They also use the subway whose riding -except for rush hour- looks like this:
Thanks to buenosairesperception.blogspot.com for this pic.
A Public Transportation System is not achieved just by purchasing the vehicles, creating the plan and making them run.
People should feel the need to use them, it should become part of their lifestyle. I don't see people changing lifestyle here in Austin any time soon.
And to prove that, let's take a look at what needs change in a lifestyle in order to incorporate the public transportation in daily life.
Can we walk more? Bus stops may be located half a mile or less from home, work, and other destinations.
Can we be more patient? Waiting can seem longer than it is at a bus stop, walking four blocks can seem forever. Time allowance for a ride should be longer too, to include the walking period, the actual riding and more walking after.
Can we eat differently? Drive thru restaurants, pharmacies, flowers? What for? You will not have your car anymore. Maybe you can spare some time cooking at home for the rest of the work week, or store those tasty frozen lunch boxes in the freeze at work. ;) Or maybe you're lucky and your favorite restaurant is across the street and you can eat your favorite hamburger every single day!!!!
Can we stand on a bus or subway all crammed up next to the sometimes smelly others invading our personal space?
Public transportation is primarily that: public! You're pushed, squeezed, rubbed, leaned over, coughed upon, your personal space was left at home. Your first priority is to ride, to get to work or any destination on time. If you wait for the following bus to have more free space, you might get late to your destination.
Can we limit our freedom of movement? You might need to plan better for your day to go well, and do your errands kinetically smoothly.
Can we live without the waiting line in front of our children's school? Yes! I used to hate the traffic jam when I had to go pick my children up from school, so I walked. Of course they hated walking because they did not want to be different from their friends. Would you dare to be different and walk to drop off and pick up your children, or simply send them on the school bus or regular bus line? Would your children dare to ride a bus? Are they afraid of mixing with people who are different, strange, unknown? I'd say everybody need to develop skills to relate to their social environment wherever it happens to be... even in the street, or on the bus.
Can we accept to become vulnerable outside our wheeled bubble? Minutes on end waiting in the weather,
long healthy walks in the open, at the mercy of the elements, bad people who can steal your belongings or just assault you, smog, rain, allergens, dust, wind, heat, cold, street life!
And, most of all, are we willing to give up our status? I ride a nice Acura, bright red with jewels on the hood. People can see how much money I have, what a good job I hold... Now, I will only have my suit , suitcase, shoes and tie to show off.
Oh, well...There is one too many changes people will have to make in order for the public transportation to be effective... even adopted!
People should feel the need to use them, it should become part of their lifestyle. I don't see people changing lifestyle here in Austin any time soon.
And to prove that, let's take a look at what needs change in a lifestyle in order to incorporate the public transportation in daily life.
Can we walk more? Bus stops may be located half a mile or less from home, work, and other destinations.
Can we be more patient? Waiting can seem longer than it is at a bus stop, walking four blocks can seem forever. Time allowance for a ride should be longer too, to include the walking period, the actual riding and more walking after.
Can we eat differently? Drive thru restaurants, pharmacies, flowers? What for? You will not have your car anymore. Maybe you can spare some time cooking at home for the rest of the work week, or store those tasty frozen lunch boxes in the freeze at work. ;) Or maybe you're lucky and your favorite restaurant is across the street and you can eat your favorite hamburger every single day!!!!
Can we stand on a bus or subway all crammed up next to the sometimes smelly others invading our personal space?
Public transportation is primarily that: public! You're pushed, squeezed, rubbed, leaned over, coughed upon, your personal space was left at home. Your first priority is to ride, to get to work or any destination on time. If you wait for the following bus to have more free space, you might get late to your destination.
Can we limit our freedom of movement? You might need to plan better for your day to go well, and do your errands kinetically smoothly.
Can we live without the waiting line in front of our children's school? Yes! I used to hate the traffic jam when I had to go pick my children up from school, so I walked. Of course they hated walking because they did not want to be different from their friends. Would you dare to be different and walk to drop off and pick up your children, or simply send them on the school bus or regular bus line? Would your children dare to ride a bus? Are they afraid of mixing with people who are different, strange, unknown? I'd say everybody need to develop skills to relate to their social environment wherever it happens to be... even in the street, or on the bus.
Can we accept to become vulnerable outside our wheeled bubble? Minutes on end waiting in the weather,
long healthy walks in the open, at the mercy of the elements, bad people who can steal your belongings or just assault you, smog, rain, allergens, dust, wind, heat, cold, street life!
And, most of all, are we willing to give up our status? I ride a nice Acura, bright red with jewels on the hood. People can see how much money I have, what a good job I hold... Now, I will only have my suit , suitcase, shoes and tie to show off.
Oh, well...There is one too many changes people will have to make in order for the public transportation to be effective... even adopted!
