Civil Beat’s most popular story yesterday started to shine a much-needed bit of light on Honolulu’s once stellar bus system (“Honolulu Traffic Is Terrible. So Why Aren’t More People Riding TheBus?”).
Marcel Honore looked at various responses to declining ridership. Lower bus fares. A modern payment system using smart cards or smart phones. Adding doors on the left side for expediting boarding and departing on one-way streets. Dedicated bus lanes on certain streets.
Those are all interesting moves.
But if you’re wondering why ridership is down, you have to ride Honolulu’s buses. Buses on main routes are all too often crowded to the “standing room only” point at various times of the day. And if you find yourself standing, you know that our buses are particularly cramped, with narrow aisles that make moving through a crowded bus difficult and uncomfortable.
Does TheBus collect data on how crowded its buses are as they travel along their routes? We have good data on the movement of traffic that allows identifying intersections that need reengineering. Does the city have similar data to identify particularly troublesome bus routes are most crowded?
And how about those bus stops. Shelters from the sun and rain at bus stops are getting rare. And attempts to make them unusable by the homeless make them equally unfriendly to bus riders. On the windward side, where rain is a fact of life, the absence or disrepair of bus shelters is an ongoing fact-of-life.
I often wonder whether those who make transit decisions are required to ride the bus to and from work at least some of the time, or get across town for meetings during the work day. It might make a difference in how they think about such things.
For a number of years, Portland (Oregon) had a “fareless square” in the downtown area where transit was free. If we really want to get people out of their cars, reducing fares closer to zero would certainly be an answer.
Check the Wikipedia entry for “Free Public Transport.”
Free public transport, often called fare-free public transit or zero-fare public transport, refers to public transport funded in full by means other than by collecting fares from passengers. It may be funded by national, regional or local government through taxation, or by commercial sponsorship by businesses. Alternatively, the concept of “free-ness” may take other forms, such as no-fare access via a card which may or may not be paid for in its entirety by the user. Luxembourg is set to be the first country in the world to make all public transport free[1] from 1 March 2020.[2] Germany is considering making their public transit system fare-free in response to the EU’s threatening to fine them for their air pollution levels.
Perhaps making all or part of Honolulu’s bus system free would do more to boost ridership and ease traffic congestion than fiddling with little design changes.
Perhaps bus riders can submit reviews of some of their rides to provide a more complete perspective on TheBus.
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I’m only an intermittantbus rider now, althi I have a yearly pass. But have always thought Honolulu, with its many valleys, should switch to a jitney system. Shorter routes , smaller buses, circling more often. That seems more efficient than HUGE buses that dont come very often (or reliably either)
If buses are already standing-room only, making them free would be an utter disaster. More buses, with lower fares, could increase ridership but require increased subsidy.
However, there also remains the sticky issue of passenger discomfort with filthy and reality-challenged persons, especially on certain lines, who seem to be awarded free bus passes because of their condition. Good intentions, perhaps, but a strong deterrent to paying customers.
I suppose the question is whether we should treat public transportation as a necessary public service, like fire and police protection. If so, it’s cost should be factored into the overall tax structure, not loaded onto the shoulders of those who regularly use it. As it is now, bus fares are really a very regressive tax.
The cost of public transportation is already factored into the overall tax structure. Bus aquisition and operation are heavily subsidized by taxpayers, many of whom do not personally use the system but benefit from it in other ways, such as having a mobile student and workforce ridership that is not dependent on private vehicles. High fares and bad experiences deter many other would-be riders. Higher subsidies and lower fares are achievable and could increase ridership. But a fare-free system is a socialist pipe dream that would further ghetto-ize the system and create huge new challenges. And it simply will not happen anyway.
The key statistic that the Bus has is on time arrivals, and a few years ago 2/3 rds were late. The cause-traffic congestion. The rail EIS had a chapter devoted to the Bus. Its findings were without rail, congestion would continue to deteriorate bus service, leading to a sort of death spiral. Late arrivals meant fewer riders, and ironically some buses being more crowded, while others are empty. The EIS predictions are coming true. Its not that transit planners don’t ride the bus. (Many do). Its that reporters don’t do their reaearch. Or even ask the right question.
“Its not that transit planners don’t ride the bus. (Many do). Its that reporters don’t do their reaearch. Or even ask the right question.”
And these are statements based upon research and facts? Just curious, naturally.
