Connector Busses

[22blades]

I have a love hate view of the Connector busses. Yes, they get cars off the street, but, I have a real problem on two points; 1.Is this a Band-Aid to a misguided public transit structure with public funds i.e. “backdoor” privatization? 2. On a sociological take, is it a good idea for a certain economic class of people to be insulated from the real world with it’s “messy problems”. I think “disconnect” is the word I’m looking for… I believe if we continue with this division of class, there will be consequences both large and small.

I have to say that when an entity decides to operate a fleet, I hold their operating practices to a higher bar because of the public impact. I believe SP+ who is the contractor for Microsoft can do better.

Remember that at the end of the day, it’s about getting people to make money for a private entity. I don’t have answers. I have just thoughts.

• This topic was modified 7 years, 10 months ago by 22blades.

Share This

[KBear]

Not sure what you mean by “backdoor privatization”. It’s not like any public transit agency is going to provide convenient service from West Seattle to Redmond any time soon. Our transit system needs all the help it can get. I just wonder if there’s any way they could be made to serve the general public as well.

Share This

[newnative]

“1.Is this a Band-Aid to a misguided public transit structure with public funds i.e. “backdoor” privatization? 2. On a sociological take, is it a good idea for a certain economic class of people to be insulated from the real world with it’s “messy problems”

1. This is a corporation providing mass carpooling for the longer distances. Many corporations provide transit assistance or parking assistance, I don’t see it as “backdoor” privatization.
2) These are buses, not limos, I hardly see how techies are being insulated from the real world with a bus ride.

Share This

[West Seattle since 1979]

This may be overly simplistic, and it’s just my opinion, but I’m just happy that they take some of the pressure off our Metro buses, which are crowded enough already during the commute. Imagine if all those people were crammed onto the C or 21 Express or 55. If there were enough Metro buses to accommodate them without overcrowding, it’d be a different matter.

Also, what about people who drive their own cars to work — are they insulating themselves from the real world too? They do have to deal with traffic, it’s true, but they don’t have to talk to anyone else or have anyone in their personal space while they’re in their car.

• This reply was modified 7 years, 10 months ago by West Seattle since 1979.
• This reply was modified 7 years, 10 months ago by West Seattle since 1979.

Share This

[22blades]

“It’s not like any public transit agency is going to provide convenient service from West Seattle to Redmond any time soon.”

Would this be less incentive for Metro to provide service to there, or, here? Also there are other employers on the Eastside. As to the social interaction, If you don’t give people an alternative, i.e. busses, yes, you will stay in your car isolated.

The reason I bring this up is because I spend a fair amount of time on Capitol Hill where this is an ongoing discussion. I think it’s a matter of time it may become an issue here. If Metro feels the area is “covered”, why bring anymore service here for the rest of us? This is certainly less incentive.

Per Capitol Hill Slog…
“Metro launches new pilot with Microsoft shuttles sharing Capitol Hill bus stops”
Posted on Sunday, April 23, 2017 – 8:13 am by CHS

Metro launches new pilot with Microsoft shuttles sharing Capitol Hill bus stops

• This reply was modified 7 years, 10 months ago by 22blades.
• This reply was modified 7 years, 10 months ago by 22blades.

Share This

[WSB]

FWIW we published the West Seattle version of that two days before CHS (whose publisher, our dear friend Justin, is on semi-hiatus):

Metro bus stop in West Seattle to be shared by Microsoft shuttle starting Monday

As linked in our story, the Microsoft shuttles have been running to/from West Seattle since 2008. This is just the first time any of them have used a public transit stop. The original stops were in the Masonic Center lot at 40th/Edmunds but according to the Connector maps I looked up, that apparently is not being used any more. – TR

Share This

[22blades]

My apologies for missing that one.

I guess part of it is my frustration with the lack of (mid-day) service in the Admiral District. Another part is that I truly believe that the Connector is just another wall between us. A “DisConnector” if you will. I choose to live where I am in no small part to knowing my neighbors. I’ve seen the dark side where the only interaction between my neighbors was through attorneys. A very unhealthy environment I chose to leave…

I want to know where everyone’s at

Share This

[JanS]

22blades…are you asking what part of WS we’re in? If so, I’m in Admiral District, directly east of Safeway. If not, now everyone knows where I live, sort of ;-). I’m a homebody…live and work here, so not commute. But I agree the lack of mid-day direct service is daunting for someone who finds it difficult to walk a great distance at the moment, and uses a walker. I’m fine with the connector buses, and I really have no opinion of where they stop around here. It’s gotta be somewhere…right?

Share This

[22blades]

In the eyes of a Metro planner, if you feel your area is served well enough by the Connector, why bother with Metro service.

I understand your sentiment about people in walkers or wheelchairs. I hear you say; “just deal with it…”

Share This

[West Seattle since 1979]

I’m thinking that the problem of not enough midday (or weeekend for that matter) service in the Admiral District is separate from the connector issue, since I don’t believe the connectors run during midday. I agree with you that there definitely is a need for more service during the midday.

On the other hand, you bring up a good point about Metro thinking that more service isn’t needed if there are all these people using the connector.

Share This

[Author]

Posts