Long Day's Journey Into Plight: Stephen Dare & JTA 2
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One of the most popular threads in the history of the Metro Jacksonville.com forums was the daily journal kept by Stephen Dare when he decided to stop driving cars and go green.
As he struggled to find a way to use only the mass transit options offered in the city of Jacksonville, the journal got at times hilarious.
This is one of the most popular stories of Stephen Dare's attempt to use Jacksonville Mass Transit.
The Equestrian Center Caper.
Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2009-jul-long-days-journey-into-plight-stephen-dare-jta-2
Stephen, first of all that was so well written I am in awe..and I don't mean that in a sarcastic way. In awe that you aren't making the Times Union a much better place..secondly I can not believe that a bus driver treated you or anyone else that badly. I hope he no longer has a job in customer service since its obvious he is sorely lacking in any customer service skills whatsoever. For myself after 5 years off public transit I am once again using the services of JTA. My office was moved downtown and the cheapest parking I could find is out at the convention center..so a 10 minutes ride on the Skyway to my office is now in my communting schedule every day, which really isn't all that bad.
Looking forward to the next installment.
I am wondering if a bicycle would have complemented Stephen Dare's expedition well.
OMG, wow... what a story! I love reading your submissions, and boy am I sorry for you about this trip. I've never had to deal with anything like that on JTA. But then, I don't ride it anymore.
My husband DOES every day now. He rides in with my son and I downtown, I drop him off at the bus depot, and he rides the L7 toward the Avenues. It works out well for us during the week.
I just really REALLY wish they'd consider a route that crosses the Buckman from Westside to Mandarin/Southside. Surprisingly, they don't have anything in that area.
"I'm not a hundred percent certain, but I'm pretty sure I screamed like a bitch and began hauling panicked ass."
I couldn't stop laughing at that line, I sat here laughing so hard tears were rolling down my face.
That was so well written I could see the bus driver, the deer and your panic stricken day in full imagination. I love it. and It serves JTA right, get your stuff in gear and build a rail system!
This is the third or fourth time I have read it and I crack up every time... and I know Stephen so I get a better visual! :D
Quote from: Abhishek on July 16, 2009, 08:23:59 AM
I am wondering if a bicycle would have complemented Stephen Dare's expedition well.
He would have been run over on Normandy.
Vivid cerebral descriptions were produced all through this article. I thoroughly enjoyed the read, keep writing.
I can see James Earl Jones playing the role of the bus driver in the movie, if it were to be made.
Steven-
Do we have any epilogue on what happened to the driver? Was he disciplined in any fashion? Has he figured out who YOU are? Have you figured out who HE is? Just curious.
:D :D :D
Quote(a species that I no longer have much sympathy for, I might add)
:D :D :D
Riveting article. I feel so bad for you. I have never heard of such things happening in Jacksonville. I suppose that is because I grew up in Arlington and it is a bit more urbanized than the deep reaches of the Westside. I will make sure I never walk around on the Westside for sure!
Deer are weird. I always thought they were supposed to be skiddish. In Virginia I have had several episodes with deer who are just way to tame. I would go outside at night to have a smoke and they would just be standing in the driveway.. 2 or 3 of them, just hanging out. I would make the typical "boogly boogly boo!" and "et-owwn-outta-ealr" while waving my arms and they would just stand there looking at me like 'what an odd thing he is...' I have recalled your episode on more than one of these occasions and never went any further than these vocal tactics about 3' from my front door.
It really is fascinating how some people are such neanderthals and so low class. Were you dressed like some total freak? Did you have on a CCCP shirt or something? It reminds me of the final scene in Easy Rider, except thankfully just pennies and not buckshot.
Stephendare is "I am Legend" . . . at least within the wood on the Westside.
TheProfessor: If you still lived there you might refer to it as Harlemington, as do many of its inhabitants.
You should have gotten this on video Stephen. It would be like the Blair Witch Project with an even more F-cuk up twist. I would have so much hate toward humanity after such a day of disrespect. You poor guy :(
Quote from: TheProfessor on July 16, 2009, 02:52:32 PM
You should have gotten this on video Stephen. It would be like the Blair Witch Project with an even more F-cuk up twist. I would have so much hate toward humanity after such a day of disrespect. You poor guy :(
Quote from: JaxNative68 on July 16, 2009, 02:49:20 PM
Stephendare is "I am Legend" . . . at least within the wood on the Westside.
TheProfessor: If you still lived there you might refer to it as Harlemington, as do many of its inhabitants.
I don't live there, but I'll take Arlington over any redneck district on the Westside anyday!
I guess now we know why it makes more sense to build things along a fixed mass transit route...
Imagine Equestrian Center Station
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Below is my e-mail conversation with JTA officials concerning the lack of dependable bus routes. Thus the crazy day Stephen had....
ME:
After reviewing the plans for the future BRT routes, I noticed that north route does not termite at the airport, rather it terminates at a Wal-Mart. The Jacksonville International Airport would be an obvious option for a northbound terminus for the line and offer Jacksonville residences a reliable alternative to driving to the airport, similar to how MARTA works in Atlanta . Why is the airport not the northbound destination on the BRT?
