessibilityNews #AccessibilityAwareness #AccessibilityMatters #AccessibilityForAll #AccessibleTransit #AccessibleTaxis #AccessibleTransportation #AccessibleCanada #LevelPlayingField

A staggering 84% of Angelenos believe riding Metro trains is unsafe, according to USC Dornsife LABarometer’s latest survey. Safety, income, and convenience are major factors affecting public transit usage in LA. 🚆 Non-returning riders, who used public transit before the pandemic but haven’t returned, are particularly concerned, with violent crime on buses and trains up by 55% from 2020 to 2023. Financially, stable fares continue to attract low-income riders, while high-income earners are less likely to return. Returning riders used public transit more for daily commutes and errands in 2019, while non-returning riders, most of whom own cars, used it more for occasional trips. Today, the percentage of people relying solely on private vehicles for commuting and leisure activities has risen from 33% in 2019 to 45%. Electric vehicle sales are up, driven by financial incentives rather than climate change concerns. “These non-returning riders will be tough to lure back onto public transit. But improvements in safety and convenience could bring them back,” said sociologist Kyla Thomas.

New York City has implemented a congestion pricing strategy, making traveling by car more expensive. This change aims to reduce traffic while promoting public transportation and eco-friendly travel options. https://lnkd.in/eUAzFtTB #NYC #CongestionPricing #EcoFriendlyTravel #PublicTransportation #FinancialPlanning #RetirementPlanning #USFS #KestraFinancial

Accessible intercity bus terminals in the US are disappearing because the land value of the plots they sit on is such that the operating companies rather sell them to real estate investors than to keep using them for their own operations. Instead they open new out of town, hard to reach locations. Not only is this a social problem since many of those using the bus have to rely on public transport because they cannot afford a car, can't get a driver's license or simply chose to not drive for environmental reasons, it also is an attack on the little bit of environmentally sustainable long distance transport that exists in the United States. How great would it have been to redevelop the plots the old terminals were located at by densifying them and including the bus terminals? It seems to me very short sighted by the operators that this does not happen and instead the quick buck again wins over long term sustainable revenue. It is this short term thinking - the greed- that hinders us from achieving better results - in society, economy and - most importantly: environmentally. When will governments start stopping this? https://lnkd.in/eikAP9XQ #bus #greyhound #publictransport #change

New York City has implemented a congestion pricing strategy, making traveling by car more expensive. This change aims to reduce traffic while promoting public transportation and eco-friendly travel options. https://lnkd.in/enT4gwst #NYC #CongestionPricing #EcoFriendlyTravel #PublicTransportation #FinancialPlanning #RetirementPlanning #USFS #KestraFinancial

New York City has implemented a congestion pricing strategy, making traveling by car more expensive. This change aims to reduce traffic while promoting public transportation and eco-friendly travel options. https://lnkd.in/ezDac6vw #NYC #CongestionPricing #EcoFriendlyTravel #PublicTransportation #FinancialPlanning #RetirementPlanning #USFS #KestraFinancial

New York City has implemented a congestion pricing strategy, making traveling by car more expensive. This change aims to reduce traffic while promoting public transportation and eco-friendly travel options. https://lnkd.in/eCKX3iP7 #NYC #CongestionPricing #EcoFriendlyTravel #PublicTransportation #FinancialPlanning #RetirementPlanning #USFS #KestraFinancial

Like many people in Toronto, I don’t own a car. That means I spend a lot of time on public transit. Torontonians like to complain about our public transit system. I’m no exception. Streetcar diversions or crowded shuttle buses, anyone? Yet the transit system in Toronto is much better than anywhere else I’ve lived, and though there are inconveniences to taking transit, there are inconveniences to car ownership, too. In my latest post, I dive into why I take public transit and some of the environmental and social benefits of taking transit. 🚌 🚇 🚊 https://lnkd.in/eW2y2jD6 Do you take public transit often? Why or why not? #PublicTransit #PublicTransportation #TTC #TorontoTransit #SustainableTransportation #SustainableLifestyle