Rider Forum: Livelihood, social ties hurt by transit service cuts
More than three dozen riders, transit agency staff, and advocates from across the Bay Area convened in an evening forum on October 15 to discuss the experience of riding transit in the COVID-19 era.
The forum - jointly hosted by Seamless Bay Area, San Francisco Transit Riders, United Seniors of Oakland and Alameda County (USOAC), Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action, the Youth Leadership Institute, the East Bay Transit Riders Union, and Friends of Caltrain - focused on the impact of service cuts put in place across the region since March.
Among riders who have used transit regularly since March, many have experienced significant changes in their experience traveling around the city due to service cuts.
Current experience on transit
Nearly all of the forum’s attendees reported that they are using public transit less since the onset of the pandemic. Some have stopped using public transit altogether since their travel needs have disappeared.
Among riders who have used transit regularly since March, many have experienced significant changes in their experience traveling around the city due to service cuts.
Rider Helena reported that her bus line to work was suspended, while the next best bus line took “30 extra minutes.”
Jason in San Francisco reported noticing “large gaps” between buses on lines where service used to be more frequent.
Derek, an East Bay resident, said that suspensions of AC Transit lines had made it more challenging to connect to the BART system.
Jean-Paul, a San Francisco resident, reported using “crowded” Muni buses traveling toward his job near Civic Center. He said he had been passed by buses while waiting at a stop, and had been on buses that had skipped stops.
Nick, a San Francisco resident who works in the South and East Bay, reported that reductions in transit frequency had made his travel to and from the airport more challenging.
Impact of service cuts
A Sonoma County resident and transit rider reported that she had been forced to turn down a swing shift job because local buses are only operating until at 6:00 p.m., making it impossible for her to travel there and back.
Two riders currently living in one-car households reported that they were now considering buying a second car due to challenges in riding transit during the pandemic.
Peg and Dick, a retired couple living in Foster City, said that they have curtailed social visits as a result of cutbacks in Caltrain service.
Chris from Richmond expressed concern over isolation within the senior community if transit service cuts were made permanent.
Riders and advocates gathered to discuss service cuts and changes at the Bay Area Transit Rider Forum on Oct. 15.
Inconsistent communication
Multiple riders said they felt that communication from transit agencies about service changes and cuts had been inconsistent or nonexistent.
Helen, a transit trainer who helps clients learn to navigate the public transportation system, said that many of her clients are not tech savvy and had not received information about service changes. She pointed out that many online or printed materials are not accessible for people with visual impairments.
A Caltrain rider living in the South Bay said that she’d heard “nothing” from the agency about service changes.
Jessica, in Concord, said she had heard stories of community members waiting for a bus or shuttle that never came.
Multiple riders said they were thankful when current information about service changes was posted at station entrances or bus stops. And two riders reported that they felt they were receiving sufficient information about service changes through digital channels, including agency email lists and Twitter accounts.
Closing thoughts
It is clear that service cuts have had a significant impact on riders who are still using transit to commute, run errands, and see friends and family during the pandemic - from infrequent buses and longer commutes, to being forced to turn down work or consider buying a car. Riders also expressed a clear desire for more robust communication from transit agencies about service changes.
Prompted to explain the impact on their lives if current transit service levels were to be made permanent, riders universally agreed that it would have deeply negative and even “disastrous” impacts on their lives and their communities.