going outbound
01.11.07 • comment (2) • trackback
January inaugurated sweeping fare changes for Boston’s T. When I arrived in Boston five years ago, the subway cost one dollar. It now costs two (or $1.70 with the hard plastic CharlieCard). Although many people greeted the fare hikes with righteous indignation, I remain placid. Two dollars is still cheap compared with other mass transit systems in major cities. And no, I will not accept the argument that Boston’s subway system isn’t “worth” the two dollars because of its many problems. Every subway system has those problems, and all of them are more expensive than Boston’s. Grow up.
The only major change that has me raising my eyebrow (the muscle that controls my right eyebrow is perhaps the strongest in my body) is the elimination of free outbound service on the Green Line. This ends a tradition that dates back so far that not even T officials know how it started. The premise was simple: when the trolley cars go outbound aboveground you can ride for free. That’s over now. I understand the change in principal. Ending the free ride will most certainly increase the T’s revenue. In practice, however, I remain confused as to how they plan to implement this.
All train doors continue to open along the outbound routes, tricking many people into thinking that the old system is still in place. The train conductor loudly admonishes these confused patrons to come up to the front and pay their fares. A few times, I’ve actually seen the conductor get up, walk to the person in question, and bring them up to pay. This is remarkable both for the display of commitment to the new program and because I didn’t know that the train conductors could stand. You learn something new every day. My commute has been irregular this week, and I still haven’t seen how this is supposed to work on a really crowded train.
None of this affects me, as I always board the outbound train from an underground station, where you have to pay to enter anyway. I tremble with terror at the alternatives, though. I can either always board at the front of the train, squeezing myself into where there are surely the most people, or I can enter at some other door, walking up to the front quickly to pay. You’re probably wondering where the problem comes in. The problem is that I have really bad balance. I have to be holding onto something when the train is in motion or I’m going to fall. So, under the new system, I either awkwardly latch onto something near the front of the train, or risk racing through the crowded front, or hit the ground. I’m sure that with practice I could learn to maintain my balance, the problem being that it’s kind of hard to practice next to the angry commuter, the drunk college student, and the schizoid lunatic. I’m just saying.
If the past five years have taught me anything, it’s that I’m very good at working around my functional limitations. I’m sure that whatever the situation, I’ll be fine. Really. I just wish I could still ride for free above ground.
01.11.07 #
Living in London I’ve become privy with what is arguably the most expensive (and most extensive) public transportation system in the world. Recently, the Transport for London organization upped the costs on all rails, buses, trams and underground lines. To give you an idea, it now costs 2GBP per BUS RIDE for the individual who does not have the London equivalent of the Charlie Ticket, known as an “Oyster Pass.” With the current exchange rate, that is $4 to get 10 minutes down the road. Even more ridiculous in cost are the London equivalents of the commuter rail. Last I was in Boston it was $6 to take a train all the way to Worcester (over 55miles). To move 20 miles on the London commuter rail, say to go visit Lincoln, it can cost you upwards of 23GBP ($46) for one direction! So expensive is the transportation, that Anna and I were able to take a cab for over an hour drive to Stanstead Airport for a lower price than for both of us to use public transportation. My argument here is, how in the hell are these ridiculous prices ever going to encourage commuters to use the environmentally safe public transport instead of a car when it is cheaper to drive yourself? (As an aside, London charges a congestion fee 8GBP/day just to take your car into the city - it’s still remain cheaper than the rails in many cases).
I agree with you JD, as exemplified above, that the price of tickets in Boston is much lower than many other transit systems (NYC, DC, London and so forth). However, these other rails - particularly, NYC - have been charging $2 per ticket (or more) for a while now and have a lot to show for it. Boston’s transit system is one iota the size of these larger cities. Maybe $2 isn’t such a big jump to complain about at first, but I certainly would expect nothing less than some real-time arrival/departure signs at each of the stations in the near future. If NYC can move millions of commuters throughout its massive system at $2 a pop, and can still afford more trains and the electronic signs that let you know if your train is delayed or if it’s (though unlikely) right on time, then Boston should be able to make this addition.
In long, I fully support the increase in price, but service better improve as a result. Given the volume of individuals who use the “T” and the infrequency of the trains, I would argue the jump to $2 is a bit extreme to simply maintain the lines. There should be some improvements made soon, beyond the silly Charlie Ticket updates. Those Charlies Tickets haven’t accomplished much besides confusing tourists (and many Bostonians) who have no idea how to purchase and use them because the system is still in its infancy. Only time will tell… hopefully, you won’t have to wait for the good stuff while standing on Comm. Ave. as your $2 ride approaches at the whopping speed of “is it moving?”
01.13.07 #
L.A. is still $1.25. Though, they decided sometime in the last couple of years to stop allowing free transfers on the subway. And on that subject, this is a common exchange I have with friends:
Damian: “blah blah blah L.A. blah subway blah…”
Friend: “Wait, L.A. has a subway?”
Damian: “Yeah, didn’t you ever see Speed?”
Friend: “Ooooh yeah….”
Anyway, why it is that cheap, I do not know, since it cost a couple million dollars per foot to dig because it kept on creating sinkholes under Hollywood Blvd. I also don’t know whose brilliant idea it was to put underground transit in an earthquake-prone locale (that goes for San Francisco too, which was $1.50 per bus/streetcar/subway ride–but with 1 free transfer–last I was there).