My Transit Presentation at the Southwest Garden Neighborhood Meeting
Last night I spoke at the Southwest Garden Neighborhood meeting on the subject of transit. Â My presentation was billed on the agenda as “Everything you wanted to know about using public transit but were afraid to ask.” Â Not sure I lived up to that but here is what I presented:
- Transit is not just light rail, buses are the main component of the system
- Folks who’ve never ridden transit seem willing to try rail, but not buses
- Route and stops are easy to understand on rail, harder with buses
- Buses will get you more places, and closer to your start & end locations
- Bus fare is $2, a transfer is 75¢ extra
- Passes can be purchased for 2 hours ($2.75) , one day ($7.50), weekly ($23.50) and monthly ($68.00)
- Seniors and the disabled can get a discount. Â A special ID must be obtained from Metro.
- Passes are valid on buses in St. Clair & Madison Counties in Illinois.
- Wait for any passengers exiting the front door before boarding, exit the rear door when possible. Â Note the rear steps are steeper so some may find the front steps more comfortable.
The meeting was held at the senior center located at 5602 Arsenal, so I mentioned places that can be reached on the #30 “Soulard” bus along with the time to get there:
- Shrewsbury MetroLink 14 minutes
- Arsenal & Morgan Ford 5 minutes
- Grand & Arsenal 11 minutes
- Soulard Farmers’ Market 32 minutes
- 14th & Spruce 40 minutes
- Crown Candy 52 min
The SWGNA office is located at 4950 Southwest Avenue so I mentioned options via the #14 “Botanical Garden” and #95 “Kingshighway” buses.
- The Grove (Manchester & Tower Grove) – 11 minutes via #14
- Kingshighway & Chippewa 8 minutes via #14
- CWE Metro station 14 min via #95, 18 minutes via #14
- Kingshighway & Lindell via #95- 20 minutes
- Lambert Airport via #95 & MetroLink – 47 minutes
To drive the route to the airport it would take 20 minutes, 25 in traffic and is 15.7 miles. If you drove to catch a flight you’d need to consider the time spent parking at a long term lot and catching a shuttle bus to the terminal. Factor in the cost of gas, wear on your car and parking costs then transit might be a good option. Note that a late return flight might get you back too late to catch the last train. Â I once had to exit the last train at the CWE station and catch a taxi the rest of the way home.
And finally I listed some options from Hampton & Southwest via the #90 “Hampton” bus.
Of course everyone would need to map their specific origins and destinations. Â I find Google Maps far easier to use than printed maps and timetables. Â Metro’s website was recently updated to incorporate Google Maps.
For many getting to work via transit may not be a viable option, but we take so many other trips in our lives outside of getting top/from work.
Unfortunately due to the rain I had to drive my car rather than take the #30 bus. Â Thanks to Southwest Garden’s executive director, Dana Grey, for inviting me to speak.
– Steve Patterson
I’ll preface this by asking not to read this the wrong way…What’s your point, Steve?
I like the presentation post. Like the research. But what was the crux, persay?
Love the site. Visit it nearly every day. Please keep up the good work.
I’ll preface this by asking not to read this the wrong way…What’s your point, Steve?
I like the presentation post. Like the research. But what was the crux, persay?
Love the site. Visit it nearly every day. Please keep up the good work.
We will promote public transit, walking and bicycling as modes of transportation during our neighborhood’s Home & Lifestyles Tour on May 15. Alternative transportation is just one of the sustainable lifestyle practices we will showcase during the event. Your presentation provided a perfect script. Thanks again.
Dana Gray
Southwest Garden Neighborhood Association
We will promote public transit, walking and bicycling as modes of transportation during our neighborhood’s Home & Lifestyles Tour on May 15. Alternative transportation is just one of the sustainable lifestyle practices we will showcase during the event. Your presentation provided a perfect script. Thanks again.
Dana Gray
Southwest Garden Neighborhood Association
Didn’t want to stand in the rain? I guess public transit isn’t the ultimate answer it’s purported to be.
Didn’t want to stand in the rain? I guess public transit isn’t the ultimate answer it’s purported to be.
No, more a function of not wanting to get my legs and shoes soaked from sitting in my power chair in the rain, plus having to keep a bag over the controls to keep them dry.
Don’t be so dismissive and/or defensive – the challenges with weather and travel times are the two big things that make the single-occupant vehicle so attractive to so many people, and, in turn, drives the sprawl that drives many of us crazy. The bigger question is what needs to change to keep you out of your car on future trips? Does Metro (or someone else) need to invest in more bus shelters? Do power chairs need to be made more water resistent? Does someone need to come up with functional rain gear for people with disabilities? All of the above? Even though the SOV costs more (than transit or biking) and probably is less green and less PC, it sure is easy and the most comfortable option for most local trips. Kinda like Apple vs. the PC – the PC gets the job done and it s cheaper, but it’s far less elegant . . .
