renee and elliott

Public transit gets a bad rap in South Florida. Many people I talk to dismiss it as inconvenient and inadequate. This perception is understandable. The infrastructure was not built with public transit in mind. There are so many good reasons to use public transit. I use it as often as possible. Many of the people who dismiss public transit in South Florida have never taken the bus or the Tri-Rail. I sometimes hear a hint of snobbery when these comments are made:

1. It’s inconvenient
2. The bus doesn’t go where I need to go
3. The buses never run on time

I have taken the bus several times, and have found the above statements to be mostly false, except for number 2. Here is how someone who has actually taken several bus rides will address the above mentioned assertions:

1. “It’s inconvenient.” – Public transit doesn’t run on your schedule, but it has to run on a schedule. This complaint is often rooted in the poor planning skills of the person making the remark.
2. “The bus doesn’t go where I need to go.” – This is partially true. Some areas of Broward County aren’t serviced very well due to suburban sprawl. Generally, the routes thin out as you go farther west. However, the local municipalities here run their own FREE buses to fill in the gaps as best as they can.
3. “The buses never run on time.” – It is remarkable how well they do run on time. The routes and timetables are planned with traffic patterns in mind. When the bus is running ahead of schedule, the driver will make an extended stop to synchronize with the published timetable.

Read more after the jump…

The Limitations of Public Transit

For the sake of thoroughness, I will give some validation to the nay-sayer, albeit with real life experience behind my words. The public transit system here isn’t as robust as it is in other major metropolitan areas. Limitations exist in the timetables and the routes. In many cases, it isn’t a viable solution. Transferring to a different route can leave you waiting for up to 40 minutes for your connecting bus. Some parts of Broward County are not accessible at all.

Why Do People Resist?

Aside from the reasons stated above, most people in South Florida default to their automobiles. It’s just too easy to get in your car. You don’t have to think. God knows too little thinking goes on in Flori-DUH! The suburban landscape is not on a pedestrian scale. It’s designed for cars. We invent many excuses for not using public transit.

There seems to be a perception that “bad” people ride the bus. Most users of public transit simply cannot afford an automobile. A minority are just choosing to ride. None of the above reasons makes a person “bad.”

Public Transit Works For Me

Fortunately, two routes have stops within walking distance of my house, and a third is just over a mile away. Here are the destinations served by those routes:

• Central Terminal and connection to Tri-Rail
• Young Circle in Hollywood
• West Regional Terminal
• The beach!
• Stops along University Drive
• Connection to Miami-Dade’s transit system

The terminals and Young Circle offer connections to several routes. Central terminal is in downtown Fort Lauderdale. If a bus route near your home goes to any of the destinations named above, you’re very well covered.

Your reach is extended even further if you have a bicycle. All Broward County Transit buses are equipped with bicycle racks. Many of the community buses run by each city have them too. As an added bonus, those community buses are free! To take your bike on the Tri-Rail, you will however need to purchase a bicycle permit.

Back in my single days, I would go out to the bars on weekends. There have been times I was not fit to drive. I did the responsible thing and called a cab. The following morning, I took the bus to retrieve my car. Cab fare, a parking ticket, and bus fare sure beats a DUI, risking my life, and the lives of others.

The Benefits of Using Public Transit

For short trips, the cost savings is a wash. For a longer trip, the bus wins. $1.25 can take you up to 20 miles. The last time you got that out of your car, Lyndon B. Johnson was President. Every time we fill up, we think of it as one big recurring expense. Gas is an incremental expense. You burn fuel (and money) while driving, idling your engine, and when starting your car. Every time you take the bus is one more day you can put off filling up your tank. There are many benefits to using public transit:

• Reduce fossil fuel consumption and emissions
• Reduce congestion on the roads
• Create and sustain economic opportunities

Here are the benefits that directly affect you:

• Reduce wear and tear on your vehicle
• Eliminate your own risk as a vehicle operator
• You don’t have to pay for parking
• You can read a book or write in your journal
• You can take a catnap
• You can chat with people
• Your older children don’t have to mooch off you as much for transportation
• You don’t have to endure the stress of driving during rush hour
• Some walking is necessary, so you’ll get exercise
• Save money

In many cases, taking the bus does take more time than if you had driven yourself. Also consider the activities that aren’t available to you while you drive. You certainly can’t read a book, write in your journal, or take a catnap while driving. Ironically, you don’t see people talking on cell phones, putting on makeup, or fumbling with fast food while riding the bus.

Using mass transit takes a little effort and planning, but it’s well worth it.

~elliott

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