Deterred: How the MTA discourages potential Manchester, NH, bus riders
Friday, June 25, 2010 at 8:48AM Editor's note: This is the second part of a two-part series detailing my frist ride aboard a Manchester Transit Authority bus.
Is this a bus stop?
I suspect that it is, but I'm not so sure. The sign — of which there are more than a few spread across Manchester, NH — features a picture of a bus and the words "no parking," but nowhere on the sign does it say "bus stop," which to me is the one thing it should say if it is, in fact, a place where buses stop to pick up and drop off passengers.
Such is just one example of how, in my opinion, the Manchester Transit Authority deters potential passengers from riding the bus. For if I'm not certain that a particular spot is bus stop, I am definitely not going to hang around (especially in the blazing heat, the pouring rain or the freezing cold) on the possibility that a bus might show up.
Other Manchester Transit Authority bus stop signs, like this one on the corner of Bridge and Chestnut streets, are better at communicating with passengers:
At least this sign assures me that a bus will arrive at some point in the future. But when? And where does it go?
Again, if I don't know, I'm probably not going to hang around to find out. And in the event I have a cell phone and decide to call the number on the sign for "more information" — as I did last night about 6:30 — and press 1 "for transit schedules and delays" I am asked to leave a message for "transit and Stepsaver dispatch." Not very helpful.
When using buses on a trip to Chicago a few years back, I remember being impressed with Chicago Transit Authority's signs that at least told me what bus to expect and gave me a rudimentary map, the bus's destination and hours of operation:
Here in Manchester, NH, however, such helpful information is nowhere to be found on MTA signage, not even on the pitifully few bus shelters, like this one on the Lake Avenue side of the Verizon Wireless Arena that appears to have plenty of available space:
Indeed, to find out ahead of time where any bus goes, one needs to be able to access the route map on MTA's website. This is possible for many people via their home computers, or even at the stop if one has a smartphone, but that's really beside the point. If the MTA is serious about increasing ridership, it needs to make riding the bus as easy as possible. And this means, at minimum, letting people know, at the point of departure, where the buses go and how often they go there.
I realize that this may be easier said than done, what with the MTA's relatively miniscule annual appropriations from the City of Manchester. And I am sure MTA management is doing all they can with the few resources they have at their disposal. But operating on a shoestring budget from year to year often precludes longer-term planning, and especially the ability to spend money on efforts — like better signage, more frequent buses, longer hours of operation and less circuitious routes — that might actually increase ridership significantly.
This, of course, points to the chicken-or-the-egg funding/ridership scenario that bedevils the MTA: Manchester, NH, decision makers are reluctant to increase funding to the MTA due to its low ridership numbers, but it's due in large part to inadequate appropriations that the MTA cannot fund a bus system that would be more attractive to, and better meet the needs of, city residents.
Combined with a lack of understanding of what a massive economic development tool a well-functioning public transit system can be, this is a recipe for MTA mediocrity.
Reader Comments (5)
The MTA website is confusing too. I'm on Route 5. It is a long way around to anywhere you might want to go. And what does it mean on Saturday that they do not service Colonial Village on any trip? The Colonial Village entrance (at W.Clarke & River Rd) is on the Saturday schedule, and is where I would get the bus. Does that mean the bus will drive right past even though the time is listed?
Boston has nice bus signs too - but even if the schedules (AND fares) were taped to the shelters it would help. Even though I have a "smart" phone it is way too slow & small to be able to read the bus map on it.
There are paper schedules. I'm not sure where you would get them other than on the bus, though.
If you miss a bus in Manchester you have to wait a whole hour before another one appears and find yourself late for an appointment or work. Making 4 or 5 of the routes run every 30 minutes would go a long way toward bringing in more riders and upping the convenience factor that is sorely missing. I would have liked to have seen some quotes in this article about how things may or may not change, did you interview anyone?
No, I did not interview anyone for this post, Craig. It was my intended to be more of a first-person experience piece as opposed to a news-style investigative piece.
Will, thanks for pointing out some things that we could be doing better. In fairness though, Grace has a very good point, that there are paper schedules available on board any MTA bus as well as at many grocery stores, City Hall, the welcome center, Canal Street transportation center, and other locations across the city. That certainly doesn't mean that there isn't more we can do to post information, but it makes your statement that a smartphone is the only way to get the schedule somewhat inaccurate. Now, onto the good news....MTA will be posting route information in all bus shelters throughout the city this summer. Included will be what buses stop there and at what times (similar to information available currently in many Elm Street shelters). While I don't envision having the resources or system size of a city like Chicago who has great signage at almost every stop, I think we can begin with the shelters as those are located at some of the most frequent stops, and we'll go from there.
Bus stops will also be updated to all say "bus stop", that's a great point you have made.
I'd love the chance to talk with you at some point to discuss other barriers other than signage that you may have encountered. I understand from earlier articles you've written that you are not a regular MTA rider so I'd value your suggestions as somewhat not familiar with the system. I think Craig is onto something with his suggestion that we use these opportunities to discuss solutions. Funding is certainly a challenge, yes, but it's not something that we can't overcome if we work together. At the end of the day, the MTA system is for the residents of the Queen City and we'll never be fully successful without their help and support.
Please feel free to call or email me anytime. 623-8801 ext 612 or mwhitten@mtabus.org