What would it ACTUALLY take for you to consider biking or taking the bus, in lieu of motoring?

[Anonymous]

As we all know, the use of personal vehicles has a significant impact on the environment and presents safety issues to others in the public space, such as pedestrians and bicyclists. For everyone's benefit, it's going to become increasingly important to explore alternative modes of transportation as we get deeper into the 21st century.

To that end, DC and many other big cities are beginning to implement more pedestrian-friendly street and intersection designs, in addition to dedicated spaces for other modes of transportation such bikes and buses over the exclusive use of personal vehicles. I'm familiar with the pushback that a small but vocal minority has made in framing this as a 'war on cars', as they feel their entitlement to exclusive use of the right-of-way is being threatened.

What I find interesting in all of this is that many of these skeptics look at the installation of bus-only lanes or protected bike lanes and NEVER seriously consider personally switching to those other modes now that they are faster, safer, or more convenient. Instead, many seem to express antagonism or cynicism reflexively, possibly because they 'identify' as motorists and would never stoop so low as to take the bus or bike?

Ok, perhaps I'm projecting a bit. But for many of these skeptical folks evidently these measures are not far enough to overcome the legacy car culture this country has, or the perceived convenience or benefits of driving. So I am curious to know what it would realistically take for DC motorists to consider walking, riding a bike or taking the bus to get to work, run errands, etc.

For instance:
What if work or shops were closer to homes?
What if bus stops were located on your residential corner and came every 5-7 minutes dependably?
What if the roads were redesigned so that the bike lanes were universal and protected, or adjacent to sidewalks (not in the roadway)?
What if stores provided free and secured bike parking/valeting?
What if buses were free, and the purchase of e-bikes/cargo bikes was heavily subsidized?

I'm interested in hearing the DCUM community's thoughts and ideas on the matter.

[Anonymous]

Safe streets so I don't feel like I am taking my life into my hands to get a loaf of bread at BreadFurst, for example.

[Anonymous]

I'd be more willing to take the bus and/or metro if there was actually some sort of police presence. Right now, it's like the Wild West on public transportation. Large groups of teens wearing ski masks are free to terrorize everyone else and suffer no consequences. Until it's safe and you actually have police enforcing the law, you won't have a majority of people willing to ride.

[Anonymous]

Free buses = buses becoming de facto homeless shelters.

[Anonymous]

The only places I ride bikes is a separate bike path. Otherwise I think it’s too dangerous.

[Anonymous]

The only places I ride bikes is a separate bike path. Otherwise I think it’s too dangerous.

This is how it is in Germany. They have red painted bike lanes next to the sidewalk, above the curb. Then you don't have to deal with cars riding next to you.

[Anonymous]

+1 to all of this.

Do I care that my daily commute is contributing to pollution and traffic and is bad for the environment? Eh. Not really.

Could I be persuaded to change my habits to take public transportation, especially knowing that I would get in more walking and exercise in doing so? Yes, absolutely.

Would I accept feeling/ being unsafe, or put up with city problems such as panhandling and worse, which are currently a by-product of buses? No way.

[Anonymous]

Now that I have 3 kids at 3 different daycares/schools? Nothing. I suppose I'd have to have a nanny if I didn't have a car.

I did commute by metro to DC for 6 years. The only way I made it work was:
-Shuttle from my house to the metro that left every 30 min.
-15 minute trains

Neither of those exist anymore, so I wouldn't be able to commute by metro. Metro was very expensive too- $5 plus another $1 (?) for the bus. If I had to park that would be more. I had trouble affording it.

[Anonymous]

With buses and public transportation generally, you are going to get a lot of people explaining that they don't want to be in close proximity to poor people. I mean, they'll say "safety" or something, but this is what they mean.

Also, some people just don't want to be in proximity to people generally, I've found. I am a longtime bus rider and have had many coworkers and neighbors tell me they couldn't do it because it means being near too many people. They don't want to make eye contact with other people, be close enough to smell them (even if they smell objectively good I guess, though as a longtime bus rider I can assure you most people do not smell objectively good, especially in the summer), and -- god forbid -- speak with them.

This is a major cultural obstacle to widespread adoption of public transportation in the US, I think. People have become very accustomed to personal space, being on their own personal timeline, not having to perform the basic niceties of being in public. Covid has made it worse. I don't know how to change it. I have always kind of liked being around other people, but I've learned I"m an outlier here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only places I ride bikes is a separate bike path. Otherwise I think it’s too dangerous.

Same. I'm just not that great of a biker. I would feel really unsafe on the streets. Even out in the suburbs I rarely ride my bike because they're not allowed on sidewalks. I just use trails. And biking with my kids? Hell no I wouldn't ride in the street with them.

[Anonymous]

I'd take the bus/metro if they removed all other residents from it and I was the only one on it. No desire to be near other people

[Anonymous]

I used to take public transport or walk with the occasional Uber before COVID.

Then COVID struck and I got a car.

For me, I’d want an enforced mask mandate.

[Anonymous]

I’m a slightly different perspective (I don’t have a car) but I walk everywhere. To me, the reason I prefer walking to the bus is wait times. Some busses are every 10 or 20 mins. That’s way too long to wait. They should all be <5 mins. Same with metro. Transfers especially I avoid so much. Just this weekend I had to wait 20 mins for the bus, then 20 mins for the next one. That’s untenable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With buses and public transportation generally, you are going to get a lot of people explaining that they don't want to be in close proximity to poor people. I mean, they'll say "safety" or something, but this is what they mean.

Also, some people just don't want to be in proximity to people generally, I've found. I am a longtime bus rider and have had many coworkers and neighbors tell me they couldn't do it because it means being near too many people. They don't want to make eye contact with other people, be close enough to smell them (even if they smell objectively good I guess, though as a longtime bus rider I can assure you most people do not smell objectively good, especially in the summer), and -- god forbid -- speak with them.

This is a major cultural obstacle to widespread adoption of public transportation in the US, I think. People have become very accustomed to personal space, being on their own personal timeline, not having to perform the basic niceties of being in public. Covid has made it worse. I don't know how to change it. I have always kind of liked being around other people, but I've learned I"m an outlier here.

Poor people? Or do you mean homeless people? I think nearly everyone is okay with poor people. The latter is often acting erratically, unbathed and spread out over multiple bus seats. They are just riding for fun and don't get off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With buses and public transportation generally, you are going to get a lot of people explaining that they don't want to be in close proximity to poor people. I mean, they'll say "safety" or something, but this is what they mean.

Also, some people just don't want to be in proximity to people generally, I've found. I am a longtime bus rider and have had many coworkers and neighbors tell me they couldn't do it because it means being near too many people. They don't want to make eye contact with other people, be close enough to smell them (even if they smell objectively good I guess, though as a longtime bus rider I can assure you most people do not smell objectively good, especially in the summer), and -- god forbid -- speak with them.

This is a major cultural obstacle to widespread adoption of public transportation in the US, I think. People have become very accustomed to personal space, being on their own personal timeline, not having to perform the basic niceties of being in public. Covid has made it worse. I don't know how to change it. I have always kind of liked being around other people, but I've learned I"m an outlier here.

What a ridiculous comment. I have no problem being near poor people (how would I even know they're poor)? It's the mentally ill and criminals that I'd prefer to not be around because I'd like to return home to my family at the end of the workday.