Відео

One thing I don't see many talk about in terms of taxing electric private vehicles is weight-based taxes. Electric vehicles are large and heavier anyway, so this will target all big trucks, SUVs, and electric vehicles.

Was there anything about what a fare increase beyond the current limit could do?

This is not a good look for funding. WE NEED TO FUND TRANSIT, EVERYWHERE IN THE US AND CANADA!

The two pie charts @10:13 are such manipulative graphic and a lie by omission. The reality is that transit revenue is somewhere ~20% of the total, the rest is subsidies. I generally support public transit and good urbanism, but that all can only be achieved by being objective and having the intestinal fortitude to look at the realities of who is paying for what here, and whom is the public transit prioritizing in serving. People will vote for populists who will starve out/bleed out, then privatize things like transit and healthcare if the needs and interests of the majority of the taxpayers won't get prioritized, and most importantly --- the impact of having a good transit system gets driven home and explained with abundant clarity to Joe Taxpayer. HINT: hot air about equity groups and environment won't sway the voters. Explaining how the Skytrain will actually be more reliable (or, gasp -- just as comfortable and convenient!) for someone who takes their car from Surrey to Burnaby would be the winning approach. Not tip-toeing around bus routes and making sure that one person is able to get to their graveyard shift at 2am from Chiliwack to Vancouver. Sorry if this comes off toxic, but the planners, analysts and policy makers are sometimes SOOO FAR UP THE IVORY TOWER that they don't see the ugly realities of municipal and provincial politics.

Great video, thanks for spreading the topic! We certainly need to rethink taxes (increase or shift) to fund transit. Translink wants the feds and the province to kick in the funds, but I agree Metro Van should first look at increasing our incredibly low property taxes because it's a direct service of this region. There are arguments that low property taxes encourage high property prices, and a percentage based increase would be fairer. (Also, neither the feds or provinces have the money after years of tax cuts; the next federal government will kill any hope of fighting climate change), Sure the Metro Van tax increase would take courage because motorists have far too much influence, yet no one questions the Metro Van fee increases for water and sewage! Another source, that could help fund those roads and bridges that should remain Translink's responsibility, congestion charges. Vancouver roads are clogged and from the backups on suburban bridges, I can guess where the traffic comes from. TfL lists several road charges as a funding source, and congestion charges helped reduce traffic in London. We can't build more roads in Metro Van; there is no space, and what little space that's left is needed for light industry (for jobs), and housing (which we're short on). It's almost as if the original idea (before the gas tax) of a vehicle registration charge wasn't that bad an idea given it could include EVs and over-sized SUVs.

