Mary,

Rube Goldberg often said "no matter how thin you slice it, it's still baloney!"

Houston METRO is the only agency that redirected over one half of all bus routes to dump the hapless bus transit dependent riders at transit (Tram platforms) stations, thus "forcing" them to board the tram, to ride (wheeler to DTC, and vice versa)to another station to connect with another bus to get to their destination!

Instead of counting two to four boardings for a bus round trip, there is at least six boardings, two of which include the tram.

The tram boardings have more than doubled since the 2004 start-up, yet the TVM revenue is virtually the same as it was in 2004 (January to May).  Since METRO has failed to implement any SVC system, as promised for 2004, the TVM revenue is the only measure of paid tram ridership, with virtually all other boardings either transfers or free rides.

Further, employees at the TMC are expected to park at Smith Lands, and usually get taxpayer-funded METRO passes.  Also, the City has spent from $720K to $750K for METRO passes in the past two years, as a thinly veiled attempt to boost METRORail boardings.

I just don't understand why METRO doesn't stop the charade, and have the Mayor pass an ordinance outlawing cars in the CBD, and just herd the citizens onto the trams.

I don't think that this is any thing to brag about. Just about any time of day the trains are packed and most people seem not to want anyone sitting next to them or they take up an extra seat for their backpack. I'm beginning to think that maybe these people who complain about loss of bus service are right. Passengers are being forced to ride these cattle cars instead of the busses.

I have utilized the rail several times and have noticed the increased ridership also!  What's the latest on expansion plans?

For the regular tram riders, you may have noticed that there are significantly less seats on a tram as there are on buses, where most riders on the tram are expected to stand.  Houstonians are typically all herded like "sheeple" on METRORail.

"I don't think that this is any thing to brag about."

True but if it makes them happy, bu all means---LET 'EM!

"Just about any time of day the trains are packed and most people seem not to want anyone sitting next to them or they take up an extra seat for their backpack."

Your point?  You're trying to say that our bags and stuff like that should be all over the floor---WHERE PEOPLE NEED TO WALK ON?

Where else are we going to put that at?  Under the seats isn't going to work because if the person or persons forgets it, bad day for them.  Also, their bags may be TOO BIG---HUGE EVEN---to put under the seats.

"I'm beginning to think that maybe these people who complain about loss of bus service are right."

LOL!!!  This is a joke, right?  The only people I see complaining about the loss of bus service are the people who DON'T RIDE the routes to keep them running!

Ever heard of "low ridership?"  Yeah---it happens---routes being discontinued because of LOW RIDERSHIP.  That IS a TRUE statement and the only way to solve that problem is to get more people to ride the bus.  Can't do that?  Well then---there needs to be NO service in those kinds of areas.

"Passengers are being forced to ride these cattle cars instead of the busses."

HUH?  No offense but not only are we NOT cattle but how else are we going to get around in order to get to the bus(es)?  Why don't you just tell people to WALK from bus to bus while you're at it.  For example, it's a long walk from the Wheeler Station to the Downtown Transit Center.  F.Y.I., overcrowding can happen on both the train and the bus so....

More double trains (or more frequent single trains) during rush hour would certainly be helpful. It's been getting pretty crowded on the train lately.

To metrobusfan  as far as the backpacks I'm not sure why everyone nowadays is carrying one. I don't even own one.If they insist on putting them on the seat then they should buy 2 tickets. If they should forget them maybe they weren't so important anyway. As far as the busses, I ride the #1 and #82 several times a week and they're almost always packed.

1.  In off peak times, people on the 79-Little York Limited have to transfer to get downtown.  The route turns around just south of the Northline Mall/Transit center.  This was done years before the rail.

2.  I have been on standing room only buses.  Years before the rail.  Not a pretty sight!

3.  I have noticed standing room only on the 202 Park and Ride route!

More frequent one-car trains, huh?  If METRO wanted to do that, then they would need to downsize the "6 minutes" deal to----what?  Any suggestions?  I can't say specifically but I think less than five minutes.

1.  It is a LONG WALK between the Downtown TC and Wheeler!

2.  Backpacks:  I use one.  I can put my raincoat, shedules, and stuff I buy in it.  Raincoat works better than an unbrella because winds will not blow out the later.

3.  82/53:  Always loaded.  hose two routes need:

a.  The articulated buses,

b.  A route skip stop, that is a route which stops only at major intersections or activity centers (a true limited).

c.  BRT light,that is a route which uses the right lane of the roadway as is, with bus level boarding and pre-paid ticketing to speed loading.

I believe the LRT could run on headways of as little as 3 mins.

"To metrobusfan  as far as the backpacks I'm not sure why everyone nowadays is carrying one. I don't even own one.If they insist on putting them on the seat then they should buy 2 tickets. If they should forget them maybe they weren't so important anyway. As far as the busses, I ride the #1 and #82 several times a week and they're almost always packed."

don,

   Ever heard of (for example) higher ecucation (college, for instance)?  Unless they provide lockers for us college folks or make us do more and more online courses, how else are we going to pack all those dang books that we're REQUIRED to have for classes?  With backpacks, of course.

Why would you want to do something that isn't smart like buying a ticket for something that isn't human?  Sorry but I won't be joining that crowd anytime soon.  METRO?  Make that suggestion and you'll be slapped ten-fold.

How do you know if somebody thinks that something isn't important if they forget---anything?  That, I didn't get.

The person with a backpack may have to go a ways before they get off and you might be just going to either the next stop or the one after that (once yuo board).  If that happens, STAND UP!!!!  Why sit down when you're only going for a short distance?  Unless you're disabled, elderly, or have small kids, sitting down will be a waste of time---with or withoue bags because unless the train is going too slow, you're going to have to get right back up.

