Race, Class, and the Stigma of Riding the Bus in America

[volguus zildrohar]

For Philadelphia, it depends on the location of the route and this applies to all modes, not just the bus. If you ride a route with a healthy racial mix that mix begins/ends at a definite point - usually within the area of Center City's satellite neighborhoods. Any regular rider will know at which point "all the white people have gotten off the bus". Indeed, it's a good indicator of where neighborhoods are gentrifying.

The situation is slightly more magnified because bus coverage in this city is so much more extensive than subway/trolley coverage in general. The stigma would probably hold if there were more rapid transit routes in the city.

[casper]

On of trends in many Canadian cities has been U-Pass. Where universities or their student association negotiated with the transit authority to a very low rate on the condition that it becomes part of the student fees. The student ID card then becomes a valid bus pass. That tends to drive up usage by students. After they graduate many continue to use the system.

[Wizened Variations]

[QUOTE=M II A II R II K;5763620]Race, Class, and the Stigma of Riding the Bus in America


Jul 10, 2012

By Amanda Hess



Read More: http://www.theatlanticcities.com/com...-america/2510/

Ah, the "Race card." Of all the hot bottom issues in US history, the "Race Card" ranks at the top.

Thoughts:

People of any ethnicity and racial label will always try to spend the least amount of time traveling to work, to the "store", and, to entertainmnet venues. Spending 2 hours per day on commuting is about the max most people will tolerate without having cheaper housing variables make the "Time Value Cost of Money (TVCOM)" tilt more in favor of a 3 or 4 hour commute.

People, given the financial means, of every racial and ethnic label do not want to be part of a "sociological experiment" unless they have no alternative but to participate. For example, in the NYC metro area with it's best in US class public transportation network, the amount of time saved by using the subway and commuter rail system combiled with the TVCOM involved, makes public transit a very viable alternative to the car. This efficientcy increases how tolerant a rider is towards who is siting next to, or near him (or her).

Buses, however, due to factors well discussed in this thread, for other than nearby destinations, are slow. In addition to being slow, bus travel on shared with POV right-of-way (excluding dedicated lanes on freeways), has too many on demand stops, and, serves that percentage of the local population that just does not have the money for the car alternative. In addition, due to the high ratio of driver cost to rider combined with the low relative number of riders per vehicle, having policemen on board a signficant percentage of buses is unaffordable. This "lack of public supervision" is real problem on public bus lines, as well as being fuel for peoples use of the "racial card."

As a carless friend of mine said, "after 10p, I always stay within easy walking distance of my home...."

[emathias]

Originally Posted by mhays

I work with several six-figure and nearly six-figure earners who ride the bus daily. (And several bicyclists.) This includes people who need to visit construction sites frequently, which sometimes means ZipCar.

A lot of people in my office in Chicago are six figures or close. Some ride trains, some ride buses, some ride bikes, some walk. Very few drive except on specific days for specific reasons. There's not really any stigma against the bus except that it's generally slower than rail options.

[mhays]

One co-worker lives in the distant suburbs, and says the trip is basically the same by bus and park-n-ride vs. driving alone, due to HOV lanes. She almost never drives.

The bus is a little different in Seattle...with a big HOV network including a Downtown tunnel (shared with LR) and Downtown surface transit-only street on top of the tunnel, buses are set up to be faster that driving even on longer routes sometimes.