Austin's bus system - VERY UNIMPRESSIVE (Athens, Wells Branch: insurance, condo, transfer)

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In addition to driving my car, I've been riding the local bus system, Capital Metro, to get around town. I decided to utilize the cities' public services for two reasons -- one, because friends of mine have told me that it can be a true cosmopolitan experience; one that entails interacting with people from all different walks of life, from all over the city.

Two, because I have heard that the system is extremely incompetant and inefficent. In riding the bus for the past two weeks, I can attest to both of these points.

My observations:

1. Many of the buses that operate in and around central Austin/UT are FILTHY. There's often used, trampled beer cans, bottles, and wrappers rolling around, littering the floor.

2. Many of the busses smell horrid - a mixture of body odor, a lack of cleanliness, and stale air.

3. A number of the bus drivers are extremely rude, and not knowledgeable about their own routes and how long it takes to get somewhere. If you try to get clarification on a particular route, or bus, you get attitude and are told to look at the bus schedule.

4. It takes ridiculous amounts of time to get places on the north side that are within five minutes of eachother in a car. For instance, it takes over an hour and a half to get from Wells Branch to The Domain.

5. The system itself seems very unorganized, with needless stops abounding and lots of non-sensical detours and transfers.

6. If you've yet to experience the bus system here, when I make reference to a cosmopolitan experience, I mean get ready to experience everything.

Case in point, there are homeless people who haven't showered in weeks, thugs of all ethnicities, little old ladies with bags of groceries, people who appear to hold professional jobs, students, artists, and everything in between.

There's also quite a bit of vulgar language, gestures, and innuendo thrown about which made me quite uncomfortable. There are often verbal altercations between either the bus driver and someone on the bus, or two people on the bus. I had the misfortune of seeing a physical altercation between two passengers.

7. If you look like you have money, you are setting yourself up for trouble. Purposefully dress down and do not wear any flashy or expensive jewelry. It only makes you a target.

Conclusion: The few dollars you save in gas is not worth the hassle of transfers, waiting, a poorly planned bus route, rude drivers, and/or crazy passengers. I mean, by the time you get to your destination, you're worn out, dirty, and possibly traumatized.

While the experience may have been cosmopolitan, I can attest definitively that the bus will continue to be my last resort as a form of transportation. My deepest condolences to those who rely on public transportation in this city.

[mark311]

You've just described the bus riding experiences that I've had in San Diego, San Jose, and San Francisco as well. Are there cities where this isn't the case for riding the bus?

[skeet09]

It's funny how I would stand at a bus stop waiting for the bus and people would look at me driving their cars feeling sorry for me. I didn't feel sorry for the fact that I was able to go to school full time and finish and concentrate on my studies instead of working part time to support my car payment, insurance payment and gas fill ups. Needless to say, those colleagues dropped out.

You learn a lot of skills by taking the bus. Some colleagues were sheltered and now are very unfamiliar with a city that they have lived all their life.

[readymade]

Originally Posted by mark311

You've just described the bus riding experiences that I've had in San Diego, San Jose, and San Francisco as well. Are there cities where this isn't the case for riding the bus?

Um, Boston, Chicago, New York City, & Los Angeles. Also, Rome & Athens.

I always felt very safe riding the public transit in all the above cities. I never tried here because I've heard the horror stories.

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I don't know what I was expecting. I knew there'd be lots of different kinds of people but wasn't prepared for the fighting, vulgarity, and uncleanliness of the busses.

[atxcio]

The lack of frequency, inefficient routes, and very limited hours are reason enough to dislike Capitol Metro. Add to that the rail debacle and very questionable use of funds, and you won't find many people (if any) who support Capitol Metro.

Sounds from your report like the mismanagement/ineptitude has become pervasive at all levels of the company. Perhaps some day we can fire them and begin again.

[centralaustinite]

I don't know what you were expecting either!

I ride a couple of times a month. I usually have fun. I consider the bus drivers heros! They have to deal with, in the most direct way, the homeless, the disabled, the elderly, the mentally ill, and all of the rest of us! Believe me, they have much more to do than talk to you about optimizing your schedule.

The buses I ride are generally clean. I always make sure that I double and triple check my route and bus number on-line before I ride. I take my kids on the bus for short trips downtown. Always a learning experience!

Sorry you had a poor experience. No place is perfect. I wish Capmetro would invest in their buses and bus routes and forget about rail for a while.

[twange]

Originally Posted by centralaustinite

Sorry you had a poor experience. No place is perfect. I wish Capmetro would invest in their buses and bus routes and forget about rail for a while.

Cap Metros CEO just "retired" so if the next person is qualified, I would expect some improvements in bus service.

As for CM "forgetting about rail for awhile" - I guess I agree. That's why I will support the CITY OF AUSTIN/CAMPO urban rail plan that they are currently preparing. I think it looks like an excellent, well-thought out project - and might be part of a much larger planning development project that will include road infrastructure, sidewalks and bike lanes. Hopefully Austinites won't be reactionary and vote NO as soon as they hear the word "rail" by associating it with CMs boondoggle metrorail project.

Busses suck just about everywhere. They're just big, herky-jerky vans that get stuck in traffic just like cars.

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by atxcio

The lack of frequency, inefficient routes, and very limited hours are reason enough to dislike Capitol Metro.

It has been years since I tried to use Capital Metro, but those were my experiences and have kept me from giving it another chance. However, they are also the result of a lack of riders, which we all share some blame for. I have been thinking lately I should try it again, as schedule issues are not longer as critical for me as they used to be.

When I was a college student in Denver it really was a pleasurable experience to ride the bus around town, enjoying the variety of human interaction, or reading a book during the trip. It sure beat icy streets, heavy traffic, and having to find someplace to park a car downtown.

Filthy buses and rudeness of drivers is inexcusable. However the "cosmopolitan experience" is one that is common in other cities, and should be expected as some people have no other transportation options. It actually is probably a positive experience to remind you how fortunate you might be.

[mimimomx3]

If you live in about a 10 mile radius, Cap Metro buses (and a bike!) are great. Anything else, no. I've lived in big cities all over the world, and those buses are for real. Cap Metro is poser.