Times-Union looking for people who ride the Skyway

[fieldafm]

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/400669/larry-hannan/2010-08-30/times-union-looking-people-who-ride-skyway

Submitted by Larry Hannan on August 30, 2010 - 12:02pm

On the Road

The joke is that the Skyway doesn't go anywhere, and that nobody watches it.

But according to figures from the American Public Transportation Association the Skyway averaged 36,000 riders a month during 2009. So someone is riding it.

The Florida Times-Union wants to talk to people who ride the Skyway on a semi-regular basis. Why do you ride it? Where do you go? What do you think of the Skyway?

Anyone interested can contact Staff Writer Larry Hannan at (904) 359-4470 or e-mail him at larry.hannan@jacksonville.com.

[thelakelander]

What's considered semi-regular?  I ride it over to the Northbank from my office at Kings Avenue Station every now and then for lunch.  There's no set schedule, but I do so to avoid having to park.

[fsujax]

well, thats semi-regular....i ride it into Downtown for lunch or meetings.

[uptowngirl]

not bad numbers considering where it is located, where you can get to, and compared to the much larger/broader Bus numbers.

[stjr]

not bad numbers considering where it is located, where you can get to, and compared to the much larger/broader Bus numbers.

I guess cost is absolutely no object in evaluating "bad"?

[CS Foltz]

stjr.........cost should be a integeral part of any transit equation! 2k per day.......I don't know about that! If the turnstiles still don't accuratly account for riders, those number are probably cooked also! Any numbers that put JTA in a good light, is the numbers they use!

[danno]

Thats some crack reporting from the TU..  How about sending someone out to ask some questions and do some reporting?? Just a thought.

[Coolyfett]

I used to ride it to the landing and Hemming Plaza...to play chess, hit the library or Art Walk at hemming...For it only having 8 stations I only went to the same 3. If it ran a lil later probably would have taken it to Endo Exo by Kings Ave Station...but club nights dont work with JTA SCHEDULE.

[simms3]

I second the crock reporting!!!  How hard can it be for a journalist to pay the small toll and hang out on the skyway for an hour or two to ask the riders those questions?  I guarantee some of those riders are less than regular but more than one timers.  The reporter could have all of his questions answered for a couple hours time and a few cents!!

Also, Coolyfett, there are ways to criticize JTA and there are ways to criticize JTA LOL.  If office workers don't ride it during the day, there is no way people driving in from the suburbs, where the skyway doesn't even come close to going, are going to ride it between 11 and 2 at night.  I don't blame JTA for trying to lose ALL of our tax money by running the damn thing at night

[Captain Zissou]

stjr.........cost should be a integeral part of any transit equation! 2k per day.......I don't know about that! If the turnstiles still don't accuratly account for riders, those number are probably cooked also! Any numbers that put JTA in a good light, is the numbers they use!

I hope your Job doesn't involve math.  36,000/30=1,200.  I don't think those numbers are cooked.  I am one of those riders and I usually see 10-15 people on the trains or platforms when I ride.  A reporter should just sit on the platform for 30 minutes and ask riders. 

[CS Foltz]

simms3........"crock reporting"......your killing me! If the TU sent someone there............they could wrap up their interviews in what.......an hour? Everytime I have gone under the dang thing, on the Main Street Bridge, seen maybe one or two but never 6 or more! Maybe 0745 or thereabouts is too early for the rush hour? Come the 8th, will be going to City Hall and will make sure to look and see the mass's waiting for pickup or those early enough to get a seat and ride! Capt Z not sure what time you ride but look at my post here and just reporting what I see!

[uptowngirl]

not bad numbers considering where it is located, where you can get to, and compared to the much larger/broader Bus numbers.

I guess cost is absolutely no object in evaluating "bad"?

No I just meant, as the skyway doesn't go very far with many stops those numbers seem pretty good. Now whether they are accurate or not is another story.

[St. Auggie]

Thats some crack reporting from the TU..  How about sending someone out to ask some questions and do some reporting?? Just a thought.

I was thinking the same thing.

[stjr]

What if the T-U reporter showed up and there were no riders to interview?      

FYI, the T-U reporter responded to like comments on his web site (for which I saw nary a proponent.  And, I promise, I didn't post there even though I could swear a few posts eerily mimicked mine on MJ.  Imagine, I am not alone in this galaxy.....!   )

thanks for the comments
By Larry Hannan | 08/30/10 - 03:09 pm

I am going and talking to people at the Skyway as well.

Also, remember riders are not people. If you ride the Skyway from FCCJ to San Marco, and then take it back to FCCJ two hours later, you're counted as two separate riders.

[CS Foltz]

stjr.........cost should be a integral part of any transit equation! 2k per day.......I don't know about that! If the turnstiles still don't accurately account for riders, those number are probably cooked also! Any numbers that put JTA in a good light, is the numbers they use!

I hope your Job doesn't involve math.  36,000/30=1,200.  I don't think those numbers are cooked.  I am one of those riders and I usually see 10-15 people on the trains or platforms when I ride.  A reporter should just sit on the platform for 30 minutes and ask riders. 

Capt Zissou.....don't need to add or subtract! At around 0745, on my way into town $kyway is usually passing over the Main Street Bridge! At that time, I have seen a max of 3 persons onboard! Now JTA says 2k per day ......your computations say 1,200 (I am assuming per day or whatever time you utilize said $kyway) either way using your numbers, or what I see inbound, it would appear to me that the TU needs to ride it themselves and maybe something more accurate can come out of this! What time of day do you ride this thing?