I've been asked by someone at the City to start a discussion on the broader topic of how to increase bus ridership, specifically to those who have other transportation choices.


Currently, it seems the only bus riders are those with no other option. But with the hundreds of millions to be poured into the streetcar and Santa Fe Station, it begs the question: How can we best spend a fraction of that amount to get people out of cars and onto the bus?

When I was approached with this, my first thought was to pick a small area and test various ideas. I was also reminded that there will be a significant streetscape project for N. Western between about 36th & 50th and it seems that might be a good place to start.

However, the idea here is to brainstorm and get people talking about this subject. I know there is a bus system thread and perhaps some of the ideas discussed there could be repeated here.

The desired outcome would be several ideas that could be tested on a smaller scale and measured for increased ridership. From that point, system-wide upgrades could be prioritized and hopefully funded. (And of course, increased ridership is like found money since the buses are operating mostly empty anyway.)


So, what would get more people on the bus?? Nicer shelters? Promotion? Express routes? Incentives? Improvements to the buses themselves?



Below is the current system map. Again, the objective here is not to try and rework the entire system, but to identify a prime area and some key ideas that could be implemented and tested without tremendous cost.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/busmap1.jpg

Here's an idea I've seen work well in other cities:

Employers provide substantial financial incentives for those who take mass transit.


For example, companies located downtown typically pay for their employees to park to the tune of about $100 per month. Instead of paying the parking garage, they could give a similar amount directly to the employee AND pay for a bus pass. Thus, the only money out of pocket for the employer is the bus cost but they could easily negotiate a good group deal through COPTA and buy at a discounted rate.

This would also help alleviate the downtown parking crunch, and decrease the need for companies like Devon and SandRidge to build more spaces for their ever-growing workforce.


If we could get enough downtown companies to do this, COPTA could look into some strategically placed park-and-ride lots with express service to downtown.

I like the idea of “Express routes” to high destination places.
An Express route from the Airport to downtown if operating every 20 minutes or so would attract riders.
Experiment with express routs from the suburbs to places like downtown OKC, Tinker, state capital complex area and the OU HS center,

There are a lot of people who hate fighting parking and traffic problems at sporting events. Express service to sports in downtown OKC and Norman would probably work provided they are given time saving priority and close drop offs.

A better shuttle system may be worth a look… The metro area transit systems should pool its resources for large weekend events, particularly for OU football games. They could shuttle in fans from places like Cross Roads mall and Bricktown.

Better route coverage and/or hours for express buses.
Example A - Norman -OKC route. If I need to come in before 8, that's easy. But if I only need to be downtown until 10 or 11, there is no bus back to Norman until 3ish. I've made that work via a long lunch with a friend and then hole up for some paperwork that could be done anywhere, but I've also driven in just so I could get gone when I was done.

Example B - when I worked in south okc for a few years, I could catch a bus into the transit center, and hop another to south okc. But I couldn't get where I needed to be before 9 usually, and there was no way to use the bus to go back if I ended up with a long day. Sometimes rode the bus in, and my lovely came up in the evening and we'd go out and about the metro before returning to Norman. But unless we were date nighting it, I drove in and then back out. Maybe this was never a hindrence to others, but it kept me off the system most days.

Ironically, they recently cut the airport / downtown route due to low ridership.

However, we all know there is need so it's a matter of understanding what is needed to make that route work. More frequency and express service would be good starts.

If people know they can be taken closer to their destination by transferring to the trolley then an express bus route from the Airport and even other places to downtown becomes more viable for more people.

You have to meet a minimum requirements or of course you will lose ridership. Yeah, it is even worse now but even before, I tried and it was really infrequent. I wasn't going to sit at the airport for 2 hours and wait for the next bus (which is what the average time was before). And it is also only an inbound catch so it takes longer to get out there than get back.

Crappy service = crappy ridership numbers.
Seems like common sense or a cab company’s influence?

Step 1 - reduce service area. If they aren't willing to do that then everyone is wasting their time.

Again, we are not talking about how to completely rework the entire system.

The point here is to come up with several ideas that would be somewhat easy to implement on a limited basis and then measure for increased ridership.

Step 1 - reduce service area. If they aren't willing to do that then everyone is wasting their time.why?

why?

