Here is a look at some of the transportation headlines gathered by us and the Metro Library. The full list of headlines is posted on the library’s blog.
America‘s commutes start earlier and last longer (BBC)
The BBC discovers (drum roll) that Americans are driving more and enjoying it less. And yet there is an interesting aspect to this article, which is not news to those of us Americans actually stuck in traffic. It lies in the responses. Among them: “Unfortunately, most of the globalized world is now following in the footsteps of Uncle Sam — competition over cooperation; greed over frugality; exploitation over fairness; selfishness over altruism; and stupidity over wisdom.” Is this how the world sees us? Is there any truth to it?
Government scientists investigating connection between air pollution and health effects such as asthma, heart disease and autism (Scientific American)
Linda Birnbaum, director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, visited Los Angeles and Long Beach to witness firsthand how communities are struggling with health issues related to their environment. In this region alone, her institute spent $23 million over the past few years, mostly awarded to scientists investigating the connection between air pollution and an array of health effects.
Los Angeles history comes alive at largest ever archives bazaar (Metro Transportation Library Primary Resources Blog)
This sound like fun and it’s free. The story tells of a day of expert speakers, documentary films and rare and/or privately held documents that tell the story of L.A. — who we are and why. And it’s at USC, which is easily reached by Metro.
Categories: Transportation Headlines
@John
Without a TAP-in/TAP-out system, there’s no way for Metro to know or collect real transit ridership data on how, when, where and what routes the buses get crowded.
Does Metro have ridership data of Joe and Joanne Angelinos getting on at stop A and getting off at stop B and how many percentage of the riders transfer at B to another bus? No, because we don’t have an efficient TAP-in/out system.
What are you going to do? Let the bus drivers jot down how many passengers got on and off at each stop on a notepad while driving and attending to the farebox? I’m sure the BRU will love that.
Until we move away from flat rate fees and move to distance fares by installing TAP-in/out systems onto buses, there’s no efficient way to collect ridership data.
Are there any articles about MTA riders riding the buses more (as I do-6 days a week!), and ENJOYING IT LESS? Especially when I am treated like a piece of cattle on a daily basis, on an OVER-CROWDED BUS LINE that the MTA REFUSES TO ADD MORE SERVICE TO? What exactly ARE riders saying about their MTA riding experiences? How come THOSE comments are not published? Analyzed? TAKEN SERIOUSLY?