Commuting - Philadelphia Bus Strike.

I empathyze with the SEPTA workers and their claims, and the right to get the best deal possible on their benefits. Kudos to them for not being sheepish, and a sincere condolences to the public that have to use their services ...

Now the skinny ...

The City - or SEPTA employers - is recommending to commute by bicycle.Even valet parking for bicycles will be provided and a free safety inspection.

That is all fine and dandy ... now the greater question.

Why!? in heavens name they had to wait till the SEPTA workers striked in order to have such ammenities for cyclocommuters? What now, cyclocommuters will be percieved as scabs? Are their safety garanteed against legitimatelly angry strikers?

On the other hand, if the strike is long enough it might provide a golden opportunity for employees and employers to finally have a discussion regarding cyclocommuting, locking facilities, and showers.

Yep ... althogh I do not live in the city - I used to live in a bigger one - what an a opportunity to lock out private cars from transiting through downtown, leaving the streets for deliveries, cabs,buses, pedestrians, and bicycles.

It has been done before in other cities with some success ...

yup, i work right in center city....

as one of the other commuters pulled up today she pointed at a fenced off square of barriers they just put up. "i bet those are for bikes" she says.....

NO WAY, the building has never done ***** for bikers. but we asked security and thats what it was.

in the elevator we joked that if the strike lasted a couple weeks maybe some new people would see the light and start riding bikes even after septa resumed service, but than came to our senses.... it will be a big dog and pony show until the day septa starts again and then it will be like nothing ever happened.

it'll be fun to see what happens monday regardless.

i feel for the workers too, a 20% increase in out of pocket medical expenses... f#ck that!

i feel for the workers, and i think that despite the encouraging more cylcecommuting most will ignore the prospect, what really sucks is that each time a bus company stikes(and they do have the right to strike, i support them) more people who walked the line between riding the bus and getting a car are pushed over the line, this does mean a lose of business for septa so they usually try to wrap things up quickley, it seems like they never can just give a decent contract(i know i don't understand the economics of it) but they always seem to strike, it's a shame

septa probably wont even go on strike.

For all practical purpose, it is a 9,000$ pay cut.

(i know i don't understand the economics of it)

Unlike in private business, economic effects on government agencies are very indirect.

Losing riders has some effect on public transit decision makers, but not that much. Much of the funding for the agencies comes from the government, not riders, because rider fares would never cover costs at current prices. And if the SEPTA budget doesn't balance, the leadership can say it was beyond their control.