Because they don't have enough money to serve the area they are trying to serve.

Again, we are not talking about how to completely rework the entire system.

The point here is to come up with several ideas that would be somewhat easy to implement on a limited basis and then measure for increased ridership.

Then that is simple - they could triple ridership tomorrow. Remove the fare.

They made the Jacksonville Skyway free and it has resulted in 6 straight months of record ridership.

http://downtownjax.firstcoastnews.com/news/news/81611-skyway-ridership-rises-over-last-six-months


JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- More people have been riding the Skyway than ever in the six months since it became free. Now, the JTA board has to decide whether to keep it that way.

According to Clinton Forbes, Director of Mass Transit for JTA, the ridership numbers have consistently been sixty percent higher than they were when the system cost fifty cents per ride.

"For transit, that is huge and so I think our customers and the community has, has recognized and now appreciate what a great community benefit the Skyway has become," said Forbes.

Forbes said he has heard from many people who have used the system for the first time since it became free. He said projections show that ridership would go back down if fares were reinstated.

Forbes explained that the Skyway only made about $130,000 in fares each year before the change. That amount was not very significant, considering the transportation system has a budget in the millions. He said the increase in people using the Skyway could help balance out the cost of running it because the more people who use it, the more money the state will offer JTA in grants.

"There's a formula that the state uses for the public transit systems based on increased ridership," Forbes explained. "As our ridership increases, we get more formula funding, which offsets some of that lost in revenue."

...

May had the biggest jump from just 45,000 riders in 2011 to almost twice that many this year.

This is all chicken-and-egg.

One approach is to try and go after a huge amount of funding and rework the entire system. That's worthwhile but for another thread.


The idea here is more along the lines of the Better Block approach: What are quick and dirty things we can try without a lot of money, red tape and approval?

The assumption is that we can get a little money to try some things and quickly determine the impact on ridership. Increased ridership is a funding source in itself and will help fuel future stages.

At the same time, macro level issues can be addressed but again, that is a separate subject.

Sid pretty much covered it. I still think one of the major problems is the routes, which are illogical. Second major problem is bus stops. I don't know if the city is prevented by their contract from creating their own city owned stops in conjunction to existing ones, but stops would lend themselves to an experiment while changing the entire route would not.

So, I would pick one route that seems to cross population centers that might contain potential new bus riders. Create several new bus stops or improve existing stops. Put in a concrete slab, a bench and some sort of covering. Then, put up a large sign that has a map of the route of that particular bus, in addition to signage that lists times when the bus can be expected at that particular stop. Ask bus drivers to attempt to adhere to the schedule as much as possible. You could then measure how ridership on that particular route changed and determine cost-benefit.

If I had a bit of extra money, and I have no idea how much it would cost, I'd put wifi in the buses on that route and see what happens as well.

But, until we stop forcing people to go to the bus transfer center, I don't see us significantly increasing ridership among those who have other forms of transit.

I think they should reach out to CBD workers who also live along a bus route. Then give specific counseling on how they could use the bus to get to work. This would basically be people who live south of 63rd Street and work downtown. A lot of people just don't know how they could use the bus or what it would mean for them. Basically, bus awareness. But not sure if we want to do this before we make the system better. WiFi, GPS, etc that I know they are already working on.

Yes, "bus awareness" and some media campaigning might help.

My biggest complaint with the bus service is lack of information at the bus stops. It would be nice to have the route information at least for the specific route at the stops. I find the bus drivers very helpful once on the bus. I have sat at a stop for an hour because I miscalculated the time that the bus would arrive at a stop by 5 minutes and therefore missed a connection. Luckily, I was with my son and we had a nice conversation. He happened to be in a walking cast at the time or it would have been quicker to walk home.

http://photoshopcontest.com/images/fullsize/104728980cc9b3fc43087e1d8f2d6d2d1fe125723728610.jp g
(i was grabbed by the thread title and just couldn't resist. sorry.)

of course this would be more well-suited for express trips to the airport
as it requires only a landing pad rather than a landing strip.
(and would still require a pilot)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3212/3123186097_236deaf8c2.jpg

Yes, "bus awareness" and some media campaigning might help.

