Riverside Avondale Night Trolley

[fieldafm]

I'm about to make an unpopular argument as to why ridership may have dwindled in the past couple of months. It may be because the 3 trolleys drop down to only one after midnight. People, such as myself who work late (or do some other type of activity), can't get out till about 8 or 9. When the trolley service drops down to only one, the service becomes bogged down and riders are trapped at their locations. This becomes especially troublesome when riders are just needing a ride home. The last two times I went, I saw around 15 or so people at the bus stop at Park and Margarette, waiting for upwards of 30 minutes. Most of whom were simply needing a ride home. I called a cab once and the second time walked to the Papa Johns and caught a ride from a friend who does delivery there.
    I would like to add that I really do appreciate the trouble people have gone through to make this service available. Also, I understand that there is limited funds and having all three trolleys run till 1am or so could be very costly. I'm just simply stating a different perspective as to why people may not be riding. Personally, my girlfriend and I (and perhaps other riverside natives) have decided to go back to traveling via their bikes.

In Friday during the April run, 4 people boarded between midnight and 2am (that was down from 16 in the same timeframe in March). On Saturday in April, 24 people boarded between the hours of midnght and 2am (that was down from 64 in the same timeframe in March). The trolleys will accomodate almost 60 people at any given time so there is capacity. I appreciate what you are saying, and would personally like to see another trolley added after midnight on Saturday nights to make headways between trolleys shorter. 

In the four months of this trial period however, the bulk of the people riding the trolley are between the hours of 8-11pm. When we at Metrojacksonville.com did this privately (with our own limited funds), we ran from 7pm-midnight as well.

Ridership is down consistently across all time periods.

This weekend is 'use it, or lose it' time.

[fieldafm]

The last two times I went, I saw around 15 or so people at the bus stop at Park and Margarette, waiting for upwards of 30 minutes

Would also encourage you to visit trolley.jaxmob.com on your smartphone, which allows you to track the trolley in real time... you'll know exactly where the trolley is along the route, so you do not have to wait outside for 30 minutes.

[able]

I relied heavily on the smartphone app. I watched the trolley's pace slow down considerably when it was brought down to one vehicle. That's why we decided to find other transportation.
I really don't want to sound like an opponent to the riverside trolley. I think its freaking great. It's a lot of fun, and good way to socialize and meet other people in the neighborhood. If my girlfriend has the day off on Saturday, I'll pick up tickets and give it another go. However, this time we will be wise and venture out early with the "happy hour" crowd.

[edjax]

So it sounds like part of the reason for the lower ridership after midnight is because people tired of the lo g waits and found alternative means.

[mtraininjax]

In January, the app froze, showed the bus at Park and King after 1 am. That may have been fixed, but the issue of faulty technology and 1 bus after midnight is a problem. JTA should be running all 3 of them during the entirety, after all, how many buses do they run on a regular basis with few people inside as it is?

[fieldafm]

I guess I just fail to see the need to have 3 busses transport 4 people over a two hour period. But that's just me :shrugs:

And the smartphone enabled website has worked flawlessly ever since a 1 hour hiccup during the first Friday in January.

[mtraininjax]

I guess I just fail to see the need to have 3 busses transport 4 people over a two hour period. But that's just me :shrugs:

Yup, must be just you, the numbers speak for themselves though. 1 bus is not enough after midnight. People want something they can depend on and waiting for 1 bus after midnight is not enough in this densely populated urban area. Sorry.

[fieldafm]

Yup, must be just you, the numbers speak for themselves though

Ridership drops by 80% after 11pm. 

[Tacachale]

Don't you love people who don't have the facts lecturing the people that do? Bottom line is, if you like this service and want it to continue, get out there this weekend and support it with your feet. It's a great resource, and it can be improved if we support if. If we don't support it, there'll be nothing to improve.

[fieldafm]

It's a great resource, and it can be improved if we support if. If we don't support it, there'll be nothing to improve.

+1

[CityLife]

Riding public transportation is an adventure...and being stuck at a bus stop with fellow adventurers late at night can often lead to even more fun. Later Gator and Night Nole are two of the best pick up spots in the entire state. Enjoy the experience and stay thirsty my friends...

[mtraininjax]

Ridership drops by 80% after 11pm.

Why not shut down all of JTA after 11 pm then? Why must they run at all hours of the day?

You are trying to build a steady ridership, but then you pull the rug out from the riders after midnight. Bad publicity spreads faster than good, so what if you use a 2nd trolley instead of leaving one. What is the harm in providing somewhere in the middle.

The promotion on the Trolley does not state, "Ride the Trolley Friday and Saturday nights, we have 3 running until midnight and then only 1 from 12-2", but it should. Otherwise, you are creating false advertising. Oh yeah, the trolley is running at 12:30, but its only 1 and even though you are in 5 points, you have to wait 30 minutes for it to get to you, when you live 5 minutes away in a cab.

Nice message. Split the difference, add a 2nd and don't people an excuse NOT to ride. Or do nothing and see the numbers continue to fall off.

[ProjectMaximus]

Field, you of all people know that the ridership numbers might increase with expanded service. It's obviously not as black and white as "only four people rode it so people don't want it at that time." In this thread we've seen anecdotal evidence to the contrary, and if I'm not mistaken, even I chimed in with my own story from one of the early pages. If you don't remember, I will tell you that yes...I know people who took a cab after midnight because they didnt feel like waiting for the trolley to come all the way back around.

Anyway, thats not to say ultimately that you need to be providing more buses, or to assign any blame whatsoever. God knows this wouldn't even be under consideration without the work you've done. Just that four people riding it one night isn't an open and shut case that extending the hours for more than one bus is a bad idea. 

[AuditoreEnterprise]

seemed like the response was geared towards use the track the trolley feature so you aren't waiting... I am not sure that will help as a good majority of people won't cut their engagements short just to catch a trolley. I think maybe a timing issue is to blame as PM says.

[Kay]

Field, you of all people know that the ridership numbers might increase with expanded service. It's obviously not as black and white as "only four people rode it so people don't want it at that time." In this thread we've seen anecdotal evidence to the contrary, and if I'm not mistaken, even I chimed in with my own story from one of the early pages. If you don't remember, I will tell you that yes...I know people who took a cab after midnight because they didnt feel like waiting for the trolley to come all the way back around.

Anyway, thats not to say ultimately that you need to be providing more buses, or to assign any blame whatsoever. God knows this wouldn't even be under consideration without the work you've done. Just that four people riding it one night isn't an open and shut case that extending the hours for more than one bus is a bad idea.

The night trolley is a partnership between JTA and RAP.  As Chair of RAP's transportation committee, I want to let you guys know that we appreciate the feedback and will seriously consider what you are saying regarding late night service.  Our goal is to get the trolley to run every weekend and we are in discussions with JTA about what it will take to make that happen.  So please bear with us as we try to work it out.  Adding another trolley from midnight to 2 a.m. will increase the cost.  We will have to see what is doable.  Please keep the feedback coming.