How do you reconcile public transit with pandemics ?

[Anonymous]

Especially in the future when we are forced to use public transit ? How do you do it in a hysteria?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Especially in the future when we are forced to use public transit ? How do you do it in a hysteria?

There's no reconciliation possible. People must take public transit into DC because there aren't enough spaces. Since work from home hasn't yet been authorized, people will continue to spread the virus.

[Anonymous]

Well, once a noticeable percentage of transit riders decide to drive solo and park in DC, the traffic is going to make you want to risk infection just to escape it.

I’ll keep biking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Especially in the future when we are forced to use public transit ? How do you do it in a hysteria?

Nobody is "forcing" anyone to use public transit. You just might have to drive slowly, and pay to park.

My advice is: don't do it in a hysteria, do it calmly like any other normal activity.

Also, wash your hands, and consider riding a bicycle.

[Anonymous]

I was on the Wisconsin Avenue bus today and it was a horror show. You can't social distance because it was pretty packed. And there were some clearly mentally ill people on board.

[Anonymous]

You have to take risks sometimes in life. This is one of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I was on the Wisconsin Avenue bus today and it was a horror show. You can't social distance because it was pretty packed. And there were some clearly mentally ill people on board.

Since the operators don't have to deal with monitoring if someone has paid or not anymore, they should monitor how many people are on their bus. Once they reach capacity, they should have the authority to say no more. It is ridiculous how many people are allowed on the buses right now.

[Anonymous]

It won’t be truly awful on buses until winter. I was a bus rider for almost two years recently. When the weather was pleasant, I walked as much of the route as possible. Often, I would get off a stop about a mile from home and actually beat the bus to “my” stop by 5 minutes. So, people will be more reluctant to board an overcrowded bus in summer.

Winter is different. Standing at a bus stop in freezing weather is miserable. When I missed buses in 20 deg weather, I got an Uber. I couldn’t afford to, but my health was an issue. If I could afford to, I would have boarded the next bus moving, no matter how crowded. The sun setting earlier will also make people more willing to crowd onto buses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It won’t be truly awful on buses until winter. I was a bus rider for almost two years recently. When the weather was pleasant, I walked as much of the route as possible. Often, I would get off a stop about a mile from home and actually beat the bus to “my” stop by 5 minutes. So, people will be more reluctant to board an overcrowded bus in summer.

Winter is different. Standing at a bus stop in freezing weather is miserable. When I missed buses in 20 deg weather, I got an Uber. I couldn’t afford to, but my health was an issue. If I could afford to, I would have boarded the next bus moving, no matter how crowded. The sun setting earlier will also make people more willing to crowd onto buses.

Excellent points. Bowser and WMATA need to get out in front of this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It won’t be truly awful on buses until winter. I was a bus rider for almost two years recently. When the weather was pleasant, I walked as much of the route as possible. Often, I would get off a stop about a mile from home and actually beat the bus to “my” stop by 5 minutes. So, people will be more reluctant to board an overcrowded bus in summer.

Winter is different. Standing at a bus stop in freezing weather is miserable. When I missed buses in 20 deg weather, I got an Uber. I couldn’t afford to, but my health was an issue. If I could afford to, I would have boarded the next bus moving, no matter how crowded. The sun setting earlier will also make people more willing to crowd onto buses.

Excellent points. Bowser and WMATA need to get out in front of this.

Why? They don't Metro, so it's not a problem. Maybe you should ride the nice, free streetcar? Did you know is covers a whole 2.4 miles! Really, more money should be put into the streetcar program. Improving the bus service is a pointless activity when we can have free streetcars. Yes, you might notice I think the streetcar is pointless AND stupid.

[Anonymous]

I take my infant to her daycare on the metro everyday. It’s going to be a tough return.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I take my infant to her daycare on the metro everyday. It’s going to be a tough return.

Do you have any alternatives?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Especially in the future when we are forced to use public transit ? How do you do it in a hysteria?

Nobody is "forcing" anyone to use public transit. You just might have to drive slowly, and pay to park.

My advice is: don't do it in a hysteria, do it calmly like any other normal activity.

Also, wash your hands, and consider riding a bicycle.

True, no one is forcing anyone to use public transit. But for the millions of us who don’t have cars, that’s cold comfort. While your advice may work well for the wealthier who can afford to buy cars and pay for parking, and the able bodied, who can bike, those of us whose best option really has been public transportation really do have a lot of variable to negotiate in order to get from point a to point b safely.

[Anonymous]

I think it stands to reason that people could be more easily infected on public transportation, but do we have proof of this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it stands to reason that people could be more easily infected on public transportation, but do we have proof of this?

This is interesting.... https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2020/3/13/21177324/public-transit-pandemic-coronavirus