Comments on: Jessica Discusses Ridership and Service Changes http://www.nextstopstl.org/1064/jessica-discusses-ridership-and-service-changes/ A Conversation About Transit Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:21:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Jimmy Z http://www.nextstopstl.org/1064/jessica-discusses-ridership-and-service-changes/comment-page-1/#comment-180 Jimmy Z Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:21:49 +0000 http://www.nextstopstl.org/?p=1064#comment-180 TMI can sometimes be a bad thing. I would expect Metro to look at all their routes the next time around, just like they did this time, should significant cuts be required, again. It just seems like "Temporarily Restored" is setting these routes up for failure, compared to the ones without this stigma. TMI can sometimes be a bad thing. I would expect Metro to look at all their routes the next time around, just like they did this time, should significant cuts be required, again. It just seems like “Temporarily Restored” is setting these routes up for failure, compared to the ones without this stigma.

]]> By: Jennifer http://www.nextstopstl.org/1064/jessica-discusses-ridership-and-service-changes/comment-page-1/#comment-179 Jennifer Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:20:03 +0000 http://www.nextstopstl.org/?p=1064#comment-179 Good points, Jimmy. In part I think this is a "darned if you do, darned if you don't" situation, because if we didn't tell people about the funding expiration on the restored/newly implemented service just to increase ridership, we'd be (rightly) accused of not giving people all the information. We chose to err on the side of giving customers all of the information and letting them decide how to respond. Good points, Jimmy. In part I think this is a “darned if you do, darned if you don’t” situation, because if we didn’t tell people about the funding expiration on the restored/newly implemented service just to increase ridership, we’d be (rightly) accused of not giving people all the information. We chose to err on the side of giving customers all of the information and letting them decide how to respond.

]]> By: Jimmy Z http://www.nextstopstl.org/1064/jessica-discusses-ridership-and-service-changes/comment-page-1/#comment-178 Jimmy Z Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:03:09 +0000 http://www.nextstopstl.org/?p=1064#comment-178 I agree that having an "expiration date" is a real problem. Look at it from a rider's standpoint. First, you leave them high and dry and they have to figure out how to live without Metro. Then, you come back, but only for a few months, and you expect most former riders, and even some new ones, to embrace an ephemeral option. For probably too many, it's probably a case now of "Why bother?" There are five things that drive people to public transit: low cost, predictability, frequency, quick(er) travel compared to driving alone, and/or the cost of parking, and "temporarily restored" does nothing to instill much confidence. I'm assuming this was done to justify asking for a tax increase, but I'm afraid that it's having the opposite effect. No bus stop is truly permamnent, and Metro would've been better served just by taking off the original "eliminated" covers. I agree that having an “expiration date” is a real problem. Look at it from a rider’s standpoint. First, you leave them high and dry and they have to figure out how to live without Metro. Then, you come back, but only for a few months, and you expect most former riders, and even some new ones, to embrace an ephemeral option. For probably too many, it’s probably a case now of “Why bother?”

There are five things that drive people to public transit: low cost, predictability, frequency, quick(er) travel compared to driving alone, and/or the cost of parking, and “temporarily restored” does nothing to instill much confidence. I’m assuming this was done to justify asking for a tax increase, but I’m afraid that it’s having the opposite effect. No bus stop is truly permamnent, and Metro would’ve been better served just by taking off the original “eliminated” covers.

]]> By: Jennifer http://www.nextstopstl.org/1064/jessica-discusses-ridership-and-service-changes/comment-page-1/#comment-176 Jennifer Fri, 04 Sep 2009 12:53:27 +0000 http://www.nextstopstl.org/?p=1064#comment-176 I'm sorry you feel that way, I'm sure the people who depend on Metro every day would disagree. Do you have any specific thoughts on inefficiencies? We frequently adjust routes in response to customer feedback, so let us know what you think could be improved. I’m sorry you feel that way, I’m sure the people who depend on Metro every day would disagree. Do you have any specific thoughts on inefficiencies? We frequently adjust routes in response to customer feedback, so let us know what you think could be improved.

]]> By: bikesRbest http://www.nextstopstl.org/1064/jessica-discusses-ridership-and-service-changes/comment-page-1/#comment-175 bikesRbest Fri, 04 Sep 2009 12:22:56 +0000 http://www.nextstopstl.org/?p=1064#comment-175 Tweaking a failed product is meaningless. People have given up on relying on Metro and many of the important routes are inefficient. Most of the buses I now see have only one passenger, the on-the-payroll driver. Tweaking a failed product is meaningless. People have given up on relying on Metro and many of the important routes are inefficient. Most of the buses I now see have only one passenger, the on-the-payroll driver.

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