I am transit racoon

I'm a transit operator, and here is what I can tell you: the job is far more intense than most people understand. Most people think "you're just driving, how hard can it be?!" but that's deceptive. Its much like how if you're using a computer at home for fun tasks, then you go to work and use a computer for work and the two tasks are deeply different and deeply divergent. Using Excel for 8 hours is much different than browsing the web for a few hours at home for pleasure... Being an operator requires multiple skills: people skills, geographic skills (especially true when you get assigned an emergency run for a route you've never driven in a part of the region you've never been in), and driving a huge piece of equipment is nothing like driving a car. You have to be attentive to road conditions and drivers while also not passing up potential riders who may or may not be standing by the bus stop properly, also you have to consider schedule adherence (there is a reason why we can't just stop and pick you up when you're not at a bus stop, a 20-30 second stop makes a difference and causes delays when its done multiple times, scheduling is literally done down to the second on my system, and I have to pass you by if you're not at the stop unless I'm running ahead slightly and can spare the time)... I've not even discussed the times we work, many operators are waking up at 3-4am and not getting home until 7pm. Our shifts are often not 8 straight hours, it severely limits your social life. Its a symphony of tasks that have to come together smoothly, it isn't 'just driving' for work. Every penny of our union contract is earned, I can guarantee you! :) Not an easy job. I also happen to be a transit and urban enthusiast, I think we need more people out of cars and in buses and trains, and they need to be doing it by choice not because they feel too poor... The key to any good transit service is having operators who know the routes, who can stay with the company, and are respected. The workers really are the key to the entire thing. If you have unhappy workers and high turnover, then you're going to have a miserable transit service. And yes, when they don't have staff, that means they're going to run fewer buses on a route and you're going to get service delay. Staffing is always key. In so far as budget shortfalls go, not to get too political, but we're living in late stage capitalism. Everything seems to be crisis. No funding for anything, supposedly... And not enough people are thinking about economic structural changes we need to avoid everything being in 'constant crisis' mode. Given our current realities: I think the key here is to get higher levels of government more involved in funding and get operations funding away from just municipal level sources. You aren't going to get a better transit system by relying on your property tax base. We have to ensure the feds have the cash to get more involved in regular operations and not just one time capital projects. Here's what I've learned in my experience: if you have a bus and train service that operates every 30 minutes or less, you'll get a few more riders of choice that want to leave the car at home. If you have buses that run frequency of 45 mins to an hour and end service at 8pm, you'll only get destitute people who just cannot afford or operate cars, you'll never have a competitive transit use in your city and region. If you have buses and trains that are running better than 10 minute frequency, with service ending after midnight and that starts back up at 5am. you'll get a healthy amount of riders of choice and make it competitive with cars. People start to have real choice with proper investment into transit, they will eventually choose to get on transit when service is properly run at 10 minute or better frequency. So you really do need frequency to be in that 10 minutes (or less) category to get people out of cars. This is going to take an investment into people (operators like myself) and the equipment to get it done. We have choices to make. But, that's just my opinion. P.S. One thing I really like about Vancouver is that the city has maintained its trolleybus infrastructure. We need to bring trolleybuses back here in Toronto, and all systems globally. It is crazy that in this day and age trolleybuses haven't been prioritized. We talk about climate change, there is nothing more green than a healthy, vast trolleybus network that operates on catenary wires. No batteries required, power straight from the grid, with endless range beyond even what diesel buses can do. Why we aren't doing this is beyond me. So far as I can tell, the transit agency I work for has only spoken about investments in battery electric buses with fairly limited range. Trolleybuses were around over a hundred years ago, and we don't seem capable of putting this reliable technology back in service with updated equipment that is faster, more comfortable, and has things like WiFi included for convenience. Our decision makers are stuck in greenwashing: talking about the urgency ALL THE TIME, without any tangible acts to improve things. Trolleybuses - in my humble opinion - are 100% key to a green future. You cannot build a green bus grid without them. There's zero talk in Canada or the US about significantly bringing this technology back in mass use. I suppose its immaterial, because they'll all tell us they can't afford it. That is, after they budget ample cash for bombs and guns for some far away war that has no point... Its sad, really. Greenwashing is infuriating when we could be building trolleybus networks here, today, for the future we need. Oh, and @1:09 it is hilarious seeing that a middle sized Canadian city like Edmonton (not even 2 million people yet) beats out Boston, a major top American metropolitan area, in transit usage. Boston has a dense urban core, has an urban regional population of about 5 million, is roughly in the top 10 American cities in this ranking, yet it can't get people out of cars?!? American cities suffer from a lot of that 45 min-1 hour bus frequency problem away from the primary rail lines, which makes people not choose transit. Its as clear as a clear sky blue day and yet so many agencies never fix a fundamental problem with lack of bus frequency. The problem in the US is even more distinct than in Canada, this has been a problem for decades. The damage is beyond done, there are now generations of people who have grown up not even considering a bus and literally don't even know how to use a bus or transit service. I suppose its a chicken or the egg syndrome, and its going to be a long time for change.

We have the statistics for 2024 from monthly reports by Statistics Canada and TransLink.

Well thought out. Thanks!

