Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
The bus is better. No having to find parking. No paying for parking. Convenient routes and runs often.
I have worked for close to 50 years, including a full-time career which spanned 34 years. The past 10 years I have worked only special projects. I have NEVER paid for parking in connection with my employment, nor have I ever had to look for parking in connection with my employment. There were, and continue to be, parking lots for employees. This is normal unless one works in a "downtown" large urban center.
The irritating problem with posts like yours is your generalizing of a particular situation. Indeed, IF one has to look for, then pay for, parking, that is a factor favoring the bus. No argument at all. But why couldn't you have worded your post that way? As it reads, it sounds like having to find and pay for parking is near universal, and that is simply not the case, not even close.
No way will I take public buses if I don't have to. I enjoy the luxury of having a car to go wherever I want to whenever I want to.
Same here.
When it comes to THIS issue at least, my frugality will never trump my enjoyment of convenience:
-- to come and go when I like (also I have a 24/7 job, and sometimes don't know I'll haven to stay late until I get there)
-- no standing in the cold waiting on ANY kind of public transit (bus, trolley, train, whatever)
-- not only do I drive, I also pay for garage parking in my work building. No driving around looking for a parking spot, not going out to feed meters in winter, no worrying about my care getting broken into.
The OP asks: Has Your Frugality Taken You To Using Public Buses?
A: HELL no.
I have worked for close to 50 years, including a full-time career which spanned 34 years. The past 10 years I have worked only special projects. I have NEVER paid for parking in connection with my employment, nor have I ever had to look for parking in connection with my employment. There were, and continue to be, parking lots for employees. This is normal unless one works in a "downtown" large urban center.
The irritating problem with posts like yours is your generalizing of a particular situation. Indeed, IF one has to look for, then pay for, parking, that is a factor favoring the bus. No argument at all. But why couldn't you have worded your post that way? As it reads, it sounds like having to find and pay for parking is near universal, and that is simply not the case, not even close.
There's a book out called The High Cost of Free Parking.
Those island buildings surrounded by acres of parking that sit empty much of the time destroy the things that make cities work by diminishing connectivity between places at the individual (i.e., human) scale.
And if the lot is full, one will walk much farther to one's destination than one might by taking a bus to a bus stop and walking from it to the office door.
Ideally, parking should be located off the ground. It should be under the building, or above the street floor. Then the building can be placed on, rather than well away from, the street, improving access for everyone else not driving to it and enabling those who occupy it to travel to other buildings nearby without having to get behind the wheel.
There's a book out called The High Cost of Free Parking.
Those island buildings surrounded by acres of parking that sit empty much of the time destroy the things that make cities work by diminishing connectivity between places at the individual (i.e., human) scale.
And if the lot is full, one will walk much farther to one's destination than one might by taking a bus to a bus stop and walking from it to the office door.
Ideally, parking should be located off the ground. It should be under the building, or above the street floor. Then the building can be placed on, rather than well away from, the street, improving access for everyone else not driving to it and enabling those who occupy it to travel to other buildings nearby without having to get behind the wheel.
1. You are talking about dense urban cores. Not everyone works in a dense urban core. In fact, I would hazard to guess that most people do not.
2. Unless one is disabled (crippled), walking a few hundred feet is not only not a big deal, but it is beneficial as well. Many medical authorities suggest we park at the far end of parking lots on purpose in order to create a little walk for ourselves.
There's a book out called The High Cost of Free Parking.
Those island buildings surrounded by acres of parking that sit empty much of the time destroy the things that make cities work by diminishing connectivity between places at the individual (i.e., human) scale.
.
The book that I would like to see would be called The High Cost of Public Transportation. If the average taxpayer saw what the TOTAL cost of public transportation was, bus riders would be asked to contribute a far higher fare than they do now.
Of course, we never hear about the "hidden cost" or the "true cost" of any government program. Or the social costs, for that matter.
1. You are talking about dense urban cores. Not everyone works in a dense urban core. In fact, I would hazard to guess that most people do not.
It would depend how you defined "dense urban cores", but even if you're right it's not like it's rare or uncommon to work in a dense urban core.
Quote:
2. Unless one is disabled (crippled), walking a few hundred feet is not only not a big deal, but it is beneficial as well. Many medical authorities suggest we park at the far end of parking lots on purpose in order to create a little walk for ourselves.
This is pretty much a moot point since most transit riders also have to walk to/from their bus stops.
The book that I would like to see would be called The High Cost of Public Transportation. If the average taxpayer saw what the TOTAL cost of public transportation was, bus riders would be asked to contribute a far higher fare than they do now.
Of course, we never hear about the "hidden cost" or the "true cost" of any government program. Or the social costs, for that matter.
As if roads are not subsidized? Would you read "The high cost of Public Roads" and demand higher gas taxes and vehicle registration fees?
1. You are talking about dense urban cores. Not everyone works in a dense urban core. In fact, I would hazard to guess that most people do not.
2. Unless one is disabled (crippled), walking a few hundred feet is not only not a big deal, but it is beneficial as well. Many medical authorities suggest we park at the far end of parking lots on purpose in order to create a little walk for ourselves.
The way we've developed Auto Age suburbia, you're right - most people in this country do not work in a dense urban core. Nor do they live in one.
But the beauty of such environments is that for many, the walk is built into the routine. You don't hop on the bus to travel four blocks, you walk the four blocks. There's no need to make a walk for yourself by making a conscious decision to park at the far end of the lot (a decision most drivers don't make unless it's forced on them, as I'm sure you've observed) - the environment makes the walk for you, and makes it a little more interesting by offering a varied streetscape in which to walk.
In the 1920s, we managed to build some developments that combined good auto access and parking and a pedestrian- and transit-friendly design. Chief among these: the Country Club Plaza in my hometown of Kansas City, Mo., the first planned shopping center in the country and still the city's toniest shopping district. Reviving the design principles behind it IMO would do our urban areas (and suburbs are certainly "urban" rather than "rural") a world of good.
There's a book out called The High Cost of Free Parking.
Those island buildings surrounded by acres of parking that sit empty much of the time destroy the things that make cities work by diminishing connectivity between places at the individual (i.e., human) scale.
And if the lot is full, one will walk much farther to one's destination than one might by taking a bus to a bus stop and walking from it to the office door.
Ideally, parking should be located off the ground. It should be under the building, or above the street floor. Then the building can be placed on, rather than well away from, the street, improving access for everyone else not driving to it and enabling those who occupy it to travel to other buildings nearby without having to get behind the wheel.
A few companies have woken up to the cost of providing it. A parking space costs at least $5000 to build and needs to be maintained and taxes paid. Public buses often don't serve the location, so van pools have been set up. I guess that is a "work and employment" topic.
But the beauty of such environments is that for many, the walk is built into the routine. You don't hop on the bus to travel four blocks, you walk the four blocks. There's no need to make a walk for yourself by making a conscious decision to park at the far end of the lot (a decision most drivers don't make unless it's forced on them, as I'm sure you've observed) - the environment makes the walk for you, and makes it a little more interesting by offering a varied streetscape in which to walk.
The large percentage of the population in Mexico that could never afford a car means that this type of urban living is still commonplace. Outside of Mexico City and Guadalajara the fixed rail trains and people movers are almost nonexistent, but in most small towns you can walk to almost anything you want.
I found that eating in tiny family restaurants, on the street, and in marketplaces just takes some getting used to. If you avoid certain things you don't get sick (lettuce is very difficult).
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
As if roads are not subsidized? Would you read "The high cost of Public Roads" and demand higher gas taxes and vehicle registration fees?