I've noticed recently that they have been redecorating the exteriors of city buses.
Perhaps a vinyl wrap along these lines would make bus riding more appealing . . .
http://assets.cio.com/documents/cache/images/slideshows/2010/04/1_tech_visionaries.jpg
Maybe with the slogan, "OKCMetroTrans: You don't need wings to fly" ?

If they had an open top like that I would probably ride.

Three simple things that I think would make riding the bus a hell of a lot easier (at least for me):

1) Better maps. Have you looked at a Metro route map lately and tried to figure out which bus you'll need and when it will be there? It's not easy to do.

2) Better on-time performance. If the bus won't get me where I need to go when it says it will, that's a non-starter.

3) Nicer shelters. Have you seen our bus stops? If you haven't, I've included a picture for your enlightenment. They are beyond embarrassing and, with our weather, it is absolutely unacceptable that this is what we have. I cannot find the words to adequately describe how frustrating it is to see these passed off as bus stops.

2839

These three items seem to be *relatively* easy fixes, especially when we're limited from suggesting wholesale changes.

I'll bet using a sample of this tune in cutting-edge ads on television
(as well as over speakers for the top-riders) would increase ridership.
ob9w9F12SZM
On the other hand, maybe they should reserve the tune for the express buses only.
(does it need more cowbells?)

All kidding aside, I think OnlyOne nailed it.

Three simple things that I think would make riding the bus a hell of a lot easier (at least for me):
1) Better maps. Have you looked at a Metro route map lately and tried to figure out which bus you'll need and when it will be there? It's not easy to do.
2) Better on-time performance. If the bus won't get me where I need to go when it says it will, that's a non-starter.
3) Nicer shelters. Have you seen our bus stops? If you haven't, I've included a picture for your enlightenment. They are beyond embarrassing and, with our weather, it is absolutely unacceptable that this is what we have. I cannot find the words to adequately describe how frustrating it is to see these passed off as bus stops.
These three items seem to be *relatively* easy fixes, especially when we're limited from suggesting wholesale changes.

Agree. It almost appears that the metro bus system is set up to check a box. There's no apparent attempt to make it easy to use. I should be able to walk up to a bus stop and use a sign like Sid attached a picture of to see what bus stops there, where it goes, when it stops there, what lines it interacts with, and where to get a pass or token. Without those, it's a vehicle serving a secret society.

Agree. . . Without those, it's a vehicle serving a secret society.

Quick show of hands:
How many people contributing suggestions to this thread have actually taken advantage of the services offered by our local bus company, on a semi-regular basis, anytime during the past . . . oh . . . say . . . two years? (one hand up).

Anyone else? . . . I would bet OnlyOne's might be raised . . .
(that sentence was difficult to type one-handed)

(p.s.: okc buses don't use tokens. strictly passes or cash. =)

" . . . and THIS, Alice, is a copy of my new pilot's license!"
http://www.broadbandexpert.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Bus-driver-Ralph-Kramden.jpg

[QUOTE=RadicalModerate;591169]Quick show of hands:
How many people contributing suggestions to this thread have actually taken advantage of the services offered by our local bus company, on a semi-regular basis, anytime during the past . . . oh . . . say . . . two years? (one hand up).

Anyone else? . . . I would bet OnlyOne's might be raised . . .
(that sentence was difficult to type one-handed)

(p.s.: okc buses don't use tokens. strictly passes or cash. =)

I have.

can't call it semi-regular, but yeah, a few times within the last two years.

Your post #13 makes this a complete waste of time. N one rides the bus system because they have a self fulfilling failure built in. This is amazing that no one can see how obvious this problem is. Our bus system has been an embarrassment since it was founded decades ago and will continue because no one wants to address the real problem. I would never ride the bus in OKC because it is not dependable to get where you need to go. You also cannot get there in a reasonable time frame. Our bus system has failed for the following reasons...

1. There are not enough routes to get anywhere
2. The buses do not come frequently enough.
3. The routes that do exist winding around in a way that looks like spaghetti making it difficult to know where it goes.

