It may sound obvious, but it's a big problem in cities across the country. (http://www.citylab.com/cityfixer/2014/09/why-the-people-in-charge-of-transit-systems-should-be-required-to-actually-ride-transit/379931/)
The problem is familiar to transit leadership across the country. In August, a San Francisco Examiner op-ed challenged the people who run Muni to "actually ride Muni." Last year, an analysis of Chicago's CTA found that the board chair rode the system only 18 times in 2012, and a Washington Post survey found many D.C. Metro board members either couldn't or wouldn't "name the exact bus lines or rail stops they used regularly." In 2008, the vice chair of New York's MTA board famously asked: "Why should I ride and inconvenience myself when I can ride in a car?"
Such a practice would be unimaginable in private industries—think of an Apple employee using a PC—and Spieler thinks the same should go for public transportation. The importance of service frequency, or rather the immense frustration of infrequency, is hard to grasp for someone whose car is always ready and waiting. The mindset that agencies should only care about customers when they're on a transit vehicle, but not during their walk to the station, is also an artifact of inexperience, he says.
Terrific idea! If you're going to design the system, use the system. Especially before and after your redesign.
It's a reasonable request.
When I served on the board for a homeless shelter, we had all our meetings at the shelter and ate the same food the homeless did and met with the clients everytime.
Otherwise you have zero perspective on what you are voting on in your meetings.
But public transit is for poor people and those with suspended licenses.
Reasonable request indeed.
I've always thought this should be done. But not permanently. A requirement that states you must ride public transportation for a month a year. On a rotational shift. So everyone gets to experience it at different times.
Hard to track though. How do you control people on their time off? Weekends? What about after work?
I don't think any of the JTA high level execs would ride the buses on a regular basis!
It's ironic that MUNI executives don't have to ride, but it is mandatory for public officials involved with the city directly (i.e. mayor, supervisors, etc) to ride public transit at least x times per week (can't recall amount) though I see one particular supe on the MUNI train all the time with his posse.