Is The BRU Winning the Battle of Ideas? (Part 1 of 2)
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by Esperanza Martinez on Tuesday, August 11, 2009
As local transit agencies cut much needed service and raise fares, despite the obligation the U.S. has to reduce green house gas emissions to curb global warming, forces in the world are calling for the restriction of auto use and working to implement policies to invest in a sustainable mass transit. As the fight for the Clean Air and Economic Justice Plan continues, we are also attempting to build deeper understanding of what other cities and agencies are doing to push the bounds of what some think is possible in the realm of public transportation. Critical factors that shape the BRU’s programmatic demands – auto restriction, bus-centered system with bus only lanes and fare reductions as a means to free fares – are highlighted in the following articles:
- David Lazarus – LA Times business columnist – reminisces on his visit outside of North America where he saw viable transit systems running smoothly yet a necessary piece towards that end that is lacking in Los Angeles is the political willingness to restrict auto use to discourage auto use.
- Elisabeth Rosenthal – New York Times writer – draws attention to TransMilenio, the renowned Bus Rapid Transit system in Bogotá, Colombia, as a significant bus system model that may be able to aid in the fight against climate change. Its success is in large part due to policies that restrict auto use in the city.
- Sewell Chan and Michael Barbaro -- New York Times writers highlight Mike Bloomberg's campaign plan to move the transit agency forward by proposing NY MTA stop collecting fares on cross-town buses and build upon BRT projects. This proposal comes after a series of fare increases approved under Mayor Bloomberg's administration although the plan has major gaps, that we will look to the NY environmental justice organizations to speak to, putting these policies on the table opens up space for us, as organizers in Los Angeles.
This is what we have been reading, check out the articles and share your comments and in the next few days be expecting a more thorough BRU write-up titled - "Is The BRU Winning the Battle of Ideas?" How the New York Times, Los Angeles Times and Mayor Bloomberg are following the lead of Bus Riders Union to Combat Global Warming and the Public Health Hazards of Automobiles "
Comments
On August 21st, 2009 Esperanza (not verified) said:
Thank you, currently, one of the demands of our Clean Air and Economic Justice Plan is that the MTA reduce fares back to the 2007 level and look towards even more reductions in the future. We do believe and this has been proven in the LA's history, that when you lower fares ridership will increase. This is one way to alleviate economic hardships for working class people as well as a concrete way to attract new ridership. One of the principles of unity of the BRU is that "We support a 50-cent fare, a $20 monthly bus pass, A $10 monthly student bus pass with commensurate reductions in all other bus passes and oppose all fare increases as a step towards the ultimate goal of free public transportation for Los Angeles County." We are a long ways from that but understand the necessity to move transportation in that direction if we want to impact the twin environmental and economic crises as well as the public health crisis!
On August 13th, 2009 ubrayj02 (not verified) said:
You most certainly are losing the battle of ideas. One point that will definitely help you in the fight is not an environmental nor an economic justice issue, but HEALTH. There is now a well established link between land use, car-dependence, and diseases like heart disease, asthma, heart attacks, and high rates of pedestrian fatalities.
Adding health issues to your platform will also open up doors with moneyed foundations working to improve health, but lacking in community connections and support for their (often vague) goals. Transportation reform is health reform - that is the key.
Additionally, local retailers can often have a lot to gain by removing car speeds and volumes from their streets. It is an uphill battle to convince most retailers that this is the case, but in historic, dense, commercial areas a slower speed of traffic and solid bus service (with pedestrian and bike access) is a great location to rent.
On August 21st, 2009 Esperanza (not verified) said:
ubrayj02 we agree that the the growing public health crisis is one critical issue that needs to be addressed in order to impact the battle of ideas around transportation. The growing public health crisis is one that we have been attempting to impact since the 80's when the Labor Community Strategy Center came into existence. You should check out, if you havent already done so, two documents that we have written "LA's Lethal Air" and "a New Vision for Urban Transportation" that take on the questions of pollution, toxins, health and transportation at the intersection of race, class and gender. Our Clean Air, Clean Lungs, Clean buses focuses almost entirely on public health and transportation and the environment (and was the force responsible for keeping the Wilshire Bus Only Lanes project alive and close to being realized) and our national campaign, Transit Riders for Public Transportation, is attempting to impact the debate at the federal level around operations funding. You should check out some of the fliers we have produced to take out on the bus as a way to do deeper education with busriders. Thanks for your comment
We are inspired by your work. Welcome to the world-wide free transit movement.