| 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.
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.
A Daily Commute to Work
I was using a local county bus system to get to and from muy last job 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
about 6 AM, but it could be there earlier. It's best to allow a few minutes at least, just
in case, 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. I use a prepaid pass, which costs $55 per
month. If I were to pay 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 then be definately late for work. If
late for work a few times I would probably lose my job.
6:25 AM: Getting off the second bus near work, which is a couple blocks away.
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 when 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.
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. This involves the time it takes to
cross busy streets twice.
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 an hour wait until the next one.
3:25 PM: Getting off the bus about a block from the next bus stop, plus having to
cross a busy streets. If I get there in time I may be able to board quickly. If not, I'll
have to wait for another.
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 what usually occur 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 for me, 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. 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 muy last job 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
about 6 AM, but it could be there earlier. It's best to allow a few minutes at least, just
in case, 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. I use a prepaid pass, which costs $55 per
month. If I were to pay 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 then be definately late for work. If
late for work a few times I would probably lose my job.
6:25 AM: Getting off the second bus near work, which is a couple blocks away.
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 when 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.
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. This involves the time it takes to
cross busy streets twice.
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 an hour wait until the next one.
3:25 PM: Getting off the bus about a block from the next bus stop, plus having to
cross a busy streets. If I get there in time I may be able to board quickly. If not, I'll
have to wait for another.
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 what usually occur 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 for me, 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. 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.
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.
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
public transportation system? Have you given up on
trying because of problems with the system?
email me at: clyde@homelessamerican.com
| homelessamerican.com |
Late in the evening at a bus station. How many
people would want to wait out here alone?
people would want to wait out here alone?