Metro has been removing shelters, rather than installing more of them. In my neighborhood, the shelters at Pershing @ Union on Pershing, Pershing @ DeBaliviere on Pershing going east, and Kingshighway @ Lindell on Lindell going west have all been removed. At Pershing /DeBaliviere, the shelter was removed, but the bus stop stayed. At Pershing/Union, the shelter was removed and the bus stop was moved a few feet. At Kingshighway/Lindell, the bus stop was just removed.
Metro has a policy of drawing down the number of bus stops, but I hate to see the shelters go when the bus stop is still there. Shelters from the rain make bus transit much easier.
While I agree, I also know the “why” – simply put, dollars. Unfortunately, most bus shelters get abused and vandalized on a regular basis, and when it comes to a choice between putting buses on the street or replacing glass for the 17th time or power-washing the grafitti for the third time this month, the shelters, and the riders who use them, lose*. The only system that does seem to work is when a city lets an advertising company install AND maintain shelters that include mini-billboards. Unfortunately, they want to be primarily on busy thoroughfares and many cities resist any (more) advertising on the public right-of-way, leaving transit riders with fewer and fewer options.
*In Denver, where their transit district does install and maintain some shelters, they have an abuse hierarchy – if the glass gets broken too frequently, it gets replaced with perforated metal oir wire mesh. If that gets kicked out or tagged too frequently, it gets removed, leaving only the roof. And if the roof or the supports get damaged, the shelter goes away, completely. Unfortunately, with little prosecution and a general acceptance of vandalism, especially among some teenagers, trying to maintain sheleters at some stops simply becomes a losing, impossible proposition.
Vandalism is the problem in some places, but these shelters were not vandalized.
You are approaching this backwards. I have no expectation or need for transit to meet 100% of my needs. Instead I use transit as my first choice with my car as a backup. Works well and I drive only about 4K miles per year.
First thing you learn when you start using public transit is to invest in a good umbrella.
Good point. I would only add that investing in a good umbrella is a worthwhile expense for any who go outdoors from time to time.
True for most people but I only have use of my right hand, which I need to operate the chair.
No, more a function of not wanting to get my legs and shoes soaked from sitting in my power chair in the rain, plus having to keep a bag over the controls to keep them dry.
Don’t be so dismissive and/or defensive – the challenges with weather and travel times are the two big things that make the single-occupant vehicle so attractive to so many people, and, in turn, drives the sprawl that drives many of us crazy. The bigger question is what needs to change to keep you out of your car on future trips? Does Metro (or someone else) need to invest in more bus shelters? Do power chairs need to be made more water resistent? Does someone need to come up with functional rain gear for people with disabilities? All of the above? Even though the SOV costs more (than transit or biking) and probably is less green and less PC, it sure is easy and the most comfortable option for most local trips. Kinda like Apple vs. the PC – the PC gets the job done and it s cheaper, but it’s far less elegant . . .
First thing you learn when you start using public transit is to invest in a good umbrella.
Metro has been removing shelters, rather than installing more of them. In my neighborhood, the shelters at Pershing @ Union on Pershing, Pershing @ DeBaliviere on Pershing going east, and Kingshighway @ Lindell on Lindell going west have all been removed. At Pershing /DeBaliviere, the shelter was removed, but the bus stop stayed. At Pershing/Union, the shelter was removed and the bus stop was moved a few feet. At Kingshighway/Lindell, the bus stop was just removed.
Metro has a policy of drawing down the number of bus stops, but I hate to see the shelters go when the bus stop is still there. Shelters from the rain make bus transit much easier.
You are approaching this backwards. I have no expectation or need for transit to meet 100% of my needs. Instead I use transit as my first choice with my car as a backup. Works well and I drive only about 4K miles per year.
Good point. I would only add that investing in a good umbrella is a worthwhile expense for any who go outdoors from time to time.
Good point. I would only add that investing in a good umbrella is a worthwhile expense for any who go outdoors from time to time.
True for most people but I only have use of my right hand, which I need to operate the chair.
While I agree, I also know the “why” – simply put, dollars. Unfortunately, most bus shelters get abused and vandalized on a regular basis, and when it comes to a choice between putting buses on the street or replacing glass for the 17th time or power-washing the grafitti for the third time this month, the shelters, and the riders who use them, lose*. The only system that does seem to work is when a city lets an advertising company install AND maintain shelters that include mini-billboards. Unfortunately, they want to be primarily on busy thoroughfares and many cities resist any (more) advertising on the public right-of-way, leaving transit riders with fewer and fewer options.
*In Denver, where their transit district does install and maintain some shelters, they have an abuse hierarchy – if the glass gets broken too frequently, it gets replaced with perforated metal oir wire mesh. If that gets kicked out or tagged too frequently, it gets removed, leaving only the roof. And if the roof or the supports get damaged, the shelter goes away, completely. Unfortunately, with little prosecution and a general acceptance of vandalism, especially among some teenagers, trying to maintain sheleters at some stops simply becomes a losing, impossible proposition.
Vandalism is the problem in some places, but these shelters were not vandalized.