Regarding today’s front-page story on bus service, a few thoughts:

(1) Why do some folks expect the government to drive them to work?

(2) Why do some businesses expect the government to bring workers to them?

(3) If there’s a labor shortage in, say, Short Pump, and there is a pool of available labor in the city, then it seems clear at least one of two things should happen—and probably both:

(a) Workers should move closer to the jobs, and

(b) Companies should pay workers enough to be able to afford cars.

You would think the city could take some startup money and get a carpool going, or a ride sharing website. The problem with existing carpools is they probably tend to target middle class people rather than down-n-outers who use a different network to find jobs. I would survey the unemployment office to see first who needs work and can’t get it and then survey the burger joints in the suburbs to see what the need is.

Oh wait a minute. Unemployment in this are is already low. That tells me people are finding jobs one way or the other. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

Carpooling instead of a massive bureaucratic bus service that loses money like a sieve.

I’m not against entitlements, but I do expect them to make sense and be to the good of all concerned.

Migration has “always” existed in this country.

If housing in Short Pump is expensive, I don’t see that as a problem. Many people commute to work. That’s how you do it.

I’d like to see the house you find in the Short Pump area for $250,000!!

http://tinyurl.com/3bfttv

The amount of money it costs to run even a small van bus exceeds by far what a few people who ride it could pay.
Just the bus and a full time driver is a huge initial expense that can never be recouped.
Fuel, maintenance, insurance, and advertizement are other enormous expenses that will never be passed on to the users.

The picture in the news paper showed only a few people on that bus.
I live in the county and I see these bus’s running all the time.
Rarely are there more than 8 or 10 people on them.

The few dollars a day that they pay probably doesnt even cover the fuel.

Taxpayers shouldnt be burdened to provide transportation to work and back for a half dozen people who probably lost their license from a DUI offense.

There are cabs that will take you anywhere you want to go. The cost to the user would reflect closer to what I pay for my personal car.

Car pooling with co-workers or mo-peds are other options.

Richmond/Tri citys area doesnt have a real need for mass transit.
The vast majority of business in this area are in outlying areas where the people already live.
Only a rare minority live in the city and work in the county or vise versa.

New York and other yankee towns have major employers inside city limits and they have many,many more commuters comming into the city for work.
The mass transit systems there benefit the majority of the people by transporting tens of thousands of workers daily plus keeping the streets less conjested for others to drive on.
Saving fuel, helping business, and allowing emergency vehicles better movement.

It makes no sense for taxpayers to spend millions on mass transit outside the city of richmond just to supplement transportation for only a handful of users.
If the users were made to pay the same price car owners pay for transportation, then it may be feasible.

Before any money is spent on programs like these there should be a law that requires it to be put on the ballot for approval by the voters themselves!

Same for the ball diamond, art centers and 6th st. market place type projects.

Just my opinion.

More entitlements! But if several generations are raised to expect government to solve all their problems, then why are we surprised that they want a government chauffeur to take them to work?

I guess my memory is bad. Seems to me that at one time there was mass movement of immigrants from the East to West. I think they settled the states west of the Mississippi—hmmm. Did blacks use to move North for jobs? Ever been transfered by your company? Perhaps I am getting alzheimers.

BTW, there is a big difference between government funding of roads, bridges, lights,etc. for use by private firms and individuals—who pay taxes—than funding those who want a car, taxi fare or a bus ride.

In an extremely simplistic and uncomplicated world, just “moving to where the jobs are” would make sense. 

However, if by your example, the jobs were located in Short Pump it may be next to impossible for the average working person to afford housing in an area where the monthly cost of a 1 bedroom apartment each month is about $900 and a home is at least $250,000 (if you’re lucky).

Now let’s take it a step further; say this person lived in Chesterfield County and has children, but the jobs are in Henrico County (Short Pump)should they just “move to where the jobs are? thus forcing the children to change schools? Ok, 3 months later this person is needing to look for work again but the jobs are no longer in Short Pump; now they’re in Richmond City, no problem, they’ll just move again and take the kids to yet another school(??). Are we trying to in essence create a population of migrant worker’s and families out of our own citizen’s???

Just “moving where the jobs are” is not a feasible option in most circumstances and to most people. If our government functions off of our tax dollars then they should be providing services to assist people in getting to and from work in order to ultimately generate what?... MORE TAX DOLLARS! See, everyone benefits. Expanded public transportation routes/times makes more sense (and revenue) than trouble.

“(1) Why do some folks expect the government to drive them to work?“

Because not everyone can drive, or, is allowed to drive. Should they suffer a life sentence of unemployment & homelessness, because they are unable to drive?!You are surprisingly smug about this—I guess because you don’t fit into either category. Who spiked your coffee today? Mel Gibson?

“(3a) Workers should move closer to the jobs”

This much is true.

Look, its really simple. If NYC can run a good mass transit system then there’s no reason we cannot. Unless you want to admit that Yankees are smarter & superior when it comes to running things.

I don’t want to give you guys a heart attack, but I agree across the board with you heartless conservative types.

I had the same reaction as R. Smith the last time they considered extending the bus lines to Chesterfield Co. The big buses clog up the fairly wide Richmond city streets. They would be fatal to narrow and congested Chesterfield byways.

A few might work only if they are the small variety, and only stop on the side streets where there is room to pull over.

The expense is a problem too. If it means I have to drive into downtown Richmond to get my Burger King sandwich, I see no problem in so doing, particularly if my tax dollars are being used to subsidize surly counter attendants. Of course, that won’t please the general manager of the Burger King, and we all know who has clout and who does not.

You would think that with all the new malls and subdivisions going up on the fringes of suburbia they might think out of the box for once and include some bicycle or motor scooter lanes.  You would think so. Golf carts are not such a bad idea but I wouldn’t take one out on Broad St. or Midlothian any time soon.

I remember there was a hot chick in tights in that movie but, I don’t remember tubes.

It’s funny. Back in those days sci fi movies followed a common theme in which individuals were always battling Big Brother type utopian societies. The lesson was always that freedom with risk was better than security with restrictions.

A public log flume system would be cool. In the winter we could freeze it and luge ourselves back and forth.

Took the ‘35 across town for the first time yesterday.

We need a mag lev monorail.  Remember those clear plastic tubes in the movie “Logan’s Run”?

“If we don’t think government should bring workers to work, why do we even expect government to provide nice roads and bridges upon which to drive those cars?“

Excellent point. The only complaint I have about the city’s bus system is their affection for huge, stinky, traffic clogging buses. They should be replaced with the smaller city vans. It’s rare to see more than a few people on a bus at any given point. The vans are cheaper, their smaller size doesent block traffic and maintenence costs are lower.

I say the city should switch over to Gators! or maybe public golf carts.

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