129. Prop One, Again

You know Prop One: the narrowly defeated proposal to raise sales tax for local bus service, threatening evening and weekend service.  I initially blamed the loss on selfish voters, but I think it's more complicated.  The tri-county bus/light rail/rail system also depends on sales tax revenue but doesn't face a similar financial crisis.  Why?

Granted that the tri-county express routes are more efficient, but probably more telling is an observation from a couple of days ago:  Waiting at the bus stop I watched 4 local buses pass--it's evening rush hour, downtown, the buses heading out for separate residential destinations.  They should be crowded, right?  I counted the number of passengers in each: 4, 16, 7, 6.

Tri-county transit on the other hand, just announced quarterly ridership numbers: up again, around 12% increases in each of its lines, following similar increases the past few years. My morning against-rush hour express bus often is often more than 50% full.

So the problem may be that this county just doesn't get it--the public transit thing. As expressed by one of my co-workers, "only poor people ride the bus."

But they're stingy, too.

128. I believe

Interviewed at the first day demo rides for Utah's new commuter rail, one prospective user said after comparing cost of gas with cost of fare, he'd save only 80 cents, but "switching to the train will save both his car and his nerves more than enough wear and tear to make the difference."

While riding home last week a transit worker asked if I would respond to some questions about transit use including why I commute by light rail/bus/train/bike.  She suggested some possible answers: save money, good for environment, less stress, time alone, etc.  My response?  "I believe in public transit."