And not at the point of a gun either.
The question, it seems to me is why do we prefer cars over buses? Well that's fairly simple.
Cars are:
- private - no smelly, crazy, unpleasant or rude people (or if there are they're your problem).
- easy - walk out the door and there is your car, get in and go to where ever you are going , park and you're there.
- cost - somewhat high but then you've got something for your money.
Buses are:
- public - anyone with the price of admission (or not) can ride and if they are crazy, rude, unpleasant or smelly they are your problem (and everyone else's) and may in fact be the driver (well not smelly, I've yet to encounter a smelly bus driver). But most of your fellow bus riders are none of the above, in fact, first thing in the morning when everyone is freshly showered and on their way to work the bus can a very pleasant place to look out the window, people watch or read a book.
- difficult - you have to go to them, sometimes blocks in the cold, the dark , the rain and wait. And wait and wait and wait, since they are undependable. Even if they do come on time the bus may be overcrowded and uncomfortable or simply pass you by. However when they do work, the bus comes shortly after you arrive at the stop, the driver is pleasant and friendly, there is a seat for you and get off near your destination and forget about transportation as soon as you get off, they are brilliant. And this is how it works more times than not.
- cost - is lower than the cost of having a car but you have to pay every time or show that you have paid. And that gives the sense that it costs a significant amount, certainly more per trip than a car. It also cost a significant percentage of your income if you don't have much income. $5.00 to go to and from work for under $10.00 per hour is 1/2 hours wages or 8% of your gross income (assuming a 6 hour shift which may be over generous).
So why get out of the car? And on to the bus? Not a lot of reason that I can see on the face of it. But the advantages of cars may be more myth than reality (unfortunately the disadvantages of the bus are not myth and the advantages while true do not match the believed advantages of the car).
So what are the real advantages of the car?
- Privacy. You are private and can do what you want when you want to but there are thousands of you out there doing it at the same time and they may be rude, crazy, unpleasant and smelly just like some bus riders but they are in control or not of a car that you have to share the streets with they are an actual menace not simply unpleasant. And I hate to say it but you may be one of them, ever talk on your cell phone while driving, cut someone off, cut through a crosswalk with pedestrians still in it? The privacy of a car is an harmless illusion at best.
- Ease of use. Well not really, driving on the streets of Vancouver puts you at risk of a variety poor and/or oblivious drivers (and remember you may at times be one of them). Parking in Vancouver is either expensive or impossible, and depending upon where you live that may mean that parking at home may be as difficult as parking your destination, maybe even more so. So going anytime you want to where ever you want may be much more complicated that we think. This is of course assuming that your car never breaks down, never requires repairs and is always available.
- Cost. One writer makes the following estimates:
| 2005 Toyota Echo sedan | 2005 Dodge Caravan | 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx | 2005 BMW 530i |
| $6,209.77 | $10,078.73 | $8,767.05 | $15,979.45 |
This is cost per year to own and operate a car. This does not include costs of parking and the occasional fine for missing the meter. To ride the bus, the maximum monthly bus ticket is $136.00 or $1,632.00 per year, prepaid tickets (3 zone $38.00/10 tickets) or single fares (3 zone $5.00/per ride). Significantly cheaper. There are of course other costs and subsides but they exist for both car drivers and for bus riders.
So why do drivers insist on driving? Two reasons I think.
- The myths of private car ownership are beliefs that are tightly held and not subject to reason. Car owners believe that cars are faster, safer and more comfortable than buses and represent a reasonable cost/benefit ratio for them. That they are sometimes faster, rarely safer, certainly more comfortable but probably a terrible cost/benefit ratio is not likely to be believed at least as long as the following belief is held.
- The transit system is unbelievably unattractive. Dirty, messy often covered in graffiti. It often feels unsafe, police and security's main focus is fare avoidance, there is little or no on site assistance for the lost or confused, aggressive behaviour by both passengers and staff is ignored. Many of the staff appear to have been inculcated with an "us and them" belief and see passengers as impediments to their jobs. The cost while low is still too high for many workers and the service is often unavailable when it is needed (late night service is still very poor).
So back to the original question, "How will we ever get out of our cars and on to the bus?". At the rate the Translink overlords are going never. The transit service must become more attractive and more efficient in every way we can think of. Car owners are deeply wedded to their belief in the value of their cars and are unlikely to change until the difference is so obvious they can't ignore it. But first we need to make transit safe, comfortable and effective.
That's all for now, comments are welcome as always.
