I've only used the bus a couple of times in my 20+ years here. Mainly, because anyplace I'd take the bus to is just as fast to walk, by the time I wait for it. I don't hate the idea of the bus at all, I just hate wiating for it.
I've only used the bus a couple of times in my 20+ years here. Mainly, because anyplace I'd take the bus to is just as fast to walk, by the time I wait for it. I don't hate the idea of the bus at all, I just hate wiating for it.
The last time I apologized for using a car to get to an appointment a block away was a few months ago. My beloved rescue dog, Mabeiline, refused to walk to the grooomer's place. She went 1/3 of the way and refused to go futher. She is such a Queen, she must be ferried about in vehicles. I had to tell her new dad not to expect much walking out of Mabeline.
Here in the greater Boston area, there's not as much of a stigma attached to using public transportation. If you live outside the city, driving during rush hour is a nightmare. Parking in the city runs about $30 a day, unless your job provides parking for you--but that's usually restricted to the higher ups in the company. Rush hour starts at 6 am and ends around 9:30. In the evening, rush hour is well established by 3:30 pm. Taking the "T" is a sanity saver.
There are a lot of renters in the Boston area, more so than in most of the country. If your apartment is near a bus stop, your rent goes up. If your apartment is near a subway station, the rent goes up even more. The closer you are to public transport, the higher your rent. It's cheaper to live a mile away from a bus stop than half a mile, and more expensive to live within a block of a stop.
But I do think there is a hierarchy of public transportation, even here, where past govererners have taken the T to the State House every day. At the top is the Commuter Rail, a light train system that extends far out into neighboring cities and towns. Most people drive to Commuter Rail stations and pay to park in their huge lots. (Although I have two brothers who walk to their closest stations every day, either a mile or a half mile.) They take the train and either walk from their destination or take the subway.
Then there's the subway/above ground trolley. It's been expanded to reach for several miles north and south of Boston proper. The end stations have large parking lots or garages. There's one about a mile from my house. Those who don't want to pay the $7 a day parking fee drive into my neighborhood and clog the streets with their parked cars.
A large proportion of Commuter Rail and subway riders may have cars. They are just choosing to ride the T because it is easier or cheaper or faster. But when you get down to the lowest level of public transport, the humble bus, there's a tiny bit of snobbery. Most people will walk to a subway stop if it's at all possible, rather than take the bus, at least amongst my acquaintances. It's usually not that far, the bus adds an extra $1.50 to your fare sometimes (there are places where transferring from the subway to a bus is free), and the buses are slow, especially in rush hour traffic.
Perhaps it's because this is a city, and parking and driving are a hassle, but everyone pretty much walks anywhere they can. Why give up a good parking space, that you circled the block 4 times to get, to drive a mile and have to struggle to find another parking space? I'm lucky that my apartment came with a parking space. In Boston proper, apartments either don't have parking, or you pay extra every month to rent a parking space. If you don't have parking, you can either hunt on the street (most neighborhoods have resident permit parking) or you can rent a space in a garage by the month. Or you can buy a space in a parking garage, starting around $30,000. There are parking spaces for sale at prices up to $200,000, but I think those are in fully staffed garages where you can get mechanic services, or they are really, really, really convenient located.
Frankly, in a large city with good public transport, a car can be more of a liability than an asset. But most of the US isn't designed that way.
I wish I could take the bus. The transit system here is more of a glorified taxi service. I live 3miles from work so I bike when I can.
But I agree, the bus is equated with the poor. Fortunately for me, my mother grew up in NYC so bus taking in our upstate NY city was just what one did.
Formerly known as Blithe Morning II
There are a lot of situations where mass transit plainly stinks. I refused to sell my car in my last city because of all the ubiquitous creepy drunks on every bus. The people allergic to any form of soap, the hustlers and aggressive types. Who would want to subject themselves to that voluntarily? That, and all the interminable waiting times. I always felt that anyone using the bus system did so for lack of other options. Being unable to drive for whatever reason isn't something to be ashamed of, but it isn't a badge of honor either.
Here in my new city the mass transit is a completely different game. The buses are clean, the people using them are clean, they run on time, the drivers are courteous. In a very different political climate a lot of people are proud of not owning cars, and it's a much smaller square mileage so it's easier to get around without one. Yesterday I was able to crate my cat and bus her to the vet without raising an eyebrow anywhere in the process - I would never have been able to do that in my last city. That says a lot right there. So I guess it has a lot to do with the quality of the mass transit where one is.
For a more direct answer to the OP, I don't think not-bus-riding is a question of shame or a sense of inadequacy. Rather, there are many situations for which mass transit simply isn't an option.
At least in my neck of the woods people in general seem to be more proud of the fact that they can walk or take the bus, rather than shameful. It takes a big chunk out of the hassle of traffic and parking.
Last edited by Rogar; 1-27-11 at 11:54pm.
Public transport is not viewed in the same way in most European countries as written about here!
In the main, our buses run a fast, well-run service, with frequent buses, too. I tend to only use a car when doing a large supermarket run, or somewhere that has no direct route by train or bus.
I lived in London for a few years, and the tube and buses, whilst overcrowded, were a great boon - the tube being much faster than buses or cabs.
Mind you, when London underground union leaders call a strike, it makes for absolute mayhem!
As Ishbel says, public transport is viewed differently in North America than it is here in Europe.
Living where I do, it's just assumed that someone walks or takes public transport to get from A to B. Driving comes third. I only know a handful of people who are licensed to drive. Hooray for cities and towns that were built before the advent of cars
Where I am, it is often associated with poverty, as well, at least if you are riding the slow buses and buses outside the city core. If you ride an express bus (which doesn't cost any more, but only goes from parking areas to a few main areas) downtown then catch a local bus in the city core then it is viewed differently. Then, people bill themselves as eco-friendly or as wanting to get some extra work done during their commute.
I think that another reason many people don't want to ride the bus is because they want to shop. It is not easy to transport purchases home on the bus. It is also difficult to take large purchases --such as big bags of dog food -- home on the bus in the U.S. They don't like for you to have a suitcase, even, in most city bus routes. A backpack that you can hold on your lap or put between your legs is fine. Anything bigger and you run into problems on a lot of city buses.
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