The city continues to have their heads in the sand and create a system where no one can get where they need to go and when they need to get there. Then they say we don't want to make any real routes because no one rides the bus. No one rides the bus because they can't depend on them. It is a vicious circle. If a complete overhaul is off the table then we are wasting our time. They keep wanting to only have routes in the core so no one else can get there. I just moved out of Del City last year and I can tell you that many people live there and have no other way to get around and get this. There is not a single bus route that goes through Del City.


Our bus system is a complete joke and you have people on this board that are in a parallel universe where they think that five miles worth of "light rail" is an answer to transportation issues. That is the single reason that many people were against MAPS III. You may remember that during the MAPS III inquiry, the number one request people put together was transportation issues. Mayor Mick Cornett must think we are stupid. He actually thinks that ANYONE outside OKCTalk thinks light rail answers this issue AT ALL. This statement in post #1 says it all "But with the hundreds of millions to be poured into the streetcar and Santa Fe Station (http://www.okctalk.com/showwiki.php?title=Santa+Fe+Station), it begs the question: How can we best spend a fraction of that amount to get people out of cars and onto the bus?"

They just do not get it. They are willing to spend "hundreds of millions" into a streetcar that no one outside of downtown can use while wanting to spend "a fraction" of that amount on the rest of the city.

So far I count three to four system utilizers. Maybe 4.5 . . .
(and a tip o' the hat to you, Sid)

Okay . . . (ref. posts 13/33) . . . to make the current system more useful and appealing to non-riders . . .
How about stewards/stewardesses and free wifi?
This way, you could buy an all day pass and ride all day when the weather is really hot or cold.

(i have to compliment the current buses on their excellent air-conditioning systems and courteous drivers. it almost makes up for the fact that while the bus can understandably be five to seven minutes late it can also be a few minutes early, in which case you miss it and have to call work to excusify.)

Your post #13 makes this a complete waste of time. N one rides the bus system because they have a self fulfilling failure built in. This is amazing that no one can see how obvious this problem is. Our bus system has been an embarrassment since it was founded decades ago and will continue because no one wants to address the real problem. I would never ride the bus in OKC because it is not dependable to get where you need to go. You also cannot get there in a reasonable time frame. Our bus system has failed for the following reasons...

1. There are not enough routes to get anywhere
2. The buses do not come frequently enough.
3. The routes that do exist winding around in a way that looks like spaghetti making it difficult to know where it goes.

The city continues to have their heads in the sand and create a system where no one can get where they need to go and when they need to get there. Then they say we don't want to make any real routes because no one rides the bus. No one rides the bus because they can't depend on them. It is a vicious circle. If a complete overhaul is off the table then we are wasting our time. They keep wanting to only have routes in the core so no one else can get there. I just moved out of Del City last year and I can tell you that many people live there and have no other way to get around and get this. There is not a single bus route that goes through Del City.


Our bus system is a complete joke and you have people on this board that are in a parallel universe where they think that five miles worth of "light rail" is an answer to transportation issues. That is the single reason that many people were against MAPS III. You may remember that during the MAPS III inquiry, the number one request people put together was transportation issues. Mayor Mick Cornett must think we are stupid. He actually thinks that ANYONE outside OKCTalk thinks light rail answers this issue AT ALL. This statement in post #1 says it all "But with the hundreds of millions to be poured into the streetcar and Santa Fe Station (http://www.okctalk.com/showwiki.php?title=Santa+Fe+Station), it begs the question: How can we best spend a fraction of that amount to get people out of cars and onto the bus?"

They just do not get it. They are willing to spend "hundreds of millions" into a streetcar that no one outside of downtown can use while wanting to spend "a fraction" of that amount on the rest of the city.

We get it. But,there's another reason. People in Oklahoma City think the bus is for people who cannot afford a car. And the majority of them are going to think that way until the bus is a part of a comprehensive system that appeals to them. While light rail and streetcar are expensive, they're perception changers. In fact, early Portland data showed that people would wait for the streetcar, even if a bus going the same route was immediately available. Light rail will appeal to people who live in Edmond and Norman and other locations it might serve. When they get into the hub, they're going to need to walk, ride a bus or take a streetcar to their destination. When a bus is only part of their transportation route, they may actually use it - as long as it's readily available and goes fairly directly to their destination. Once people have ridden buses for part of their trip, the idea of using it for an entire trip may start to appeal to them.