JTA:
Thank you for your interest in the BRT project.
The initial BRT North Corridor project is a proposed bus corridor project along Boulevard St., Golfair Blvd. and Lem Turner Road providing enhanced passenger shelters, low floor branded vehicles, traffic signal priority, and a section of bus lanes providing transit service every 10 minutes in the peak hour and every 15 minutes in the off-peak. It is being implemented what is currently a high ridership corridor to provide more efficient service. The frequent transit service along the North Corridor will be supplemented by feeder buses to the BRT. This project will result in expanded transit service to the communities using feeder service and frequent premium transit service along the BRT route. This is an expansion of mobility for residents along this high ridership corridor in the most cost-effective manner.
The BRT North Corridor project is not currently extended to the Airport as current demand along the North Corridor route to the Airport is not high. Thus, it is not cost-effective to expand the project to the Airport at this time. It easily could be expanded to the Airport in the future as the travel demand grows. JTA has had discussions with the Airport about future expansion of the service and possible shared parking facilities (park and ride) as travel demand grows. Currently, the Airport is served by the CT 3 route along I-95.
ME:
That sounds nice in terms of profit margin. However to have the BRT,which is the "backbone" of public transit, simply follow demand is shortsighted. A defined North/South and East/West corridor that would work similarly to light rail is what would attract the non-traditional users and ensure future growth when paired with transit oriented development. The only way to make the city's public transportation more used by those who also own cars would be to popularize it with dependability, valid end destinations, and designed bus shelters. Please let me know your thoughts.
JTA:
Thank you for your interest in our BRT North Corridor project. As the BRT North Corridor project manager, I have been asked to respond to your inquiry below.
Unfortunately, public transit in the United States does not make a profit and thus, achieves no profit margin.
The planned BRT system is part of a planned regional transit system and thus, there are several "backbones" to the future regional system. The regional system consists of different services serving different markets from our trolleys serving a small area to the regional commuter rail that serves a much larger regional area. The service fits the market being served. BRT is providing a limited stop bus service that is connected to feeder routes that serve the neighborhoods, or circulators in the Downtown like the Skyway and Trolleys.
In planning for new transit service, a Minimum Operating Segment (MOS) is identified. The MOS is the first part of the service developed since it gains sufficient ridership and meets other Federal Transit Administration criteria. Thus, the MOS or the first part of the BRT North Corridor project is from the Downtown BRT project at Broad and State Streets to the Walmart at I-295 and Lem Turner Road. In the future, a BRT extension to the Airport could be re-evaluated against other alternatives such as a Northern Rail connection with bus shuttle service to the Airport or even possibly a rail connection with a light rail connection to the Airport.
You are correct frequent, dependable, attractive service to sought after destinations are important for improved transit service. The end station of the BRT North Corridor at the Walmart is currently the highest activity stop location after our major transfer centers and four of our Downtown major activity stops. Thus, the BRT North Corridor project will meet some of the goals you suggest.
If you have any further questions, please contact me.
At least JTA does a good job contacting you with a long response. If only they invested this time into implementing a good system. Sigh..
Hey Stephen:
The first JTA response is from Wendy Morrow and the second is from Suraya Z. Teeple, AICP
Transportation Planning Manager. This conversation took place back on May 21st. I thought I would prod them a bit and see what they were thinking by making a BRT north destination a Wal-Mart instead of an international airport. It made no sense to me.
Wow, I've yet to get a response from the three separate occasions that I've written them about my frustrations with their horrible route planning internet application. The first time, it suggested that I walk through the rail yard behind Lowe's on Philips Ave to get to work. On subsequent trials, I've had a hard enough time trying to find a starting/ending location that it agrees with that I rarely get to the point where route length would turn me away. On each occasion, I remind them that Google has already done the leg work through their http://transit.google.com application and if people could quickly find an applicable route, they might actually ride the bus. It's to the point that I don't even try, and I hate that.
Welcome moosebumps! The frustration with the bus system is well documented... Watch for future reposts of Stephens trials and tribulations during his 30 day odyssey. Keep putting the pressure on and do not give up!
Thanks! I've kept up a bit with the transit developments in hopes of some win since moving here 3+ years ago. I'm extra interested because a job in the rail industry brought me here, but there's not much I can do to push rail transit in my lowly design position.
btw, nice work Stephen, but if future articles induce as much anxiety as this one did I may be reading with a hand over my eyes.
Professor -- when was the last time you were back in Arlinghood?
quote author=moosebumps link=topic=5516.msg86342#msg86342 date=1247835841]
Wow, I've yet to get a response from the three separate occasions that I've written them about my frustrations with their horrible route planning internet application. The first time, it suggested that I walk through the rail yard behind Lowe's on Philips Ave to get to work. On subsequent trials, I've had a hard enough time trying to find a starting/ending location that it agrees with that I rarely get to the point where route length would turn me away. On each occasion, I remind them that Google has already done the leg work through their http://transit.google.com application and if people could quickly find an applicable route, they might actually ride the bus. It's to the point that I don't even try, and I hate that.
