Originally Posted by
Roody
Our one route with frequent runs is almost always full also, even with the 60 foot accordion buses.
I live on the west side, but I often choose to shop on the east side because that's where the "good bus" goes. The longer trip is worth it because I know I won't wait more than 5 or 10 minutes for a bus when I'm done shopping.
Infrequent service is known to decrease bus riders, total and per bus. Generally, less than two runs per hour is considered a poor level that won't attract voluntary riders. Three or four per hour is MUCH better than two, and people will start choosing buses over cars at that level.
It's a shame when service is cut back to unacceptable levels. It's a true waste of public funds to run an inferior service. The marginal costs for good service are not that great.
Yes but it is also a fact of life for many places. Sometimes the problem is a loss of State funding and sometimes it is a federal problem. But iin all cases buses are at the mercy of the bean counters and the don't have the political clout to fight back. The two examples that are close to me are common for the area. It may be a shame but they are the bottom of the transportation food chain. Even pedestrians have more control of their own fate.
http://www.octa.net/newsstory-bus.aspx?id=1845
http://www.pe.com/local-news/politic...steep-cuts.ece