Comments on: Five innovations in public transportation…that you wont find in Jacksonville

By: Adam Beaugh

Adam Beaugh — Thu, 31 May 2007 04:07:36 +0000

you forget. i’m an incredible woose. have you seen my legs in my capri jeans? super skinny.

By: Joey Marchy

Joey Marchy — Thu, 31 May 2007 03:17:31 +0000

Jefferson to Riverside isn’t that bad Adam. C’mon! Pump those legs baby. Try going Northbound over the Main Street in a strong wind, now thats some work! Ha ha ha!

By: Adam Beaugh

Adam Beaugh — Wed, 30 May 2007 20:41:54 +0000

also, it’s impossible to avoid a big uphill going from riverside to downtown and back. i usually take the riverwalk, and go on the elevated sidewalk, because the only other option seems to be going from jefferson to riverside, and that overpass is killer!

By: Chad Landenberger

Chad Landenberger — Wed, 30 May 2007 20:16:38 +0000

Great post.

Living in Avondale I commute on bike usually two days a week to work downtown. When I don’t ride I try and carpool. The downside to cycling to work is that there is only ONE bike lane leading to downtown and it only goes a short distance on Riverside Ave.

The city should think of multiple ways people might want to commute besides just the bus system.

By: stephen dare

stephen dare — Wed, 30 May 2007 14:18:11 +0000

Joey this is an awesome post.

The city should be thinking (starting the freaking minute we went over and started blowing up all the places that produce oil) about alternative transit.

The BRT sucks (at least Jacksonville’s version of it) mostly because it is a method for the big money in Jacksonville to make even bigger money…..the whole 750 million dollar project is actually a new road construction project to create flying expressways for the buses.

And who is in the road building business?

hmmmm…….

But to your point there are all kinds of alternatives to our transit.

Electric cars, public scooters, and of course, better design of the neighborhoods and new urbanists guidelines for all new construction.

Weve been discussing alternative transportation over at metjax this past week and it seems like there is a lot more enthusiasm whenever you arent talking about the JTA.

By: Adam Beaugh

Adam Beaugh — Wed, 30 May 2007 14:08:38 +0000

the city really needs to get behind the bike movement. it is such a simple, efficient way to get around. sadly, there is no awareness about bikers downtown. people don’t realize that bikes are to be treated just like any other vehicle. it’s amazing how many scary close calls i’ve had from people turning left when i’m passing through an intersection, or changing lanes when i’m in the lane. i was actually hit two weeks ago. luckily, the lady in the minivan saw the at the last minute and braked, so i was basically just tapped and only suffered some ripped dress pants.

By: thelakelander

thelakelander — Wed, 30 May 2007 14:01:22 +0000

Just because you spend money to build BRT or rail, doesn’t mean its “progressive” or makes sense. The skyway is innovative, but in Jax’s context and environment, it was the wrong type of system to construct, for the costs/mile.

Also, there’s nothing wrong with the concept of bus rapid transit, when its done right.

However, when you propose a 29 mile BRT system and three of the four routes parallel existing rail lines (commuter rail being cheaper is a well known universally accepted fact), none of them reach our rapidly growing suburbs, it takes over 20 years to implement and will cost taxpayers upwards of $1 billion dollars, there’s a problem. A part of BRT’s selling points is it’s affordability. There’s nothing cheap about a bus system proposal that rivals light rail in costs/square mile.

So before anyone jumps hook, line and sinker on the kool aid being sold as innovative BRT locally, each individual should at least take a serious look at details, effects and alternative mass transit options out there and compare with what’s currently on JTA’s plate.