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New York City’s subway and bus service is already in crisis. It could be getting worse. And more expensive.
Officials at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) warned last week that without a major infusion of cash, they will have to drastically cut service or increase fares on the system that carries millions of New Yorkers around the city.
[...] The system’s financial straits have gotten worse in part because it has fewer riders, and is collecting less money in fares. Expected passenger revenue over a five-year period has dropped by $485m since July.
“They’ve entered this death spiral,” said Benjamin Kabak, who runs the transit website Second Avenue Sagas. “The subway service and the bus service has become unreliable enough for people to stop using it. If people aren’t using it, there’s less money, and they have to keep raising fares without delivering better service.”
Bike-sharing and ride-hailing apps have emerged as alternatives for commuters. Is mass transit finding itself in a valley of death between those who are price-conscious and those who want maximum convenience?
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Runaway1956 on Wednesday November 21 2018, @11:45AM (3 children)
How many days does the average worker work in the UK? Five days per week, 52 weeks per year, makes about 260 work days. Subtract vacation time, sick time, and maybe a couple days you just don't feel like working. For me, that's 15 day's vacation time, six day's paid holiday, two day's personal time, and almost no sick time in a decade. My surgery should maybe be counted, but I was given short term disability for that, making it an "excused" absence of about seven weeks.
Yes, I know that SOME people work a whole lot more. I spent most of my life working 6 or 7 days a week. But, I'm asking about typical workers. I know from experience that most of the time, commuting on a Saturday or Sunday is more pleasant by orders of magnitude. The roads are relatively empty, and I presume the trains and busses are also uncrowded.
If I'm just not understanding what you're saying - please elaborate.
(Score: 1) by Wodan on Wednesday November 21 2018, @01:56PM
I think I have a fairly normal UK job, it's weekdays only with 26 days off over the year as well as 8 bank holidays, so that's another 34 days not worked for about 224 work days total.
(Score: 3, Informative) by ledow on Wednesday November 21 2018, @04:07PM (1 child)
You're counting individuals.
I'm saying that, out of a supposed 365 day a year service, only 300 days don't have ONE entire category of staff officially on strike.
Literally they get 65 days off JUST TO STRIKE in a given year. Maybe not an individual (if they aren't scheduled to work on that particular day) but as a workforce.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Wednesday November 21 2018, @05:46PM
Oh-kay - that's clear now. Thanks!