But, if we don't have other transit options besides buses and/or gas is so prohibitively expensive that people will do anything to avoid driving, a bus system will never stand alone, no matter how logical and easy to use. We might be able to increase ridership a bit, but not significantly.

In addition, light rail and streetcar significantly promote development. The streetcar can be part of a park and ride system that eliminates downtown congestion. It can move large numbers of people into and out of the downtown rapidly if desired. Light rail and streetcars cannot only be evaluated in terms of their effect on transit.

I don't think anyone thinks light rail or a streetcar are an answer to transportation issues. But, that doesn't mean they're any less important. I believe they are the key to getting people who own cars out of them, and losing that idea that mass transit is only for those "unlucky" enough not to have a car.

Well said, Betts. All good points, clearly expressed.
Perhaps--as this is a "perception" thing . . . As older buses are retired they could be replaced with something along these lines. At least for The Elite Urban Corps Ridership. They could start selling season passes now to pay for the upgrades.

http://www.insanelimos.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/stretch_limousine.jpg

I'd probably wait at a shelterless bus stop on a day when the wind chill was down around zero to climb on board one of these. And based upon the number of riders at the times I've caught the bus there would be plenty of room for all.

Three simple things that I think would make riding the bus a hell of a lot easier (at least for me):

1) Better maps. Have you looked at a Metro route map lately and tried to figure out which bus you'll need and when it will be there? It's not easy to do.

2) Better on-time performance. If the bus won't get me where I need to go when it says it will, that's a non-starter.

3) Nicer shelters. Have you seen our bus stops? If you haven't, I've included a picture for your enlightenment. They are beyond embarrassing and, with our weather, it is absolutely unacceptable that this is what we have. I cannot find the words to adequately describe how frustrating it is to see these passed off as bus stops.

2839

These three items seem to be *relatively* easy fixes, especially when we're limited from suggesting wholesale changes.


I'll bet using a sample of this tune in cutting-edge ads on television
(as well as over speakers for the top-riders) would increase ridership.
ob9w9F12SZM
On the other hand, maybe they should reserve the tune for the express buses only.
(does it need more cowbells?)

All kidding aside, I think OnlyOne nailed it.


Actually, I think both of you hit on the things we can do now to make our bus transit better and an alternative for elective riders.

I also think giving the buses a new paint scheme would help. The streetcar and buses need to have the same paint scheme with the exception of a few special theme buses such as the natural gas powered ones I see now.

In the longer term, I think we should consider converting the entire bus fleet over to CNG or LNG (whichever is more practical). It would be a "green" option for people who make that a priority AND it would give our local energy companies a platform to provide "green" fuel for an entire transit network.

Does anyone actually know the bus' on-time rating?

Also, sidewalks are a huge issue with bus ridership. Although I only have to walk across the street to catch the bus going south of my house, I have to walk 8 blocks if I want to go north or coming home from a southbound trip. Since my husband and I share a car since we work together we use the bus to get to work occasionally, but make sure we have a ride to get home.

you have people on this board that are in a parallel universe where they think that five miles worth of "light rail" is an answer to transportation issues. That is the single reason that many people were against MAPS III. You may remember that during the MAPS III inquiry, the number one request people put together was transportation issues. Mayor Mick Cornett must think we are stupid. He actually thinks that ANYONE outside OKCTalk thinks light rail answers this issue AT ALL. This statement in post #1 says it all "But with the hundreds of millions to be poured into the streetcar and Santa Fe Station (http://www.okctalk.com/showwiki.php?title=Santa+Fe+Station), it begs the question: How can we best spend a fraction of that amount to get people out of cars and onto the bus?"

They just do not get it. They are willing to spend "hundreds of millions" into a streetcar that no one outside of downtown can use while wanting to spend "a fraction" of that amount on the rest of the city.

1. I don't think anyone on here thinks that the streetcar or initial rail investments answer the greater problem. You being pretty overly dramatic.

2. The original comment "hundred of millions" should be deleted/corrected. It is a $130 million budget for not only the streetcar, but development of Santa-Fe Station, rail connections to it for a greater future system, and an initial maintenance facility. Also a study of connections to the NE side and Del City/Midwest City.

