Comments on: Of Buses and Women http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/01/08/of-buses-and-women/ Covering Los Angeles's livable streets movement Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:06:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: browne http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/01/08/of-buses-and-women/comment-page-1/#comment-3763 browne Sat, 10 Jan 2009 19:54:42 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=1587#comment-3763 I don't know the exact figure, but I noticed something about the increase in public transit use. I saw a marked increase in middle class women riding the bus. In my unresearched, unwikied, ungoogled opinion I think that is women in general are hit harder in economic times. Also if there is a one car household often it is the women who have to take the bus, because the guy has the "better" job. I saw from my untrained eye more middle class (middle management type) women (white, latino, black, asian) in their 40-60s taking public transportation than I did men in that demographic. And I got the most complaints (off line emails) from women who were middle class from the valley or san gabriel about being left, having to take transit, it seemed really hard for them. This is something I have brought up alot of course I'm a woman so it coming from me is not nearly as interesting ;) Not a slam on you Damien, because you have been way generous, but other people. I find their apathy amazing, especially if the message is coming from a woman or a minority. It's like what we have to say doesn't matter until a white guy approves the message. Browne I don’t know the exact figure, but I noticed something about the increase in public transit use. I saw a marked increase in middle class women riding the bus. In my unresearched, unwikied, ungoogled opinion I think that is women in general are hit harder in economic times. Also if there is a one car household often it is the women who have to take the bus, because the guy has the “better” job.

I saw from my untrained eye more middle class (middle management type) women (white, latino, black, asian) in their 40-60s taking public transportation than I did men in that demographic.

And I got the most complaints (off line emails) from women who were middle class from the valley or san gabriel about being left, having to take transit, it seemed really hard for them. This is something I have brought up alot of course I’m a woman so it coming from me is not nearly as interesting ;)

Not a slam on you Damien, because you have been way generous, but other people. I find their apathy amazing, especially if the message is coming from a woman or a minority. It’s like what we have to say doesn’t matter until a white guy approves the message.

Browne

]]> By: Jarrett http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/01/08/of-buses-and-women/comment-page-1/#comment-3744 Jarrett Fri, 09 Jan 2009 23:16:14 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=1587#comment-3744 Look up a group called the Women's Transportation Seminar, www.wtsinternational.org , for the existing leadership on the issue of women in transport. While I don't believe that everything would be better if women ran the world, there's no question that the maleness of the industry is a very big blind spot. Look up a group called the Women’s Transportation Seminar, http://www.wtsinternational.org , for the existing leadership on the issue of women in transport. While I don’t believe that everything would be better if women ran the world, there’s no question that the maleness of the industry is a very big blind spot.

]]> By: Wad http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/01/08/of-buses-and-women/comment-page-1/#comment-3731 Wad Fri, 09 Jan 2009 06:31:23 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=1587#comment-3731 I like Santa Rosa CityBus' blogging efforts. Very interesting. It's also a good form of low-cost marketing that directly engages with the public. From what I have seen, Santa Rosa needs this kind of engagement. I've only used CityBus when on vacation up there, and I saw record ridership last January. It was 12 people. On a 40-foot bus. On weekdays it has half-hourly service, very good and very reliable for a compact city. The buses are barren. On the other hand, Sonoma County Transit does far better. It connects Santa Rosa with neighboring cities, which are far apart. It's a rural system with most buses not running on smooth schedules; there could be trips spaced 45 minutes apart, but the next bus doesn't come for 2.5 hours. However, it also runs 40-foot buses and they are always packed. Sonoma County Transit should run on Santa Rosa headways. I like Santa Rosa CityBus’ blogging efforts. Very interesting. It’s also a good form of low-cost marketing that directly engages with the public.

From what I have seen, Santa Rosa needs this kind of engagement.

I’ve only used CityBus when on vacation up there, and I saw record ridership last January. It was 12 people. On a 40-foot bus.

On weekdays it has half-hourly service, very good and very reliable for a compact city. The buses are barren.

On the other hand, Sonoma County Transit does far better. It connects Santa Rosa with neighboring cities, which are far apart. It’s a rural system with most buses not running on smooth schedules; there could be trips spaced 45 minutes apart, but the next bus doesn’t come for 2.5 hours. However, it also runs 40-foot buses and they are always packed.

Sonoma County Transit should run on Santa Rosa headways.

]]>