Even during Spoletto the Charleston downtown trolley system--they look like a trolley but are really buses-- is grossly under utilized. What we have is a bunch of loud buses with obnoxious smoke coming out the rear. Their CO2 emissions per passenger mile has got to be unbelievably high--soccer moms in SUV's are better.
Here is why they are under utilized:
1. The system covers about a two mile by three mile area. Most people just walk.
2. The routes are linear, that is run in straight lines, people tend to wander in different directions.
3. By the time people figure out the system it's time to go home.
It's not just Charleston, the public transit systems are a disaster all over the US mainly because of number 2 above. Think about it. What if a bus stopped exactly when you wanted it, in front of your house, and took you non-stop to work? Would you take it? Sure...except when you had to drop the kids off at school or you had to do some running around at lunch or you were leaving after work for a date or when you want to get some exercise by riding your bike. Get the picture? Our travel needs aren't linear.
Solution? Mass transit might be working in large metropolitian areas but what the rest of the country needs is better roads, 60 mile per gallon cars and bike lanes. But mass transit has become like mom and apple pie...... so we'll just keep pissing away money on under utilized systems.