I just figured out you're Canadian! Yay! I'm in Vancouver too and I agree it has the best transit in Canada. When I first moved to Berkeley, I hated the BART system always comparing it to Vancouver's SkyTrain. Toronto isn't even a close second to Vancouver either. Great video! I feel there is a need to extend the Millennium Line all the way to UBC and new SkyTrain lines to North Vancouver, on Hastings (Waterfront to SFU), and one along to Marine Drive.

Great video. You included great shots of the transit hubs around the region: downtown, Metro, Coquitlam, etc. I love the additional shots around the US (like Chicago) added in. I’m thankful you stressed the impact the large, negative impact the service cuts will have on workers who rely on the system. While waiting for SkyTrain or bus on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday night, yes, it’s busy with those who have gone out to enjoy the day, it’s also filled with workers ending a day or late night shift. We need to help these people continue to make a living by getting to where they need to be. Your final sentiment really hit home. Having a high quality transit system is good for everyone: workers, those who cannot drive (like youth, elderly, other), those who want to enjoy a drink at dinner and not drive, tourists. TransLink is a big promoter of the 20 minute community which would increase one’s standard of life. Transit is important and service cuts just “ain’t it”. Buses and SkyTrain are already very full as-is (and as you mentioned). I initially ran into your videos because I fell in love with Seattle a few years back and was curious about their system. I’m also a big fan of transit. Nice to hear that you grew up in the Metro Vancouver region! It explains why you’re so well versed with transit. I complain about Metro Vancouver transit on the often but then when I visit other US cities, I realize that I don’t have it too bad lol. Keep up the great work.

This is so sad. Vancouver needs more transit, not less.

Great points made in this video - I really appreciate how you touched on these important areas of concern. These are also a lot of areas I covered in my community development major in college. Hoping I can visit Vancouver, BC, soon, and ride more Translink routes that I have not before.

Need 2024 statistics not 2023

It's an absurd system that makes every US/CA agency beg for funding each year. Hong Kong is an opposite but also unfair system where the government owns all the land around stations and limits housing to ensure the Subway (which they own) is the transit system with the highest profitability ratio (there's a term that I can't think of atm) on the planet.

Vancouver could do a congestion charge very easily with the current transit network. Wait until after the cuts though (if they happen) and it's toast

Fantastic video! Many people misunderstand that this isn’t just about paying the higher level employees less. TransLink has great upper management and they are people we want to keep around, but the main cost of the company is just paying for bus drivers. TransLink is not a private company! We can’t just fix everything by firing everyone at their HQ.

We need to be subsidizing highways less and subsidizing transit more (also rent real estate within stations for commercial businesses)

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

People whose sense of place has been replaced by enslavement to work and money only pretend to care what happens to the places where they work or the places where they lived day before yesterday. A planned shortage of basic housing and viola, the morally superior world we live in and impose on the rest of the world as best we can. '... negative implications for the environment, urbanism and more.'

I wonder how entertaining a trip like this was like before UA-cam?

The issue that I have with the recent push to reduce sprawl is that there will always be people who want new homes and more space. Urban living isn’t for everyone. That being said, we could always find ways to build more streetcar suburbs.

Awesome

Did Bham to Van back around 2003-2008 a few times

For a five and a half minute video your intro is too long, you should cut it in half.

can you shave between your eyebrows. pl0x

I wish the 592 Olympia trips were still a thing, the Olympia/Seattle commute is definitely an important one that right now is either a 2 seat ride (594-620) or a pricey Amtrak trip.

The 5:10am 230 Empire Service is where it's at I tell you. Work in NY and live halfway up the state. It also helps when you're in the office once or twice a week at most.

Much better audio! Looking forward to your channel blowing up! (In the good way)

I walked to work for many years! It was around a mile.

If you haven’t watched Part 1 of this series yet, check it out here: ua-cam.com/video/aYxaTdzrNF8/v-deo.html You’ll find an introduction to super commuting and more on my experience trying it out!

I just moved to downtown Chicago from STL suburbs and am now car free. Very happy with the decision so far! I’m impressed by your public transport dedication, I subbed!

