urban bus systems
Posted: Mon 26 Jan 2015, 13:22:08
It appears to me that we really are on the downward slope of Hubbert's curve. The Cheap Oil age is ending and for Americans the post WWII empire is in decline. Will we follow the Mayans, whose royalty built their greatest (useless) monuments just prior to their collapse, or will we adapt and reconfigure our society to survive the new reality?
Since transportation is a key factor, I want to discuss public transportation and, in particular, urban bus systems.
It is also my opinion that urban bus systems should be far more economical than individual automobiles, but I don't have the statistics to support that idea. Still, it seems that it has to be more economical to carry many instead of one. The saved money could buy lots of solar panels.
I am hoping to start an informative thread, so please have your facts, figures, and citations ready.
Bus and Bike idea (just a thought):
Some informative links:
Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_transport
About.com public transportation information http://publictransport.about.com/od/Transit_Vehicles/a/How-Much-Does-A-Bus-Cost-To-Purchase-And-Operate.htm
American Public Transportation Association http://www.apta.com/Pages/default.aspx
Top Reasons People Stop Using Public Transit http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/gov-reasons-riders-abandon-public-transit.html
Made in Hayward: Bus Maker Finally Wins a Local Contract (March 23, 2012) http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/23/us/gillig-a-bus-maker-in-hayward-calif-wins-a-local-contract.html?pagewanted=all
AC Transit agreed to buy 40 buses from the company ( Gillig http://www.gillig.com/ ) for $16.4 million ($410k ea)
New Flyer CEO Sees Growth as U.S. Buses Age (Sep 13, 2013) http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-13/new-flyer-ceo-sees-growth-as-u-s-buses-age.html
Since transportation is a key factor, I want to discuss public transportation and, in particular, urban bus systems.
It is also my opinion that urban bus systems should be far more economical than individual automobiles, but I don't have the statistics to support that idea. Still, it seems that it has to be more economical to carry many instead of one. The saved money could buy lots of solar panels.
I am hoping to start an informative thread, so please have your facts, figures, and citations ready.
- 1. Why do buses cost so much? Is $500k each a fair price or are prices inflated by the federal government and corporate monopolies?
2. What is the maximum fuel efficiency for a bus? What are the most effective technologies?
3. Why do we have bus routes? Why not require riders to subscribe to the bus and route only where there are sufficient subscribers?
4. Why are interconnections so difficult and time consuming? Is it really that hard to match points/times on different routes? Why are connecting buses not associated so they coordinate?
5. Why does public transportation have to be egalitarian? Why not have first class seats and/or routes?
6. Why is a rideshare concept not part of the public transportation function?
Bus and Bike idea (just a thought):
- Bus travels within x miles of start and destination
Buses have two staff - one driver and one bike handler
Buses hold 20 bikes and 20 riders (whatever is optimal number)
Riders request a stop, giving start and destination and times
Requests are queued until enough requests are made to support a route
Riders pay monthly and have reserved spots
Routes are added, cancelled, or reconfigured to maintain minimum usage
Some informative links:
Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_transport
About.com public transportation information http://publictransport.about.com/od/Transit_Vehicles/a/How-Much-Does-A-Bus-Cost-To-Purchase-And-Operate.htm
American Public Transportation Association http://www.apta.com/Pages/default.aspx
Top Reasons People Stop Using Public Transit http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/gov-reasons-riders-abandon-public-transit.html
Made in Hayward: Bus Maker Finally Wins a Local Contract (March 23, 2012) http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/23/us/gillig-a-bus-maker-in-hayward-calif-wins-a-local-contract.html?pagewanted=all
AC Transit agreed to buy 40 buses from the company ( Gillig http://www.gillig.com/ ) for $16.4 million ($410k ea)
New Flyer CEO Sees Growth as U.S. Buses Age (Sep 13, 2013) http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-13/new-flyer-ceo-sees-growth-as-u-s-buses-age.html