TheBus news

[craigwatanabe]

Re: TheBus news

I believe at least in town there should be more busses to accomodate the masses. One thing I hated when riding the bus was having to stand in a crowded bus. I got no student or senior citizen discount so I was a full-fare paying rider having to stand during the morning and afternoon rush hour times.

I felt something was wrong here and that if you pay more than others, you should be able to sit and ride in some comfort. The notion of being able to sit and read the morning rag while commuting to work was a fleeting one as I stood there hanging on for dear life as we tore down potholed Kapiolani BLVD.

More busses would allow for more seats. More seats would mean people like me wouldn't have swayed away from riding the bus later on.

One problem with more busses however, yes that bus takes that many cars off the road, but if 50 people drove their cars, those cars would end up in parking lots and not on the streets for the rest of the day until the afternoon rush. Their motors would be off and not consuming fuel or polluting the air with exhaust.

Busses on the other hand would continue to operate whether it was carrying a full load or just one passenger, throughout the day and more than likely, through out the evening. Their motors are on more times than off, consuming more fuel and contributing to more pollution. Their weight on the roads have more impact as they're on them longer. It's so bad at most major bus stops concrete is used as a pad instead of asphalt. Heavy vehicles make more of a negative impact on our roadways than lighter ones. I think I can say that's a fact.

So is The Bus really a better way to get to work? Maybe from a passenger standpoint, but what about from an environmental, roadway infrastructure and resource perspective?

Hmmm.....I think an Environmental Assessment or better yet an EIS should be conducted on the Bus to see exactly how the Bus impacts our daily lives from a societal level to an environmental one.

As anyone who has been stuck behind a bus, they exhaust a crapload of carbon. Before it was acceptable as carbon soot fell back to the ground but nowdays with the emphasis on carbon footprinting, I think the Bus and other diesel burning vehicles are probably contributing a good portion of it into our environment.

[joshuatree]

Re: TheBus news

They're websites that make sense and I am proud to be associated with them. I am not a special interest.

Absolutely not a problem, I respect your position on the issue.

I just wish those sites would be a little more factual and less PR spin.

[mel]

Re: TheBus news

They're websites that make sense and I am proud to be associated with them. I am not a special interest.

[joshuatree]

Re: TheBus news

Stop Rail Now

HonoluluTraffic.com

Those two special interest sites again?

[mel]

Re: TheBus news

Stop Rail Now

HonoluluTraffic.com

[joshuatree]

Re: TheBus news

Increasing the number of busses cost way less than building a rail from scratch.

Short term - yes, long term - no.

[mel]

Re: TheBus news

Increasing the number of busses cost way less than building a rail from scratch.

[joshuatree]

Re: TheBus news

With the cost of gas spiraling higher and supposed demand for bus ridership and other alternative forms of transport increases with the systems we already have in place and the supposed less cars on the road, wouldn't this negate the need to having to build the rail? If people made adjustments just by the cost of gas alone and used their cars less and less car traffic was on the road, it is a matter of just increasing the number of busses we already have on routes in demand instead of spending big dollars to building something new from scratch.

As for zone bus pricing, I think there will be complaints coming in from rural areas about the higher prices than from those living in the urban core. Zone prices do make sense but the rural public won't like it.

A $1 bus fare for each leg without free transfers makes sense.

My opinion would be the opposite, that this further justifies the rail. The articles are saying the buses are already near or at capacity so the growth in ridership will be physically limited which is a bummer since we got people wanting to use different modes of transit. Adding more buses would mean more vehicles on the road and while this will be offset by less cars since people are leaving their cars behind, increasing lumbering buses on the road ain't exactly ideal to clearing up traffic.

[kiwidiva]

Re: TheBus news

Actually, with my new job, I was provided paperwork to deduct the price of my bus pass before taxes, making it a $30 bus pass.

I did that too when I used to catch the bus. I guess a lot of people do know about the bonus program and are signed up for it.

This is a press release on the City's website:

MAYOR COMMENDS OAHU EMPLOYERS FOR BUS BONUS PROGRAM

An innovative program that saves money for employers and workers who use public transportation has continued to grow as more businesses and agencies provide opportunities to participate.

TheBus BONUS! program allows employees to obtain transit passes or vouchers using pre-tax payroll deductions. Both the employer and the employee can save money since the deduction is not taxable by Federal, State or FICA withholdings.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann congratulated employers who offer the benefit. “This is a win-win-win for employers, employees and our community,” Mayor Hannemann said. “There is no cost to participate in the program, everybody saves money, and employers can help support public transportation.”

The Bloodbank of Hawaii is among the many employers who have seen a steady increase in BONUS! program participants. Four employees signed up for the program initially, but now 11 participate.

Public transportation is a good alternative to driving to work, and the program provides an added benefit, said Sally Lee, Bloodbank of Hawaii Chief Operating Officer. “Even though the numbers seem small, involving almost three times as many more employees in the program is very rewarding for us,” said Lee.

Transit vouchers can be used on all public transit systems on Oahu including TheBus, TheBoat, TheHandi-Van, Van-Pool Hawaii, and the LOTMA express bus from Central Oahu. Over 120 large and small Honolulu employers already participate in the program including banks, hospitals, hotels, law firms, consulting companies, non-profit agencies and City, State, and Federal government agencies. Altogether, about 8,000 employees now participate.

