I will never understand the whining about the Green Line. I have been using it for a year now, and, with the exception of a couple of days, the service has been satisfactory (well worth of the cheap cost of a $59 monthly pass). Spend 2 years riding the nightmare that is the Red Line in Chicago, and you'll come to appreicate the Green Line here.
I suspect this will get everyone going, and unfortunately I won't be able to get back to my screen to re-engage until very late tonight, but you've hit on something that no one likes to talk about.
The MonthlyLink pass (and perhaps some other components of the T) is too cheap. Even if you use the Link only to commute to work in the Link pass zones, and only work 20 days a month, you are paying only about $1.48 a ride. I think it is fair to say that most people who have Link passes ride the T substantially more times per month than that. It is the best deal going for mechanized transport, particularly when you compare the cost of your commute conducted by personal automobile (loaded cost with gas/maint./parking/etc.) or by Taxi (yes, scooter people, we know, you have us all beat, and I don't consider a bike "mechanized" for the purposes of this discussion).
I would argue this is a big part of the reason why the service is so mediocre - not just because there is not enough revenue coming in to execute a decent maintenance program, but also because there is a "you get what you pay for" mentality both in management and among riders. I think there would be much more pressure to fix the system if riders were paying more to use it. Management would not be able to hide behind the "we have no money" line, and riders would be more assertive (not every rider is a UHer, a group of people known to be substantially more assertive about the T than most).
"Maintenance isn't sexy". Especially when you can wow the public by wasti - er -spending money on cameras and message boards and "this train is now arriving" systems instead.
Comments
the grass is always greener.....
By anon (not verified) - 10/26/09 - 2:35 pm
I will never understand the whining about the Green Line. I have been using it for a year now, and, with the exception of a couple of days, the service has been satisfactory (well worth of the cheap cost of a $59 monthly pass). Spend 2 years riding the nightmare that is the Red Line in Chicago, and you'll come to appreicate the Green Line here.
The T is too cheap.
By issacg - 10/26/09 - 3:35 pm
I suspect this will get everyone going, and unfortunately I won't be able to get back to my screen to re-engage until very late tonight, but you've hit on something that no one likes to talk about.
The MonthlyLink pass (and perhaps some other components of the T) is too cheap. Even if you use the Link only to commute to work in the Link pass zones, and only work 20 days a month, you are paying only about $1.48 a ride. I think it is fair to say that most people who have Link passes ride the T substantially more times per month than that. It is the best deal going for mechanized transport, particularly when you compare the cost of your commute conducted by personal automobile (loaded cost with gas/maint./parking/etc.) or by Taxi (yes, scooter people, we know, you have us all beat, and I don't consider a bike "mechanized" for the purposes of this discussion).
I would argue this is a big part of the reason why the service is so mediocre - not just because there is not enough revenue coming in to execute a decent maintenance program, but also because there is a "you get what you pay for" mentality both in management and among riders. I think there would be much more pressure to fix the system if riders were paying more to use it. Management would not be able to hide behind the "we have no money" line, and riders would be more assertive (not every rider is a UHer, a group of people known to be substantially more assertive about the T than most).
Well, as they say
By roadman - 10/26/09 - 4:44 pm
"Maintenance isn't sexy". Especially when you can wow the public by wasti - er -spending money on cameras and message boards and "this train is now arriving" systems instead.
The T is not cheap. When I
By anon (not verified) - 10/26/09 - 9:29 pm
The T is not cheap.
When I lived in Silicon Valley, I rode the VTA to and from work.
My job used the VTA Eco Pass program, which cost them $36/employee for a yearly pass for all employees. That's cheap.
(See http://www.vta.org/news/factsheets/vta_information/eco_pass_program_01_01_2010.pdf for prices)
New York City's monthly pass....
By Michael Kerpan - 10/26/09 - 10:52 pm
...costs 50% more -- but gets you a whole lot more in terms of travel options and opportunities.