>"If you haven't seen my first video, be sure to check it out" >Leaves no link in the video or description.

a definition of super commuting would have made this video more accessible

Wow what an incredible journey!! Makes me wonder how far you could get using only local transit 🤔

You could look into folding bike + public transport options to reduce time for commuting

Too many companies keep hiring more and more people. We need to discourage them from hiring way too many people for local housing markets.

Telework: the best zero-emissions vehicle

I quasi Super commute from St Louis to Chicago. I work for an airline and if I didnt I sure wouldnt be able to make it work. I usually take Amtrak up and Fly home on my airline. If Amtrak increased frequency from 5 trains to 10 or even some say 13 it would be the only way Id make the trip treating intercity rail as commuter. Especially if some trains ran express and could shave another half hour or 45 min off the time. It works for me for now but I know ill have to move someday

Well done videos. It's clear to me you care about the environment. One of the single, greatest ways to reduce our personal impact is to go vegan. Be well!

buses

great video! though, i got some crazy whiplash with the back to back shots of minneapolis (4:53), where i visited last week, and providence (5:08), where i live and take that same bus to work every morning :)

WTF? I did Leeds to Manchester for a week, that was more than enough. Second time I took up the offer of a hotel in Manchester. I think three hours one-way would probably be Abergavenny to the City of London

I liked that you mentioned the „walkable city“ aspect - I think it should be considered to a greater scale than we think. Having consistent, reliable transit routes and options are one thing but the walking infrastructure that is safe and efficient to our final destination once we arrive our bus stop is just as important. Especially more sidewalk infrastructure outside the downtown core. I like to think that having sidewalks would be tied to an overall better standard of life. I just visited Seattle on Sunday and when I got home, my body was sore from the driving. I realized that I have driven 6 hours that day and the traffic really took a toll on me. And this was for leisure! I couldn’t imagine super commuting. Super interesting series, I look forward to part three.

This is someone that should be improved a lot as a big skier it’s the only reason I’m having to get a drivers license. In banff mount Norquay is just past the TCH and up some switchbacks and they run an hourly service to Thier lodge in the summer tki

I drive because I’m not a peasant!

I used to live out in Duvall off the 224 and 232, and I remember my parents taking me on the bus every morning to drop me off at school and then continuing on to their work. It’s amazing how super commuting can create these interesting perspectives on transit vs. driving and critical thinking. As a recent urban planning student from Portland State, I enjoy continuing to study long-term transit plans and watching these videos. Great content, as always! I’m glad you were able to analyze on your experience with super commuting.

So cal to vancouver canada iteam neede to cross new orlean to pensacola video option

WAS THAT AN ARTICULATED 36!?

Super cool trip! I would have loved to see a map of each segment of the journey. It's definitely a trip I'd consider doing (in reverse) if I ever move back to Vancouver as I love seeing just how far public transit can get me. I did a similar trip in 2018 from Seattle going back home to Victoria (on Vancouver Island): ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island (I believe it was $8 USD), 123 Strait Shot from Bainbridge island to Port Angeles ($10 USD), then finally the Black Ball ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria's downtown harbor ($25 USD). So, over 4x more expensive, but being on "the island" is always going to cost a little bit more with a ferry. Fares might be higher 6 years later. A few observations and notes about this trip: 1. I was surprised by how relatively cheap Washington State ferries are compared to our BCFerries. 2. From what I recall, no terrible stretches of walking were required. 3. On top of no terrible stretches of walking, even though the connections between the modes of transport spanned up to a few hours, both Bainbridge Island and Port Angeles were well-worth exploring and you get dropped off in a very central area in order to do so. If you ever find yourself in Vancouver again, and are a fan of good beer, I highly recommend taking the Millenium Line out to Port Moody station (Moody Centre) and checking out the "BC Ale Trail" which is located on the water just a couple minutes walk from the SkyTrain station. It's a beautiful area, and the views from the train out there are just gorgeous.