Perception of Public Transportation in Los Angeles
One urban myth about Los Angeles is that there is no public transportation system. Rubin (2000) makes the argument that this misconception exists due to issues about race and poverty, stating: "More than almost any other major transit system in the country, the Los Angeles bus system serves the poor, minorities, and other voiceless groups of residents." The system has come to serve mostly those without cars, or the "transit dependent" population, and mostly recent Hispanic and Asian immigrants are users of the bus system, along with those with low incomes (Rubin, 2000). According to Hutchinson (2005), “Bus and train travel comprise only 4 percent of all trips in LA, a fraction of the 24/7 river of movement on its streets and highways. Although the “infeasibility” of public transit for everyday travel has been drilled into the public consciousness, it remains a lifeline for scores of low-income people unable to buy a car or shoulder the costs of insurance, registration, and parking.” At the same time as there is a strong negative attitude towards public transportation, there is also a dominant positive attitude that goes along with riding a car. This attitude is that "what you drive is who you are" (Lopez, 1998).
How can changing perceptions of public transit lead to increased ridership?
Style vs. Service:
One study surveyed 749 transit users at 12 stops and stations around Los Angeles to look at user satisfaction. It was found that “…the most important determinant of user satisfaction with a transit stop or station has little to do with the physical characteristics of the facility; instead, frequent, reliable service in an environment of personal safety matters most to riders” (Iseki & Taylor, 2010, p. 39). The study found that 85% of riders were satisfied with safety during the day, but 43% of riders did not feel safe at night (Iseki & Taylor, 2010, p. 49), and 33.7% wanted an emergency contact method like a panic button (Iseki & Taylor, 201, p. 49).
Perceptions of local bus transit:
Perceptions of Metro Rapid Buses:
Most riders don't like buses being stuck in traffic, and have a negative perception of Metro Rapid. Only the Orange Line is seen positively because it has its own busway and real-time information to let passengers know when the next bus is coming. Others complain that the Orange Line is too slow and should have been a rail line instead (National Bus Rapid Transit Institute, 2009, p. 36).
Perceptions of Rail:
The Blue Line has the worst image because it goes through less affluent areas of L.A., when compared, for instance, with the Gold Line that goes through nice areas of Pasadena (National Bus Rapid Transit Institute, 2009, p. 37).
Snob on a Bus and Choice Riders:
Snob on a Bus is a blog that was started by rider Jacqueline Carr, after she lost her job at a talent agency, sold her jetta, and began riding to her new job using public transportation. Carr was not a typical rider, and on her blog she writes about her "WTF moments" on her experiences riding the bus, and her travel accessories included "Lululemon, Blackberry, Uggs. She sported jeggings"(Hess, 2012). She also tells stories about conversations with strangers, interesting characters on the bus, random acts of kindness, and social interactions facilitated by public transit. According to Hess (2012), choice riders make up only a fourth of the users of Los Angeles' public transportation. Hess (2012) asks if money should be spent to attract riders like Carr, or choice riders. This is an interesting question because choice riders have greater political influence, and though it might not be fair to the transit dependent to spend money to attract wealthier riders, a more diverse ridership is not necessarily a bad result.
How can changing perceptions of public transit lead to increased ridership?
Style vs. Service:
One study surveyed 749 transit users at 12 stops and stations around Los Angeles to look at user satisfaction. It was found that “…the most important determinant of user satisfaction with a transit stop or station has little to do with the physical characteristics of the facility; instead, frequent, reliable service in an environment of personal safety matters most to riders” (Iseki & Taylor, 2010, p. 39). The study found that 85% of riders were satisfied with safety during the day, but 43% of riders did not feel safe at night (Iseki & Taylor, 2010, p. 49), and 33.7% wanted an emergency contact method like a panic button (Iseki & Taylor, 201, p. 49).
Despite these requirements of riders, more money has been invested in Bus Rapid Transit, allowing it to have a high quality image, because of the belief that a better image will attract more riders. A report from the National Bus Rapid Transit Institute (2009) states: “If bus transit is to be perceived as more than just a social service, it must be able to perform at a level comparable to the private automobile, and convey the high quality image typically associated with rail. Bus Rapid Transit aims to do just that: emulate rail, but at a lower capital cost” (National Bus Rapid Transit Institute, 2009, p. v). Bus Rapid Transit believes that the system “should identify with its surrounding and provide passengers with a sense of pride” by focusing on high quality design and passenger amenities, an integrated system with a consistant theme and brand, as well as a context-sensitive design, to integrate the system with land use and to involve the community in the design (National Bus Rapid Transit Institute, 2009, p. 24). However, when other needs such as more reliable, safe service influence rider behavior more than the overall look of public transportation, an investment in the image of Bus Rapid Transit seems wasteful and inefficient.
Perceptions of local bus transit:
"“The shame factor is majorly big. I’ve never felt this way and I’ve lived in a lot of different places—the Bay Area, I took the MARTA train in Atlanta, I’ve taken the tube in London—I’ve never felt it except for this city. That’s it.”-Female, 37, Metro Rapid User" (National Bus Rapid Transit Institute, 2009, p. 33).
"“It’s horrible. Plus, you get (excuse my French) some real bums on the bus, people who harass the ladies, people who are homeless, people who stink, people who haven’t taken a shower for years. I mean, come on…we are professional people. I’m going to work. I don’t want to stink, sitting next to a bum.”-Male, 43, Metro Rapid User" (National Bus Rapid Transit Institute, 2009, p. 33).
"“I just want to say the rail station runs great. I think it runs every couple of minutes. It’s the MTA bus that I think is not so great. If only the frequency…like, you don’t want to be standing on Santa Monica Blvd. or Sunset Blvd. waiting for a bus late at night.”-Female, 37, Metro Rapid user" (National Bus Rapid Transit Institute, 2009, p. 33).
"“Buses come late and sometimes they’ll drive right by you. Because they are late and don’t want to stop, so they’ll keep going.”-Male, 29, Metro Rapid and Gold Line user" (National Bus Rapid Transit Institute, 2009, p. 34).
Perceptions of Metro Rapid Buses:
Most riders don't like buses being stuck in traffic, and have a negative perception of Metro Rapid. Only the Orange Line is seen positively because it has its own busway and real-time information to let passengers know when the next bus is coming. Others complain that the Orange Line is too slow and should have been a rail line instead (National Bus Rapid Transit Institute, 2009, p. 36).
Perceptions of Rail:
The Blue Line has the worst image because it goes through less affluent areas of L.A., when compared, for instance, with the Gold Line that goes through nice areas of Pasadena (National Bus Rapid Transit Institute, 2009, p. 37).
Snob on a Bus and Choice Riders:
Snob on a Bus is a blog that was started by rider Jacqueline Carr, after she lost her job at a talent agency, sold her jetta, and began riding to her new job using public transportation. Carr was not a typical rider, and on her blog she writes about her "WTF moments" on her experiences riding the bus, and her travel accessories included "Lululemon, Blackberry, Uggs. She sported jeggings"(Hess, 2012). She also tells stories about conversations with strangers, interesting characters on the bus, random acts of kindness, and social interactions facilitated by public transit. According to Hess (2012), choice riders make up only a fourth of the users of Los Angeles' public transportation. Hess (2012) asks if money should be spent to attract riders like Carr, or choice riders. This is an interesting question because choice riders have greater political influence, and though it might not be fair to the transit dependent to spend money to attract wealthier riders, a more diverse ridership is not necessarily a bad result.
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