[/quote]
Moosbumps: I talked to JTA and they assured me that their maps are uploaded to GOOGLE. They are simply waiting on Google to update their maps. How true this is I cannot say.[
GMPalmer: I have not been back to Arlington since Memorial Day. I still hold it dear to my heart. One day it will be revitalized. It does have a lot of infrastructure and great proximity to downtown/beaches. If only people had some vision. I suppose all good things come in cycles.
Quote from: TheProfessor on July 17, 2009, 11:08:18 AM
Moosbumps: I talked to JTA and they assured me that their maps are uploaded to GOOGLE. They are simply waiting on Google to update their maps. How true this is I cannot say.[
Yes! I certainly hope that is true. That would be quite remarkable. Thanks for the update, I'll be keeping an eye out.
Quote
The BRT North Corridor project is not currently extended to the Airport as current demand along the North Corridor route to the Airport is not high. Thus, it is not cost-effective to expand the project to the Airport at this time. It easily could be expanded to the Airport in the future as the travel demand grows.
To me, that screams "Skyway" all over again. We can expand it later should demand rise. Well, if you build it half-a$$ to start with, no one will use it and thus demand will never increase.
Same stuff, different decade. Shameful.
The photo edit for the Death Race Westside title card is spectacular
Quote from: Doctor_K on July 17, 2009, 11:28:44 AM
Quote
The BRT North Corridor project is not currently extended to the Airport as current demand along the North Corridor route to the Airport is not high. Thus, it is not cost-effective to expand the project to the Airport at this time. It easily could be expanded to the Airport in the future as the travel demand grows.
To me, that screams "Skyway" all over again. We can expand it later should demand rise. Well, if you build it half-a$$ to start with, no one will use it and thus demand will never increase.
Same stuff, different decade. Shameful.
That is my problem with talking to JTA they think so shortsightedly. If the BRT could be built correctly now then it would encourage future growth. If they just put it going where current demand is then they don't foster future growth. The goal should be dependable routes to valid designations, then lots of marketing and easy to interpret signage/maps. That is the only way to change the car minded culture of Jacksonville. It sounds easy enough, but it takes smart leadership to implement this correctly.
What I think is interesting on the part of JTA is that they never want to look at comparable in terms of what could/should be.
Like in ATL, London's Heathrow has both a train and subway(among others like taxis) that can deliver you to the heart of London, often cheaper and faster than taking a car. I have friends who have live in Manchester and have traveled the distance from their home to Heathrow (181 miles difference) without ever using a car.
Getting fare collection OFF the buses and out of the hands of the drivers would work wonders in attitudes. Drivers need much more training then simply driving, they need a people skills/charm school. This is not to say all drivers are bad or angry, simply put, they need to understand they are the face of JTA to 10,000,000+ passengers a year. Small cash, and gift incentives for compliments received would also go a long way to making a much friendlier transit agency.
Those who vend or sell JTA day passes (IE: NO fare collection on the buses) would also receive 25 cents for every pass sold.
OCKLAWAHA
Quote from: stephendare on July 21, 2009, 10:33:29 AM
You know, Ock. I think you really have a point there.
Also, Im serious that none of the administration should be allowed to drive cars anywhere until they have used their own system for a year.
I think youd see public transit get real sensible, real quick.
This may be the best proposal ever suggested on these boards! Take this challenge to them and shame them in the media if they won't accept.
I agree. This is a fantastic idea. Ideas are typically better when they include shaming in the media. I love it.
On a related note, there are 2 deer standing in the yard across the street right now. My own personal alert level is now Orange.. or something like that.
AYE
Well, we might get a new bus stop at the end of Mike Miller's driveway.
JTA is looking for people for a citizen advisory panel.
http://www.jtafla.com/AboutJTA/showPage.aspx?Sel=210
Regional Transportation Studies
At the direction of the Florida Legislature, JTA is undertaking a study regarding the framework for the creation of a regional transportation agency. The full text of the Legislature's action, contained in HB 1213, is available by clicking on this link: HB1213 Section 20. To carry out the Legislature's mandate, JTA is seeking applicants from among the citizens in the counties of Nassau, Baker, St. Johns, Duval, Clay, Putnam and Flagler to serve on an advisory panel for the study. If you are interested (or know someone who is interested in serving), please complete the questionnaire below and press submit. Selected members will be notified by mail as to future meeting dates, times and locations. Thank you for your interest.
Don't forget to carry something to frighten away the deer. ;)
Quote from: stephendare on August 29, 2009, 10:12:05 AM
It looks like im going to be camping out at the Skyway in response to the flood of outrage flowing about the decrease in service on other threads.
Take a picture of a human being. You may not see any again for a while. ;D One thing is for sure, your sleep will be uninterrupted as it's likely the loneliest spot in Jax. The Maytag repair man may have competition.
Stephen...
This is an amazing adventure. I do not know that I would have had the patience you did to endure that...particularly the Bus Driver bringing you back to your destination downtown. Or the deer.. Or the morons throwing drinks at you. What the hell?
Seems to me JTA is in obvious need of total overhaul. Great story.
True to form, I read the article and was mildly amused. Very visual and entertaining. What has become of the series, though? One bus trip to the extents of the system and you gave up?