I received an interesting digital telegram today, which, upon reading it required me to trump the piece I was working on for today. I figured I’d share it with you all and offer the anonymous author some better insight to why increased Public Transportation use would be more beneficial to all of us, including his own daily needs. It reads:
I can’t believe you’re still doing this. I’m going to say this just once: using public transportation is a challenge, in and of itself, for a great many of us living in Miami that HAVE NO CHOICE. OK? We have to use public transportation to get to work. And guess what? It’s not a matter of whether it’s bad or good, whether it’s convenient or not, whether it’s going to make us feel like bright shiny citizens, it’s a matter of our day to day lives. Why are you trying to get people to not drive to work and take a bus? They’ll try to take a bus and it will suck and they’ll be really unhappy and they’ll never do it again. It’s not like” trying” a new restaurant or “trying” a really fabulous new merlot. What’s next? You want to “try” eating ramen 3 nights a week? You want to “try” bouncing a rent check? Please. You know what? The bus is already full. We don’t need anyone else getting on. We don’t need you taking up one of the bike racks just so you can blog about it.
The purpose of TransitMiami.com is not to make me or any of my readers “bright shiny citizens” as we gleefully ride around on public transportation like a bunch of kids on carnival rides. I encourage the use of Public transportation, to make Miami a better, more accessible city for all of us. All world-class cities are built upon transportation networks which can suit the needs of all citizens and visitors. Our city is growing at an unprecedented pace and with that growth comes an increased level of traffic congestion. Roads cannot continue to be expanded due to the inefficiency of the process and alternatives such as the buses you rely on to get to work and the upcoming streetcar or metrorail expansions must be sought for all of our use. Logically, people and goods can travel more efficiently and effectively if we traveled together in buses and trains (more efficiently than individual cars, that is.) With greater use, you too will see the benefits of an improved transit system which will receive a greater portion of our public dollars for improvements. Better services for you to make it to work on time, more reliable schedules, and more buses to relieve the current overcrowding you have spoken of.
I know you would like to think that our experiences will “suck” but so far that has not been the case for me, Rebecca Carter, or various other people which have given it a chance this summer. I don’t relate it to trying a new restaurant, its more of a lifestyle change, a necessary change we must all face in order to continue to be a mobile and progressive community.
I’m looking to hear about the experiences of people like you on Miami’s public transportation system in order to help create a better system for all users. If anyone would like to contribute a beneficial story about their own experiences, troubles, or areas which you believe could be improved, feel free to send me an e-mail (movemiami@gmail.com.) Until then, I’ll keep promoting public transportation as the logical solution for the clogged roadways of our community…
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