Why the SMART Bus System is the Worst in America [[After DDOT)

[Detroitnerd]

I would prefer not to blame underserved prospective transit riders for the poor transit service we have. SEMCOG is undemocratic, MDOT is essentially a road-building organization, and suburban and outstate leaders are running this show. The Michigan constitution has long posed a barrier to collecting revenues for transit.

We don't need to worry about growing ridership in the city. The demand is there along several thoroughfares. All we need to do is upgrade to a mode that carries more riders more efficiently than buses.

The real problem is that the leadership of the state of Michigan is composed of people who believe that success is a large house on a large tract of land in a remote community where you must drive everywhere for everything. They associate cities [[at least majority-minority cities) with failure, and believe a anybody living there is a failure. Transit, in their minds, is a way to provide a way for losers who can't afford a car to get around.

People who love cities and real rapid transit: Leave. Just go. As fast as your little legs will carry you. Go someplace that values cities and transit. For the foreseeable future, the region will simply get transit boondoggle after boondoggle. If you stay, you'll never get what you want, and you'll be blamed for not getting it too.

[esp1986]

We don't need to worry about growing ridership in the city. The demand is there along several thoroughfares. All we need to do is upgrade to a mode that carries more riders more efficiently than buses.

That's just it. There is demand, albeit only on a couple thoroughfares. But, that's where we need to start. That is what will help development spider out. It won't spider out without public spending to help…