Is This Whatever Trend To Piece Of Occupation A Transit System? Yous Bet!
Monday, October 6, 2003
Not many cities induce got books written virtually their transit organization too its touching on on the urban environment. But Boston does. In the mass Street Car Suburbs, The Process of Growth inwards Boston, Sam Bass Warner explained how the metropolis of Boston grew too prospered betwixt 1870 too 1900 from the interaction betwixt increment of the transit system, creation of novel neighborhoods, too expansion of the city.
So, you'd intend that the elected leaders of Massachusetts would induce got a sense of the importance of a properly running--and constantly growing--transist organization too their hopes too desires for Boston to rest a basis bird city. But that realization seems sorely lacking, too the portion oft devolves into arguments over routes too fares, "reform," too the like.
Riders of the organization endure from what powerfulness last termed "a readiness to last injured." I don't hateful physically injured. I hateful a depressed, resentful expectation that service lineament volition last inconsistent at best too piece of cake deteriorating at worst.
As I've traveled to other basis bird cities, I run into a unlike mental attitude too a unlike laid upward of expectations. Transit is a primal determinant of increment too a pleasant urban environment. Service quality, inwards the shape of polite too friendly drivers too other workers, is the norm.
Here's a uncomplicated illustration from Melbourne, Australia, where I am living for a few months. One of the tram lines was virtually to sense an upgrade of tracks too construction of a novel handicapped accessible platform stop. No endeavor was spared inwards informing the riding world that service would last disrupted on this line, amongst buses running every bit substitutes. Among other things, these hanger cards were hung throughout all the vehicles for several days earlier the disruptions. "Please induce got me," noted the cards on the obverse. On the back, a succinct too clear explanation of the province of affairs too the transit alternatives available was presented.
And how good did it work? Like a charm. On each 24-hour interval service was disrupted too passengers were to disembark the tram too ride a bus, they were greeted yesteryear friendly staff members too shown where to walk, virtually 100 meters downward the street. To brand certain yous wouldn't teach lost en route, the sidewalks had these adhesive signs.
At the omnibus stop, at that spot was to a greater extent than clear signage and, again, helpful too friendly people were at that spot to indicate the way.
I compare this to days on which my local transit trouble inwards Boston is out of service too replacement buses are seat inwards place. That province of affairs is oft characterized yesteryear pitiful signage too sour staff members (if any). Your chore every bit a rider is to figure out what is going on too how to teach to work.
I want at that spot were a agency to persuade Massachusetts politicians that splendid transit service lineament is non solely possible, simply essential to the hereafter prosperity of the upper-case missive of the alphabet city. I want at that spot were a agency to assistance earth empathise that resentment too depression are non normal emotional responses to using a transit system. Instead, I run into our fair "city upon a hill" falling behind inwards this essential infrastructure too e'er too hence piece of cake sinking from its natural house amidst the firmament of basis bird cities.
So, you'd intend that the elected leaders of Massachusetts would induce got a sense of the importance of a properly running--and constantly growing--transist organization too their hopes too desires for Boston to rest a basis bird city. But that realization seems sorely lacking, too the portion oft devolves into arguments over routes too fares, "reform," too the like.
Riders of the organization endure from what powerfulness last termed "a readiness to last injured." I don't hateful physically injured. I hateful a depressed, resentful expectation that service lineament volition last inconsistent at best too piece of cake deteriorating at worst.
As I've traveled to other basis bird cities, I run into a unlike mental attitude too a unlike laid upward of expectations. Transit is a primal determinant of increment too a pleasant urban environment. Service quality, inwards the shape of polite too friendly drivers too other workers, is the norm.
And how good did it work? Like a charm. On each 24-hour interval service was disrupted too passengers were to disembark the tram too ride a bus, they were greeted yesteryear friendly staff members too shown where to walk, virtually 100 meters downward the street. To brand certain yous wouldn't teach lost en route, the sidewalks had these adhesive signs.
At the omnibus stop, at that spot was to a greater extent than clear signage and, again, helpful too friendly people were at that spot to indicate the way.
I compare this to days on which my local transit trouble inwards Boston is out of service too replacement buses are seat inwards place. That province of affairs is oft characterized yesteryear pitiful signage too sour staff members (if any). Your chore every bit a rider is to figure out what is going on too how to teach to work.
I want at that spot were a agency to persuade Massachusetts politicians that splendid transit service lineament is non solely possible, simply essential to the hereafter prosperity of the upper-case missive of the alphabet city. I want at that spot were a agency to assistance earth empathise that resentment too depression are non normal emotional responses to using a transit system. Instead, I run into our fair "city upon a hill" falling behind inwards this essential infrastructure too e'er too hence piece of cake sinking from its natural house amidst the firmament of basis bird cities.