What's wrong with everybody carrying backpacks?  What---you want people to carry what they need and exposing it to the elements?  I DON'T THINK SO!!  If you're concerned about what people have in those things, then I suggest you tell these folks who make backpacks to start making clear bags or something similar.

The solution to the backpack problem is obvious.  One takes off the backpack (and if one is planning ahead one can do this before boarding the train/bus to avoid hitting one's fellow passengers in the head), sits in the seat, and places the backpack on the lap.  Pretty simple, huh?  

In the case of miscreants using the seat next to them as backpack storage, it's usually enough to walk up and say "excuse me, but I'd like to sit there".  Occasionally, you will encounter someone who is a real jerk and refuses, but for the most part that works.  

Backpacks are for hiking not for use on crowded city buses or trains. A briefcase would be a much better option.

Increasing frequency of trains during rush hours will increase waiting time for other traffic waiting for the green light at LRT tracks, particularly in Downtown and Texas Medical Center.

Current traffic light timing at Downtown streets crossing Main is poorly designed; many drivers and pedestrians tired of waiting forever simply ignore the red light. We may see more accidents as the train frequently increases.

Tell my car-free friends that they shouldn't bring backpacks when they make their shopping trips to Fiesta via the rail line.  

Backpacks are as much a part of transit as briefcases.  Look at all the folks who travel around Europe by train - most of them have huge backpacks.  

"Backpacks are for hiking not for use on crowded city buses or trains. A briefcase would be a much better option."

Whatever!  I'm no business person so I shouldn't see myself running around with a dumb briefcase.  What will I need a briefcase for?  NOTHING!!!

Even business folks have backpacks because they know they can carry more stuff that they really need than a briefcase.

If you think we don't need backpacks stuff like that and to carry those things around on the buses and trains, tell that to the thousands of people who either come through any of the airports or through the Greyhound bus terminal.

Sorry but backpacks are here to stay and F.Y.I., they're NOT just for hiking.

I like the backpacks with wheels.  I had to use a briefcase when I took HouTran to school.  The wheels HELP. (MetroBusFan, I feel your pain.)

Now, on the P&R's, I see both briefcases and  backpacks, with laptop computers.

Once, I did see caged LIVE chickens on what is now the 24-Northline coming from Farmer's Market on Airline. Live Birds on the bus/train:  Not a good idea!

I have seen people load enough bags of stuff onto the 56-Airline Limited at the N. Freeway Fiesta to load an UPS 747.  I have also seen people get on the bus/tram with enough suitcases to stall a Greyhound bus!

I think a good rule would be is fore each rider to carry the amout of baggage that can fit into his/her lap.  That should keep the floor of the bus/train clear.

If the bus/train goes into emergency braking, lose objects become projectiles!

If we are going to get close and personal on METRO, let's do it right...and safely

I Have flown, and have had to make a connecting flights.  With the hub and spoke system the airlines have now, a connection is very likely.

So:

connecting flight:airlines::transfer:METRO

Houston, do we have a problem?

And if the routes along the Main Street Corridor were cut back to transfer points or TC's because of BRT, Signature Bus, or some other non-rail reconfiguation, the same complaints would come out concerning rerouting people to the trunk, ie spoke, line.

And METRO has done this.  Example:  The 64-Acre Homes Circulator is a route which used to be the loops of the 44-Arec Homes Route:  Lincoln City, Garden City, ad Paul Quinn.  Each of these was an endpoint. The 44 stays on West Montgomery, can continues onto Willabrook Mall (FM 1960) or HP.

Can this work:  Yes, with scheduling being the key.

Anyway, last winter, during a very bad snowstorm, many of the passengers were treated worse than if they were bovine.

" like the backpacks with wheels.  I had to use a briefcase when I took HouTran to school.  The wheels HELP. (MetroBusFan, I feel your pain.)"

Dom,

   Mindreader!  *LOL*  Anyway, I had one but things didn't go as planned but I may just reconsider.  You're right---the wheels help---BIG TIME!  Those kinds of bags can help your back---in more ways than one.

"Once, I did see caged LIVE chickens on what is now the 24-Northline coming from Farmer's Market on Airline. Live Birds on the bus/train:  Not a good idea!"

WHAT?!  Who in God's name would bring THAT onto the bus?!  I hope that those things that need to be in my stove for dinner were covered up.

"I have seen people load enough bags of stuff onto the 56-Airline Limited at the N. Freeway Fiesta to load an UPS 747.  I have also seen people get on the bus/tram with enough suitcases to stall a Greyhound bus!"

*LMAO!*  Unfortunately, that's true.  In other words, you are SOOOOO right.  If nobody else has seen this, you'll have to "catch" that at certain times.  Sorry but even I can't tell you at what times you'll see that happening on the buses/trains.

I don't want to put stuff in the seats but if it can help people by me moving it out of the aisles of the bus/train, then so be it.  If somebody just has to sit there, THEN that's when I'll move my bags.  If I'm not in the mood to do that (this may be silly---however you call it), then I'll just get up and just stand until I need to get off.  Just makes everybody happy in that case.

MetroBusFan:

1.  I've only seen the chickens on the bus once.  But there are some who worry about backpacks!

2.  I see this the most on tains/buses near the Greyhound Sta.  That would be near the Downtown TC Sta.

3.  If you are going to HCC (reading minds?), maye a small rolling suitcase which is FAA acceptable for carry on might be small enough, but strong enough for textbooks. (I was on HouTran in the mid-70's, before, I think, the SmarterImage trend stoes came up with the first roller!

#2, my last post, concerns overloading trains/buses with baggage.