Originally Posted by
tandempower
What other ways might transit-demand be stimulated?
Years ago, Union City New Jersey had a horrible situation with regards to public transit. It is one of the most concentrated cities in New Jersey yet bus service during the weekend was once per hour! The city then allowed the Mexican Jitney vans to provide service and now you can catch one every 10 - 15 minutes.
If the city does not want to spend money to subsidize professional bus service, then Mexican jitney vans should be allowed to compete for passengers. Once you have these vans in service, more people will want and vote for public transit. Getting people used to transit, even it's a dirty jitney van will enforce new carfree behaviors.
I've seen this first hand with lightrail.