September 30, 2008

Public transit not an option for Chevron?

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By  Dan Reichard

• Keith Sheardown[ September 30th, 2008 @ 2:21pm ]

  Perhaps all of us that use Chevron products should mention this the next time they come in to our organizations looking for business. Good to see that you are keeping your pulse on transit Dan!

• Ty Bobit[ September 30th, 2008 @ 4:23pm ]

  Dan,
  
  I love reading your Transit Dispatches and look forward to seeing you at the Expo.
  
  Ty

• Buddy Alves[ September 30th, 2008 @ 5:12pm ]

  Public Transit has always struggled against the automotive and petroleum industries for much needed attention. It is hard for Public Transit to compete against the multi-millions of dollars spent on auto and gasoline advertising. In Baltimore, newspaper advertising rarely mentions that a store or restaurant or event is located next to a transit station. So it is not surprising that Chevron did not mention Public Transit as a viable option. The solution: Since the Feds do not equally support transit versus driving (example: The $115 tax-free transit benefit versus the $220 tax-free parking benefit), we must become extremely aggressive in our grass-roots promotion of transit to the point where Chevron gains respect for transit. Until that time we will continue to be a step child to the Gas God.

• Michael Smith[ October 1st, 2008 @ 4:11am ]

  After having spent three and one-half hours on the
  (toll) turnpike, then coming to a dead stop in traffic due to a previous wreck on the road, I feel the same way about the lack of high speed, inter-city
  rail passenger service here in Florida as you do about city transit.
  When the demand is greatest due to the high oil
  price, transit service is now being reduced because of legislature-mandated budget cuts in this state, a sad state of affairs.

• Jan van Eck[ October 1st, 2008 @ 8:27am ]

  The transit industry will continue to be slighted (or perhaps worse, simply ignored) by large bureaucracies until Transit collectively recognizes that it has to "market" itself. But the industry does not; we talk about bus schedules and fares, but not about new product. The industry collectively has to start thinking about totally new product - both the bus and how it is utilized - before it will capture significant attention. Sure, there are Hybrids and articulateds and CNG units, but that is more for the insiders than for the public. Where is the really new bus design?
  
  The aircraft industry reinvents itself periodically with the 747, the 380, the Concorde. What has the bus industry really done that is radical?

• Keith Sheardown[ October 1st, 2008 @ 4:17pm ]

  Jan: While I am with a rail car manufacturer (who has some leading designs) have a look at what they have done in places like Cleveland - a great new BRT corridor, selling naming rights, and a new vehicle that has created Billions (with a B) of new development along the corridor. Last time I checked the A380 had a few challenges and the Concorde hasn't taken off for a few years. There can never be enough innovation, but our challenge is that we live in a society where lower taxes and lower gas prices are more important than governments investing in true mobility. Everyone that travels to Europe says "why can't we have transit networks like that" upon their return home, and then they vote with their wallets for lower taxes and lower fuel costs!

• John[ October 1st, 2008 @ 7:28pm ]

  Big Oil, Big Rubber, and Big Motors pulled their resources, in the thirties and fouries, purchasing street car companies and interurbans firms. They then dissolved, closed, or otherwise shut them most of the nation's mass transit systems, down. This was done so that they could sell more oil products, more tires and related automotive rubbber products, and more auto-trucks.
  Our society is now paying the price.
  
  Now big motors wants a $25 Billion rescue after selling off its bus and locomotive departments.
  I don't think so.

• Jeff Brown[ October 2nd, 2008 @ 4:26am ]

  Transit has an image problem. We need to present ourselves as clean, comfortable, convenient, and courteous to the general public. Public transit needs to be more than the sensible alternative. Mass transit is too often presented as the mode of last resort, full of "gritty urban" people who would rather be driving. We must present an image that everyone wants to be associated with, no matter what equipment we use or what passengers we carry. We need to be attractive enough for big names to stand next to us without worrying about their image.

• Stephanie Pinson[ October 2nd, 2008 @ 6:33am ]

  Great comment, Dan. I didn't see the Chevron piece, and I know we're all glad you did. BIG YES to Chevron needs to be on PT2 rolls!
  
  Can't wait to see you in San Diego!
  Stephanie

• Jan van Eck[ October 2nd, 2008 @ 7:51am ]

  The Germans built a two-car high-speed line running from Berlin to Zoess. Power was by 3-phase electric; pick-up was by a side-arm with three wires and three contacts. Speed of the trolley unit was 125 mph. Year? 1903. That's innovation.
  
  Brill built an "interurban" trolley car to run from Detroit over to Erie, PA. Speed was 105 mph. Year? 1934.
  
  Basel built an electric street trolley powered by a flywheel. The conductor powered up the wheel while the pax were loading; down came the pole, and the rubber tired bus ran on the route without any wires, all the energy stored in a flywheel. 1920's technology; worked fine. The unit was sold to Dakar, Senegal.
  
  If you want to see the high-speed interurban cars, you have to go to a trolley museum. The equipment we have running around now does not come close. In the past, innovation brought in passengers. Without innovation, the industry remains mired.
  

• Rocky[ October 8th, 2008 @ 10:55am ]

  Let's face it - Chevron is an oil company. They sell gas and diesel to transit companies. Their job is not to promote public transit, but to sell more oil products. Our job is to invent technology to replace them and get them out of our lives for good along with the Saudi's and all the others who would do us harm. I used to take public transit as a student because I didn't have any money and it served my needs. I went from point A to point B. You really can't take public transit to COSTCO or even take your dog to the vet. You can go to the beach, but hauling your cooler and all the other stuff is simply not feasible. If you work in an office tower downtown and never leave during the day you are covered. Public transit is totally useless for 95% of most peoples activities. What we really need is electric or hydrogen cars. I realize this will not fix the traffic problem, but it will help the environment. It will definitely fix the Saudi and Chevron problem. Now that the price of gasoline is falling, the load factors on transit will also fall. It's no surprise that Chevron isn't promoting public transit. They don't have to - they don't care how you use oil, as long as you use it!

• John Hill[ May 24th, 2009 @ 4:51pm ]

  Nice to still see you here Keith!
  
  

• Costco locations[ January 24th, 2010 @ 9:53am ]

  I love reading your Transit Dispatches and look forward to seeing you at the Expo.

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