Employers interested in obtaining more information about the BONUS! program can call TheBus Customer Services at (808) 848-4500 or inquire further through the web at www.thebus.org/EmpProgram/EmployerProgram.asp.

Contact: James Burke, Transportation Services Public Transit Division Chief, 768-8363

[Ron Whitfield]

Re: TheBus news

Yes, but it's kinda hard to make clear what isn't even mentioned.
Good you got some kind of break. Sounds as tho there is an alternative to the 'Low Income Bus Voucher' I'm speaking of, which also hasn't been circulated to the masses.

The mass transit rail fare has not been decided, and I can't imagine it being on a par with The Bus fares, which will help kill off potential ridership.

Few people ride mass transit for the enjoyment. It's mostly because they have no legitimate alternative. So we put up with The Bus' cockroach infestation, the freezing/sweltering temps, the crowded conditions, the attitudes/tempers/lack of common sense or decency, the stinky bums that leave thier stench behind forever, the loonies, the ai'no'kea's, idiot phone blatherers, drivers that stare straight ahead and do nothing else but drive, getting ditched at the curb, the multitude of physical attacks that almost always are kept from public attention, not having express bus service on holidays (and lose your job, like I did) so The Bus can have time off, for what? To vist Aunty?. Plenty more...
And, that's the up-sides to riding the bus.

People want/need that solo commute time in thier car, even if sitting in hours of traffic. For many, that's the only time off from family/friends/whatever.
Improving The Bus services in all aspects, without fare increases is the only way to go if any appreciable ridership is to occur. Cities like Austin, TX have eliminated transit fares and are doing reletively fine, and with a big increase in riders.

[lavagal]

Re: TheBus news

Actually, with my new job, I was provided paperwork to deduct the price of my bus pass before taxes, making it a $30 bus pass. I've executed it and will begin with the $30 pass as of June. I agree things should be made more clear!

[Ron Whitfield]

Thanx a lot The Bus and City officials

How many of you bus riders even know there is a $10 voucher available to make your monthly bus pass purchase $30?

I'll bet nobody here does.
Why? Because the City and The Bus don't want you to know.
It's been in effect for years, and after a bunch of 'delays' and the parties swearing they'll notify the public when it would become available, THEY NEVER!
I kept tabs on it big time, figuring these liars would pull thier crap, and they did. The only 'notice' was in the StarBulletin's Kokua Line, when a citizen asked the question, a year after it's availability.
This info is SO secret, that if there's a new face at the Middle St. office (which is the only place you can get it, and only during most people's normal working times, meaning you may have to take time off work to get it, thus nullifying the discount and jepordizing your job), I have to educate them on this part of thier job. They have NO clue. Same with City office workers.

You have to jump thru 10,000 flaming hoops to get it, of course, so if anybody is interested, you must be of very limited income, get a legal doc. of such (tax filings, etc.), go to the proper building and floor, submit the application, blah blah..., but it can be a help for many. If they only knew.

[mel]

Re: TheBus news

With the cost of gas spiraling higher and supposed demand for bus ridership and other alternative forms of transport increases with the systems we already have in place and the supposed less cars on the road, wouldn't this negate the need to having to build the rail? If people made adjustments just by the cost of gas alone and used their cars less and less car traffic was on the road, it is a matter of just increasing the number of busses we already have on routes in demand instead of spending big dollars to building something new from scratch.

As for zone bus pricing, I think there will be complaints coming in from rural areas about the higher prices than from those living in the urban core. Zone prices do make sense but the rural public won't like it.

A $1 bus fare for each leg without free transfers makes sense.

[Palama Kid]

Re: TheBus news

Another thing that could be done is reduce the $2 one way fare with transfers to $1 fare with no transfers. That might save the company on paper usage for the transfers.

FYI on the local Valley Transportation Authority buses (as of 1 Sep 07), it's $1.75 for a single ride fare for adults, no transfers; $5 for an all-day pass; and $61.25 for a monthly Flash Pass.

Hmmmm, juss noticed that an all-day pass for a disabled / Medicare / 65+ senior is two bucks !!! A monthly Flash Pass for "those" people costs twenty bucks. Gas being what it is, that's quite an incentive.

[joshuatree]

Re: TheBus news

Without redoing the routes making a fare based on passing through zones is going to tough to enforce.

Another thing that could be done is reduce the $2 one way fare with transfers to $1 fare with no transfers. That might save the company on paper usage for the transfers.

Allow me to clarify. I've seen this done in other cities. Basically, certain bus routes will require the higher zone bus passes. I guess a better description would be certain bus routes require the upgraded bus pass to reflect the extra fuel consumption of that route. So the enforcement is simple, the driver just needs to look for that certain pass as each passenger gets on board for that particular bus route. The upgraded bus pass will work on all routes whereas the base bus pass will only work on the short local routes.

But yes, that is a great idea. Maybe it's time to abolish the transfers, no paper needed. Just make each ride $1 so if you always transferred, then it's just like $2 of today.