Tuesday, August 4, 2009

The catch-22 of public transportation

Driving through downtown Tracy just minutes ago was an empty Tracer bus. Well, I shouldn't say empty. It did have a driver. But you get the idea.

It's the catch-22 of public transportation.

People often don't use public transportation because it seems (or is) less convenient than driving in your own car, whether because of public transit schedules with long wait times or a lack of destinations.

And as long as the powers that be see empty buses, they'll be unlikely to add extra buses, routes and other public transport options. Which can perpetuate the cycle.

The city of Tracy is making small efforts to break this cycle. But it might take a return to $4 gas to really make public popular in Tank Town.

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