Comments on: Big Fun! http://www.uneasyrhetoric.net/2005/08/12/big-fun/ When stream of consciousness meets a waterfall. Mon, 05 Dec 2011 20:31:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Molly http://www.uneasyrhetoric.net/2005/08/12/big-fun/comment-page-1/#comment-8815 Molly Tue, 23 Aug 2005 04:23:48 +0000 http://www.uneasyrhetoric.net/2005/08/12/big-fun/#comment-8815 Riding to the fair sounds great, it's just the logistics of it that I find daunting. Braving Exposition is more than I can handle, even on a good day. Took the bus last year and it was great, and fairly on time. I think I'd be too tired after a full day of corndogs and deep fried twinkies to ride home, at least without throwing up. And don't call me "the wife". Riding to the fair sounds great, it’s just the logistics of it that I find daunting. Braving Exposition is more than I can handle, even on a good day. Took the bus last year and it was great, and fairly on time. I think I’d be too tired after a full day of corndogs and deep fried twinkies to ride home, at least without throwing up.

And don’t call me “the wife”.

]]> By: Uneasy Rhetoric http://www.uneasyrhetoric.net/2005/08/12/big-fun/comment-page-1/#comment-8722 Uneasy Rhetoric Mon, 15 Aug 2005 16:23:21 +0000 http://www.uneasyrhetoric.net/2005/08/12/big-fun/#comment-8722 That is odd. I take the 30 into or back from work from time to time, and it seems to be just fine. The few times I've had to take it in the middle of the day it was running late, but not by more than about 10 minutes. I've also had good experiences taking other routes when they jived with my schedule - especially routes that connect with light rail. Bus service here is frequently late, and I've had my share of grossly incompetant bus drivers (cell phone talkers, mostly) but I've never had a bus driver stop for chicken. That's just wierd. That is odd. I take the 30 into or back from work from time to time, and it seems to be just fine. The few times I’ve had to take it in the middle of the day it was running late, but not by more than about 10 minutes. I’ve also had good experiences taking other routes when they jived with my schedule – especially routes that connect with light rail.

Bus service here is frequently late, and I’ve had my share of grossly incompetant bus drivers (cell phone talkers, mostly) but I’ve never had a bus driver stop for chicken. That’s just wierd.

]]> By: Beth http://www.uneasyrhetoric.net/2005/08/12/big-fun/comment-page-1/#comment-8721 Beth Mon, 15 Aug 2005 15:59:40 +0000 http://www.uneasyrhetoric.net/2005/08/12/big-fun/#comment-8721 I have no hope for Sacramento's bus service without a major overhaul. I live in midtown, and for a while I was taking the bus on the most direct and useful route in the whole system: downtown/midtown to Sac State and back. One bus went right by my office, another went two blocks from my house, and both dropped me off right at school. Perfect, right? Especially since the fare was free with my student ID? Nope. I took exactly one daytime class and was late 90% of the time; I had to routinely wait an hour and ten minutes for a bus that was supposed to come every fifteen. Going to a one-hour class in the middle of the day required me to miss three and a half hours of work -- for what was a seven-minute drive in my own car, or a half-hour bike ride. I could never figure out what the problem was with that route at that hour, since it was a little bit better even during morning and evening commutes, except that the drivers just seemed to be untrained, unconcerned, and kind of incompetent. The day I was late for class because the driver stopped to get herself some Kentucky Fried Chicken was the last day I tried to take the bus to school. The idea of biking to the fair is a great one, though, so thank you for pointing out that option. I have no hope for Sacramento’s bus service without a major overhaul. I live in midtown, and for a while I was taking the bus on the most direct and useful route in the whole system: downtown/midtown to Sac State and back. One bus went right by my office, another went two blocks from my house, and both dropped me off right at school. Perfect, right? Especially since the fare was free with my student ID? Nope. I took exactly one daytime class and was late 90% of the time; I had to routinely wait an hour and ten minutes for a bus that was supposed to come every fifteen. Going to a one-hour class in the middle of the day required me to miss three and a half hours of work — for what was a seven-minute drive in my own car, or a half-hour bike ride. I could never figure out what the problem was with that route at that hour, since it was a little bit better even during morning and evening commutes, except that the drivers just seemed to be untrained, unconcerned, and kind of incompetent. The day I was late for class because the driver stopped to get herself some Kentucky Fried Chicken was the last day I tried to take the bus to school.

