tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5862444008740250372.post1502620611914184275..comments2024-02-01T04:37:41.878-05:00Comments on Cap'n Transit Rides Again: Marketing buses: vans vs. "BRT"Cap'n Transithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057887736728828646noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5862444008740250372.post-16307617531667792972010-09-21T11:31:46.123-04:002010-09-21T11:31:46.123-04:00I used to take 4 or 5 round trips on the B69 and B...I used to take 4 or 5 round trips on the B69 and B71, but I doubt I'll ever try any of these vans. Here's why:<br /><br />* There's no schedule and the headways are too long.<br /><br />* The vehicles are smaller and I have less confidence in the skill of the drivers. I'd be afraid to let my kids on these without a car seat.<br /><br />* They don't take unlimited MetroCards, which I buy every month, so they are an added expense.Steve O.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13905833445106549609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5862444008740250372.post-36470503090484589372010-09-21T09:04:55.930-04:002010-09-21T09:04:55.930-04:00Let me rephrase that, Ant6n: the reasons why peopl...Let me rephrase that, Ant6n: the reasons why people choose one mode over another can be categorized as availability, value, glamour and amenities.<br /><br />Information can be part of value (I know when the next bus is going to leave, so I can plan better with this bus service). But just plain awareness of the existence of a service is not a reason for choosing that service, it's a prerequisite for making a choice.<br /><br />I'm using the word "glamour" in <a href="http://capntransit.blogspot.com/2010/07/value-of-glamour.html" rel="nofollow">a specific, technical sense</a>, and no, it does not encompass simple awareness.<br /><br />No, transit should not always try to market itself as much as possible, because sometimes it's not worth the effort, and sometimes marketing can replace actual improvements in value.Cap'n Transithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17057887736728828646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5862444008740250372.post-54301208997923841322010-09-21T08:08:12.029-04:002010-09-21T08:08:12.029-04:00nice post..nice post..sheronwilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02411949173217351810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5862444008740250372.post-67761571750502975692010-09-21T03:05:46.683-04:002010-09-21T03:05:46.683-04:00You say that the categories in which public transi...You say that the categories in which public transit can be competitive are "availability, value, glamour and amenities". I would add add that how much people are aware of the service is also a way to be competitive. And for transit, information is the best marketing. Branding can also be a powerful tool to make people more aware of the service (although you could call that 'glamour'). The idea is that the New York SBS is not necessarily BS if it is able to attract riders, even if the transportation value might not be up to your standards. And in the same way, the jitneys might be useless not because of the transit value, but because people are not aware and thus not compelled to use the service.<br /><br />In the end, all transit should try to market itself as much as possible.ant6nhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04845727393148967959noreply@blogger.com