| Public Transportation and Commuting to Work |
Many people depend entirely on public transportation to commute to and from their
employment. While many public transportation companies or communities portray
their system as great to use, it's often hardly so easy or enjoyable. The local system
where I live has used the sales slogan "Just get on the bus and you're there!". It
makes me wonder if any of the management or advertising staff ever rode on a city
bus before.
employment. While many public transportation companies or communities portray
their system as great to use, it's often hardly so easy or enjoyable. The local system
where I live has used the sales slogan "Just get on the bus and you're there!". It
makes me wonder if any of the management or advertising staff ever rode on a city
bus before.
A Daily Commute to Work
I was using a local county bus system to get to and from work every day. They required
that I be there and clocked in by 7AM. To give you some idea of what it's like, here is a
description of my daily trip.
5:40 AM: I'm leaving the house for the bus stop.
5:50 AM: Arriving at the bus stop. The schedule suggests that the bus will be there at six
AM, but it could be there earlier as drivers don't always stick to the schedule. It's also
important to make sure the driver sees you on a dark street.
6 AM: Boarding the first bus toward work, using a prepaid pass, which costs $55 per
month. If I paid daily, at $4.00, it would cost about $86 per month.
6:05 AM: Getting off the bus near the intersection where I will transfer to a second bus,
and walking about a block to that bus stop.
6:15 AM: Boarding the second bus. I had about 10 minutes to get to the bus stop. If the
first bus was late by 10 minutes for any reason, I would likely miss the second bus. There
isn't another bus for one hour, and I would be definately late for work. If late for work a few
times I would lose my job.
6:25 AM: Getting off the second bus and walking a couple blocks to work.
I'm exceptionally fortunate to be able to make such connections and use the bus system.
Some people have to walk over a mile to find a bus stop, and some need to change buses
a couple times. Many people can't use the bus system, such as when it doesn't pass by
their employers until sometime after they have to be at work, or doesn't come within even
a couple miles of the job. Typically, manufacturing businesses expect employees to start
at 7AM, if not much earlier, and the buses here don't start until 6AM.
It would be impossible for me to get to many jobs by 7AM with the current bus system, and
I have had to turn down many jobs just for that reason. Some employers have flexible
hours which makes for more commuting possibilities, but that's not typical.
3:10 PM: Leaving work and heading to a bus stop.
3:20 PM: Boarding the first bus home, if I get to the stop in time. It could be there
anywhere from 3:15 to 3:30. Sometimes I just get there just in time to see it pass by, and
then it's a one hour wait until the next one.
3:25 PM: Getting off the bus about a block from the next bus stop. If I can get there
quickly enough, crossing busy streets twice, I get there in time board quickly. If not, I'll
have to wait for another bus.
3:35 PM: Boarding the second bus.
3:45 PM: Getting off the bus and walking home.
3:55 PM: Back home.
The above times are if the buses are running near schedule and don't break down (and
breakdowns are common). Sometimes it takes an extra half an hour to get home. One day
it took me two hours. The morning ride is the most important since if I'm late for work
frequently I'll lose my job. If I'm expected to work on the weekend I may have to pay for a
cab to save my job (even if the fare costs me half a day's wages), as the buses don't start
as early on weekends. Some routes don't run on the weekend at all, and second shift
work is out of the question.
Many more people today use local public transportation, expecially with the current
economic situation. Even with increased use, some bus systems (like the one I use) are
actually cutting back on service while raising rates. If more of the tax-paying public were
fully aware of the condition of the present transportation systems perhaps there would be
more incentives for public officials to make sensible and practical improvements.
I was using a local county bus system to get to and from work every day. They required
that I be there and clocked in by 7AM. To give you some idea of what it's like, here is a
description of my daily trip.
5:40 AM: I'm leaving the house for the bus stop.
5:50 AM: Arriving at the bus stop. The schedule suggests that the bus will be there at six
AM, but it could be there earlier as drivers don't always stick to the schedule. It's also
important to make sure the driver sees you on a dark street.
6 AM: Boarding the first bus toward work, using a prepaid pass, which costs $55 per
month. If I paid daily, at $4.00, it would cost about $86 per month.
6:05 AM: Getting off the bus near the intersection where I will transfer to a second bus,
and walking about a block to that bus stop.
6:15 AM: Boarding the second bus. I had about 10 minutes to get to the bus stop. If the
first bus was late by 10 minutes for any reason, I would likely miss the second bus. There
isn't another bus for one hour, and I would be definately late for work. If late for work a few
times I would lose my job.
6:25 AM: Getting off the second bus and walking a couple blocks to work.
I'm exceptionally fortunate to be able to make such connections and use the bus system.
Some people have to walk over a mile to find a bus stop, and some need to change buses
a couple times. Many people can't use the bus system, such as when it doesn't pass by
their employers until sometime after they have to be at work, or doesn't come within even
a couple miles of the job. Typically, manufacturing businesses expect employees to start
at 7AM, if not much earlier, and the buses here don't start until 6AM.
It would be impossible for me to get to many jobs by 7AM with the current bus system, and
I have had to turn down many jobs just for that reason. Some employers have flexible
hours which makes for more commuting possibilities, but that's not typical.
3:10 PM: Leaving work and heading to a bus stop.
3:20 PM: Boarding the first bus home, if I get to the stop in time. It could be there
anywhere from 3:15 to 3:30. Sometimes I just get there just in time to see it pass by, and
then it's a one hour wait until the next one.
3:25 PM: Getting off the bus about a block from the next bus stop. If I can get there
quickly enough, crossing busy streets twice, I get there in time board quickly. If not, I'll
have to wait for another bus.
3:35 PM: Boarding the second bus.
3:45 PM: Getting off the bus and walking home.
3:55 PM: Back home.
The above times are if the buses are running near schedule and don't break down (and
breakdowns are common). Sometimes it takes an extra half an hour to get home. One day
it took me two hours. The morning ride is the most important since if I'm late for work
frequently I'll lose my job. If I'm expected to work on the weekend I may have to pay for a
cab to save my job (even if the fare costs me half a day's wages), as the buses don't start
as early on weekends. Some routes don't run on the weekend at all, and second shift
work is out of the question.
Many more people today use local public transportation, expecially with the current
economic situation. Even with increased use, some bus systems (like the one I use) are
actually cutting back on service while raising rates. If more of the tax-paying public were
fully aware of the condition of the present transportation systems perhaps there would be
more incentives for public officials to make sensible and practical improvements.
Some cities have fairly good bus systems, with buses every fifteen minutes to half an hour,
and running until 10PM. Of course, most of the country doesn't have any public
transportation available at all.
There is talk about creating a high speed rail system in the area where I live, with a cost in
the billions of dollars, but at present they are actually cutting back on the bus systems
instead of making it more practical for those who depend on it.
and running until 10PM. Of course, most of the country doesn't have any public
transportation available at all.
There is talk about creating a high speed rail system in the area where I live, with a cost in
the billions of dollars, but at present they are actually cutting back on the bus systems
instead of making it more practical for those who depend on it.
Have you ever waited for an hour or more for a bus out
in the rain? If it's your only option for getting there you
will have to.
in the rain? If it's your only option for getting there you
will have to.
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Comments or suggestions? Do you depend on a public
transportation system? Have you given up on trying
because of problems with the system?
email me at: clyde@homelessamerican.com
transportation system? Have you given up on trying
because of problems with the system?
email me at: clyde@homelessamerican.com
Late in the evening at an urban bus station. How
many people would want to wait out here alone?
many people would want to wait out here alone?
| homelessamerican.com |
| homelessamerican.com |