Bus Users Stand in Middle of Parking Lot
06-26-08, 07:15 PM
#26
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Exactly. But, a lot of the malls are in areas not served by bus. That's especially true with the ones located in the outer suburbs like the Woodlands, Deerbrook in Humble, the mall in the Clear lake area, and Katy Mills. With a few exceptions, the malls inside or near the 610 loop are doing poorly these days.
06-28-08, 10:45 AM
#27
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I see nothing funny. What is the problem with having the bus empty/load out in the parking lot? People park there, and walk into the mall. Why should bus riders be dropped off and picked up right at the door? Everbody else has to walk out into the parking lot/bike rack.
The mall I used to frequent had a very nice area for the buses... they closed it off and the buses had to load/unload out on the (VERY busy) street. They stated that the reason was the number of incidents with people coming off or waiting for the bus... but less than a week after they closed it off they were tearing it up to build a parking lot for a new business.
You have to love logic here in the US: Only undesirables ride the bus, so let's make the bus as inconvenient to use as possible... that way even fewer 'normal' people will ride it, thus reinforcing our decisions.
It's discrimination, pure and simple... and the people that it's hardest on are those that really don't have a choice.
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"There is no greater wonder than the way the face and character of a woman fit so perfectly in a man's mind, and stay there, and he could never tell you why. It just seems it was the thing he most wanted." Robert Louis Stevenson
06-28-08, 11:40 AM
#28
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i've had some success negotiating for transit amenities within retail developmemts. much of the credit should go to the local planning commission for revising zoning/subdivision regs to require coordination with the transit agcy.
06-28-08, 11:56 AM
#29
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it also helps when you can provide market/demographic data to the retail management firm. i often point out that our typical express bus rider is female, in her mid-30s and has a household income > $60,000/yr.
i don't like having to resort to this tactic b/c our service is valued by a much wider demograph. but if it helps to change people's perceptions - and leads to better transit access for all people regardless of income, age, race and gender, then i think i've done my job.
i don't like having to resort to this tactic b/c our service is valued by a much wider demograph. but if it helps to change people's perceptions - and leads to better transit access for all people regardless of income, age, race and gender, then i think i've done my job.
