I'm just so embarassed for the city of Atlanta when it comes to the streetcar (Decatur: schools, to live in)

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by Ohhsweetconcord

This is wrong. White people across America have no problem with riding the bus. Washington DC, a predominantly black city, has great bus ridership. LA has great ridership too. The problem is convenience and quality of service.

The point is hypothetical - these policies from the federal government down are wasteful, that's the crux of the argument.

"Streetcars are cool" is not a very good reason to flop down this level of expenditure. 10 years ago, rail wasn't cool. MARTA stood for "Moving Africans Rapidly Through Atlanta". Then MARTA improved service and started to change the imagine of the rail stations. Surely if rail can be brought back, can't buses?

That's why I put 'in atlanta'.

[afonega1]

From what I see is more whites are riding the bus

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by afonega1

From what I see is more whites are riding the bus

It would interesting the age group. If they are part of millenials or empty nesters. If they are choice riders or don't own a car.

[MattCW]

I'm a young white male and I have no issues riding the bus...except that the schedules suck! Part of the reason that the buses here are predominantly ridden by minorities is demographically speaking, minorities are more likely to be in the lower income brackets. If that's changed, I'd like to see the data that says otherwise and I'll gladly retract this statement. But my point is that the bus schedules are so terrible except a few routes, that people only ride them if they have no other choice.

[afonega1]

Originally Posted by MattCW

I'm a young white male and I have no issues riding the bus...except that the schedules suck! Part of the reason that the buses here are predominantly ridden by minorities is demographically speaking, minorities are more likely to be in the lower income brackets. If that's changed, I'd like to see the data that says otherwise and I'll gladly retract this statement. But my point is that the bus schedules are so terrible except a few routes, that people only ride them if they have no other choice.

it's true I bet if the bus had better scheduling more people that are more well-off would ride the bus. However as it is with the weak schedule times and coverage people who tend to nee the bus more will ride it versus those who ride it for convenience.

. Because I think with the better operation of Marta over the years there seems to have been a gradual increase. Just go to Lindbergh station about the bus and then ride in any direction and you'll see what I mean.

[woxyroxme]

Don't feel bad, Cincinnati can't get their streetcar project right either but one day they will have empty streetcars to go with their empty busses.

[afdinatl]

Hmmm mmmmmm

[arjay57]

Before the Millennials start slapping themselves on the back too hard about discovering the bus, remember that for us older folks it was routine.

We did just fine without $100 million streetcars and light rail running all over the place.

[gtcorndog]

We did just fine without $100 million streetcars and light rail running 1.3 miles

fixed that for you

[cqholt]

I guess this thread can be closed now that the streetcar is officially opening.