The idea of biking to the fair is a great one, though, so thank you for pointing out that option.

]]> By: Uneasy Rhetoric http://www.uneasyrhetoric.net/2005/08/12/big-fun/comment-page-1/#comment-8708 Uneasy Rhetoric Sun, 14 Aug 2005 17:11:58 +0000 http://www.uneasyrhetoric.net/2005/08/12/big-fun/#comment-8708 sac - I can't take credit for ass-crappy. It's been around a while. Obviously, the more sprawled a city, the harder it will be to provide adequate bus service. Unfortunately, even good bus service (like Portland's) doesn't anywhere near pay for itself - and light rail is even less cost effective. In order to build bus service, there has to be enough of a commitment to it to fund it properly. I think the city could make vast improvements simply by increasing the frequency and expanding the hours of some lines. Costly, yes, but not nearly as costly as adding new lines. Unfortunately, paying for such improvements will require either additional tax revenue or raising fares, neither of which is very popular. Personally, I'd pick the former over the latter, but that's just me. Carl - the wife had a deep fried Snickers bar last year (just the thought of it turns my stomach). This year she insists she'll have a deep fried twinkie. I'll probably stick to my fair diet of corndogs and lemonade. Which also turns my stomach, ultimately. sac – I can’t take credit for ass-crappy. It’s been around a while. Obviously, the more sprawled a city, the harder it will be to provide adequate bus service. Unfortunately, even good bus service (like Portland’s) doesn’t anywhere near pay for itself – and light rail is even less cost effective. In order to build bus service, there has to be enough of a commitment to it to fund it properly.

I think the city could make vast improvements simply by increasing the frequency and expanding the hours of some lines. Costly, yes, but not nearly as costly as adding new lines. Unfortunately, paying for such improvements will require either additional tax revenue or raising fares, neither of which is very popular. Personally, I’d pick the former over the latter, but that’s just me.

Carl – the wife had a deep fried Snickers bar last year (just the thought of it turns my stomach). This year she insists she’ll have a deep fried twinkie. I’ll probably stick to my fair diet of corndogs and lemonade. Which also turns my stomach, ultimately.

]]> By: Carl http://www.uneasyrhetoric.net/2005/08/12/big-fun/comment-page-1/#comment-8703 Carl Sun, 14 Aug 2005 04:52:47 +0000 http://www.uneasyrhetoric.net/2005/08/12/big-fun/#comment-8703 That is darned good information. Parking really sucks at the fair, so this is a great way to go. And when you go, please enjoy some fried treats on me. That is darned good information. Parking really sucks at the fair, so this is a great way to go. And when you go, please enjoy some fried treats on me.

]]> By: sacramentality http://www.uneasyrhetoric.net/2005/08/12/big-fun/comment-page-1/#comment-8702 sacramentality Sat, 13 Aug 2005 21:00:33 +0000 http://www.uneasyrhetoric.net/2005/08/12/big-fun/#comment-8702 as far as i know, that's a coining of "ass-crappy", and a satisfying descriptor for annoyingly bad bus service. on that topic, how does a city even attempt to blanket such a sprawled area within reason? both here and in Grand Rapids, MI where I've lived, it is very hit and miss in terms of where you live and the ass-crappyness of the transit. but in chicago--huge metropolitan area--I could get anywhere on buses and the "L". I've been lucky enough living in Tahoe park, and by the Broadway stop now, i can get most places fine. as far as i know, that’s a coining of “ass-crappy”, and a satisfying descriptor for annoyingly bad bus service.

on that topic, how does a city even attempt to blanket such a sprawled area within reason? both here and in Grand Rapids, MI where I’ve lived, it is very hit and miss in terms of where you live and the ass-crappyness of the transit. but in chicago–huge metropolitan area–I could get anywhere on buses and the “L”.
I’ve been lucky enough living in Tahoe park, and by the Broadway stop now, i can get most places fine.

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