Can tell “Laurence” doesn’t ride the bus much. “On-time” service isn’t nearly as much of an issue as it once was. Why? Smart phones. Most of us who use the city system don’t use a bus “schedule” anymore, and haven’t for years. Instead, we punch in the stop number where we want to be picked up, and GPS tells us how long we will have to wait until our ride will arrive. Maybe Marcel didn’t ask about on-time bus arrivals because the question doesn’t make a lot of sense nowadays. Before catching attitude, best to know what you’re talking about, “Lawrence.”
It’s not just riding TheBus.
I wonder if the people responsible for designing our roads and intersections actually walk and bike those roads and intersections. The disappearing crosswalks I’ve been seeing all over the island suggest they aren’t.
But that would be common sense, and Hawaii’s gov. Isn’t known for common sense.
Maybe last years bus hatchet attack scared many away!
Communal transit is no longer attractive! Tesla tunnels clearly make class separation new normal.
Perhaps like the movie “Soul Plane” a high class or low class separation would be much more attractive in 2020.
Rail prices are not resolved, a $50 ride vs $3 will become the private partnership option…or will car class be separated by special charter / partnership?
Ian,
Your speculative piece raises a number of interesting questions as well as makes a number of assertions about the conditions of The Bus system.
However, I am mystified as to why you didn’t contact anybody with the Department of Transportation Services (DTS) to ask the questions you pose or to learn what their take on the situation is.
On other topics, you often give us examples of how you have dug through mountains of information and records to analyze what happened or who is doing what.
I don’t understand why you didn’t simply pick up the phone and call the DTS Director Wes Frystacki and ask him questions about the conditions for the bus services and shelter provision like the one you pose in your article:
“Does TheBus collect data on how crowded its buses are as they travel along their routes? We have good data on the movement of traffic that allows identifying intersections that need reengineering. Does the city have similar data to identify particularly troublesome bus routes are most crowded?”
My recollection from my time with the City is that DTS and TheBus management regularly collects information about route ridership and on-time performance which is used to adjust routes and bus usage.
And I also know that many City workers, including staff of DTS and TheBus, are riding the Bus during their commute as well as during the day, and are quite aware of the frustrating conditions that you cite, and would welcome support (and funding) to make bus use more comfortable and convenient.
I’ve never seen bus crime issue addressed: Neighbors report groups of youth in the wee hours of the morning breaking into cars, then jumping on the last bus. This is a crime wave happening! The bus is how these youth go to distant communities to commit burglaries and car break-ins. There should be a bus curfew for these unsupervised kids.
The bus needs to be safe. Those who can afford to, never ride the bus. The poor ride the bus. No sky marshals protect our young and vulnerable from the crazies, perverts and criminals. Bus riders are voiceless. The little people our Council and Mayor forgot. Unlike the Mayor, there is no reserved parking spot for the little people. The Mayor and his henchmen should be required to ride the bus. Force them to care. Then watch the improvement in service.
Luxembourg is the wealthiest country in the world and geographically one of the smallest nations.
Like “Thomas The Train” on “Sodor island” in child fiction. A comparable service area on Hawaii islands, in ancient Hilo Tow. In San Pan’s transported the public in private operated vehicles for nominal fee during the last century.
The winded open air San Pan’s also relieved stinky class separation from sweaty workers and well dressed travelers. As opposed to closed air conditioned, smell holding vessel. My point, if passengers smell like they are drenched in urine and carry hatchets…not appealing!
In a RAIL automated ticketing system this will become issue. With many trains, profit will obviously be sought by SPECIAL CHARTER CARS a.k.a exclusive tour groups.
Clearly most of previous commenters are not bus riders. I recently signed up for my senior bus pass and I must say it is a blessing. Previous to that I was paying $5.50 for a day pass and making sure I had 5’s, 1’s, and a roll of quarters at the ready before I left the house. While there is room for improvement it has been my experience as a life long bus rider in various states and countries that Honolulu’s the bus is pretty decent for a city this size. Yes there some people on the bus I’d rather not sit next to, routes and times of the day that should be avoided, but by and large it is a mode of transportation I choose. When Mayor Caldwell restored the bus routes he didn’t do to it the route 4 (it originally ended at Kapiolani Park and now ends near where the old Pink Cadillac nite spot was located, as a bus rider at night not an area I want to wait for a bus). I think with this new holo system they will get a better idea of ridership (not for cash customers though) and help them plan accordingly. ps I am not poor, drenched in urine or carry a hatchet. there are some delightful little old ladies with wonderful stories to tell that take the bus!