I hear these comments all of the time. But the internal polling that I saw reflected that people desired a rail investment in MAPS 3. Not buses.

That doesn't mean we shouldn't invest heavily in the bus system.

Here's how to make permanent dramatic improvements relatively cheaply that would increase ridership-

INFRASTRUCTURE

1. New stops, marked on maps as to their location, designed for the extreme weather conditions that are unique to our city
2. Maps of the route at the stop/system map at every stop
3. Shade trees/landscaping at stops
4. Automated wifi enabled traffic signal prioritization to increase speed, effectiveness, frequency (also reduces fuel costs significantly)
5. Sidewalks and ADA to stops
6. NEXT BUS automated time stamp information via GPS on digital boards at stops

SYSTEM

1. Make an announcement that in 4 years the service area will be reduced/consolidated (So move into those areas if you are dependent on public transportation)
2. Go to a grid
3. Develop a express bus route "hub and spoke" to overlay the grid and reach far flung areas to connect to Santa-Fe Station
4. Eliminate COTPA and introduce an RTA Regional Transit Authority (consolidate regional resources/funds/and operations for efficiency)
5. Go to CNG buses to stave off diesel fuel cost fluctuations


FINANCING

1. Consolidate, consolidate, consolidate
2. Take ownership of advertising revenues at stops
3. Change the mandate that separates parking from subsidizing transit (Parking/cars should subsidize transit)
4. Quarter cent to half a cent Sales Tax or gasoline tax to create a stable Operations and Maintenance revenue stream

I'm tired of streetcar advocates getting accused by people like plmccordj of being delusional. We know about nearly all of this stuff and we want it all improved. The streetcar is the permanent investment that the city cannot walk away from that provides a Class A service and acts as the collector/distributor of that future larger system. Our strategy is to start from the center, invest decisively, and work our way outward.

There will be much more transit in the next decade for OKC. But this mess has been 60 years in the making. Its going to take political will, strategic campaigning, a successful institution of a reliable funding source, and intelligent administrators to change it.

You know one of the biggest reasons I hear from people who don't take mass transit is the extra time they say it takes. Somehow they need to be shown that the few minutes they get to work earlier is not worth the hundreds of dollars a month they pay for it.

Maybe a commercial that shows a person eating nice dinner out, buying a new DVD, watching Netflix, buying school supplies, etc and then says "I save $200 a month taking the bus to work". Then another person saying "So what, I get to work 5 minutes earlier." Then end with a black screen that asks "Would you rather have $200 or get to work 5 minutes earlier?"

Maybe a commercial that shows a person eating nice dinner out, buying a new DVD, watching Netflix, buying school supplies, etc and then says "I save $200 a month taking the bus to work". Then another person saying "So what, I get to work 5 minutes earlier." Then end with a black screen that asks "Would you rather have $200 or get to work 5 minutes earlier?" I think you should also have the person riding the bus say and I spent my whole commute including those extra five minutes watching you tube and checking Facebook on the wifi (after it is implemented) instead of getting angry with the guy driving to slow or tailgating me.

Even better would be the person on the bus checking traffic conditions which shows an accident, and have the 'other' person in commercial series be in the accident. Then as the bus drives by you see the 'other' guy talking to police after being rear ended (with coffee spilled all over him to boot).

While commuting to and from Atlanta I took MARTA to the airport. It was about 15 minutes time difference but I saved $20 a day by parking at the MARTA station and the 1 hour ride was stress free. I could browse the internet, read, people watch, watch the city go by, etc...

If the bus came to 50th and Mac I and a number of others would ride I'd walk a half mile for a bus but not 2 miles. Get some Bethany warr acres area service the worst that could happen is we spend our money in OKC rather than Bethany warr acres its like collecting bus fare and capturing more tax dollars the most bang for the buck

I see a bus every day at 63rd and MacArthur. I know that not within 1/2 mile but it's certainly not 2 miles.

I'd prefer not to get robbed for my bicycle that I don't own yet not sit on a bench on or near lyrehood lane. Being robbed a couple times waiting for the bus overthere is why I don't utilize the bus at all anymore is rather walk in the snow than go up that way again