DDOT / SMART look to streamline fare aystem

[Meddle]

^^ I could also hop in my car at whatever times I wanted to beat traffic and run down to the US Courthouse for my day. Sometimes I was there not long after 6AM. Other times it was later.

Then if I wanted to take off after work and go to Fairlane or wherever else, I could without having to wait for a bus to go home, then get my car and go shopping. Or if I wanted to take off early for some reason, I could do that without having to wait for a bus.

[dtowncitylover]

^^ I could also hop in my car at whatever times I wanted to beat traffic and run down to the US Courthouse for my day. Sometimes I was there not long after 6AM. Other times it was later.

Then if I wanted to take off after work and go to Fairlane or wherever else, I could without having to wait for a bus to go home, then get my car and go shopping. Or if I wanted to take off early for some reason, I could do that without having to wait for a bus.

Yes, and when you live in a real city you can mostly do all of this by walking or taking public transit.

[professorscott]

Yes, and when you live in a real city you can mostly do all of this by walking or taking public transit.

Yes, it's very lovely that all of these people [[1) have a car, [[2) have a license, [[3) are physically able to drive and so forth, and can get by wonderfully without any other means. Hoback and I studied, years ago, that people whose trips include public transit are healthier; we didn't drag out the "why" of it [[unlike these correpondents, we are driven by data and not anecdotes) but it occurred to use one hugely likely reason is that people who take buses and trains, by the very nature of their trips, end up walking a good bit more than people who are able to, and choose to, drive their cars all over the place.

It is wonderful that DDOT and SMART have both made significant service improvements and that they are working toward an easier-to-use joint-fare system. As for the others, illegitimatus non carborundum [[faux Latin for "don't let the bastards grind you down").

[Meddle]

Hoback and I studied, years ago, that people whose trips include public transit are healthier; we didn't drag out the "why" of it [[unlike these correpondents, we are driven by data and not anecdotes) but it occurred to use one hugely likely reason is that people who take buses and trains, by the very nature of their trips, end up walking a good bit more ...

I walk plenty now. I walked plenty then, in part by parking away from the doors at mall and stores, then walking through the mall/store and back, as well as walk mowing my lawn weekly. Something downtown dwellers know nothing of --- grass ... green stuff that usually smells good.

And I wasn't sitting in an enclosed tube with dozens of people who had who knows what in the way of illnesses.

[professorscott]

I walk plenty now. I walked plenty then, in part by parking away from the doors at mall and stores, then walking through the mall/store and back... And I wasn't sitting in an enclosed tube with dozens of people who had who knows what in the way of illnesses.

You understand that the corridor of a mall is an enclosed tube with hundreds of people who have who knows what in the way of illnesses, right?

Also, I applaud your parking behavior, but yours is not typical. I can't count how many times I've seen people driving around shopping center lots in circles so that they can find the closest possible parking spot, many choosing to park illegally. This is especially ironic when they are going to the gym to work out. Meanwhile, those of us like Jjaba [[back in the day) and myself, the Dexter bus drops us off wherever it happens to drop us off, and from there we walk to wherever we're trying to get to, and it comes pretty frequently and is very convenient, and I do not recall one time, in all those decades, contracting an illness that was likely attributable to a fellow passenger.

[Honky Tonk]

Also, I applaud your parking behavior, but yours is not typical. I can't count how many times I've seen people driving around shopping center lots in circles so that they can find the closest possible parking spot, many choosing to park illegally.

[[unlike these correpondents, we are driven by data and not anecdotes)

Sounds like one of those anecdotal posts you were reffering to earlier, Scott.

[professorscott]

[[unlike these correpondents, we are driven by data and not anecdotes)

Sounds like one of those anecdotal posts you were reffering to earlier, Scott.

Touche.

I haven't studied parking lot behavior, but I've been around enough parking lots over time to form a reasonable hypothesis, which is that nearly everybody tries to find the closest possible spot to their entry point to a building in such a situation, and that a good many people are willing to do a bit of extra driving for the purpose. If you want to see this in action, given the time of year, watch the students driving around the parking lot of your local college or university in the first couple weeks of classes.

If somebody wants to do a study, I'll be happy to assist :0

[Towne Cluber]

Yes, it's very lovely that all of these people [[1) have a car, [[2) have a license, [[3) are physically able to drive and so forth, and can get by wonderfully without any other means. Hoback and I studied, years ago, that people whose trips include public transit are healthier; we didn't drag out the "why" of it [[unlike these correpondents, we are driven by data and not anecdotes) but it occurred to use one hugely likely reason is that people who take buses and trains, by the very nature of their trips, end up walking a good bit more than people who are able to, and choose to, drive their cars all over the place.

When was this study and was it local or national?

[professorscott]

When was this study and was it local or national?

I was afraid someone would ask me to remember such details

The study was quite a few years ago, maybe 2005 or 2006. We focused on the city of Detroit specifically, and how far someone walks when they ride the buses. I seem to recall we did have access to some national-level data, but mostly it was a study of the local phenomenon.

[archfan]

I was afraid someone would ask me to remember such details

The study was quite a few years ago, maybe 2005 or 2006. We focused on the city of Detroit specifically, and how far someone walks when they ride the buses. I seem to recall we did have access to some national-level data, but mostly it was a study of the local phenomenon.

Was it "True Walking Distance To Transit"?

[professorscott]

Was it "True Walking Distance To Transit"?

Yep, thanks for finding that.

[Danny]

Good for them. Taking several busses crosstown and back from work or other errands, cost a lot. Just regionalize SMART and D-DOT and smooth sailing and rapid.