Here is a storify post by George Kelley about the recent fire on San Francisco’s Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) that stranded commuters and the reactions on twitter.

A few days back we saw a nice video from RidetoWorkUK , promoting motorcycles as a commuting option.  And today I saw this new video posted by a British biker showing how wonderfully he bypassed a longggg traffic queue by hopping on the dedicated bus lane.  And with that today I learned, motorcycles are allowed to use bus lanes in some parts of UK..

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxDeXZSfAzM&hd=1‘]

Why are we not doing that in this part of the world (i.e., US)? Or do you know of any cities where such a practice is in place?

SubWars from SeanSoong on Vimeo.

The video from Reason.TV  says it all. .  For those who care to read, check the Reason Foundation’s blog  post, which gives a good idea of what is  wrong with DC’s WMATA and its escalator management..

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ioHIlPgOS4′]

And seen below a customer’s creative and preemptive response for the agency’s yet-to-begin-customer survey.  After seeing the video above, don’t you think he and other riders like him are shelling $$ on this system are justified to deliver such a verdit  (actually the video doesn’t even address the plethora of other problems beyond the elevators and escalators that is plaguing the system) I’m sure many rider in the DC metropolitan area feel the same way..

Image courtesy: @dcmetrosucks via Twitter

The Central Maryland Regional Transit Corporation (CMRT), a private non-profit transit management firm located in Central Maryland, is conducting a search for a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead the organization through its next level of growth.  The CEO will be responsible for the general oversight of a multi-jurisdictional transit system with an annual operating budget of $15 million and ridership of more than 1.6 million passengers.

This position will report to the CMRT Board Chair and its elected Board of Directors and will manage a professional and support staff of approximately twenty-five employees.

The CEO must have demonstrated entrepreneurial skills, be a creative problem solver, maintain a keen understanding of political affairs as well as business and government relationships.  Experience in grant writing and working knowledge of federal and state processes and policies preferred.  Qualified candidates should possess a Bachelor’s Degree (Master’s Preferred) in Business Administration, Public Administration or related field, have excellent communication skills, and also have at least 5 years’ experience in a senior management capacity with a transit organization or similar business enterprise.

CMRT offers a competitive salary and benefits package.  The position will remain open until filled, however; applicants are encouraged to apply by May 4, 2012.  Interested persons should submit a resume, cover letter and salary history to CMRT Executive Search Committee, 312 Marshall Ave., Suite 1000, Laurel MD  20707; email: hr@cmrtransit.org.
________________________________________

TRIP MOBILITY MANAGER

The Central Maryland Regional Transit Corporation, a non-profit regional transportation management organization, seeks a highly motivated professional to be responsible for the development and oversight of a one-call/one-click transportation resource center that provides information on transportation options throughout central Maryland.  The TRIP Mobility Manager is responsible for building coordination among the existing public transportation and human service transportation providers within the service area of Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, Howard, Montgomery, and Prince George’s Counties, as well as the City of Baltimore, the City of Laurel, and Washington DC.

Responsibilities:

Specific duties include the oversight of the centralized information call center and website and direct supervision of TRIP staff.   The position will regularly meet with project stakeholders to continue to build community networks, continue to improve and build on TRIP outreach efforts, develop strategies for seeking additional funding sources, and to leverage existing funding with non-FTA federal programs.

TRIP has received a federal grant to expand the program statewide.  This position will also be responsible for managing and implementing this project.

Qualifications:

Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s Degree in Transportation/Urban Planning, Business/Public Administration, Marketing or related field and minimum of five (5) years job experience in public sector transportation or non-profit organization management.  Additionally, candidates must exhibit excellent analytical, written and oral communication skills.  Marketing/outreach expertise valuable, but not required.

Compensation:

$52,500 – $60,000, commensurate with experience.

Please send resume and cover letter to:

CMRT Human Resources
312 Marshall Avenue, Suite 1000
Laurel, MD 20707
HR@cmrtransit.org

(Source: via Laughing Squid)

What an awesome stunt!  Improv Everywhere converted a late night New York City subway car into an unauthorized sleeper car, complete with three beds (video). Pajamas, sleep masks, and earplugs were also provided as part of this unauthorized free service. The Improv Everywhere website says the project took place on the above-ground N train in Astoria, Queens around midnight on a Sunday evening.  The Sleeper Car was produced by Improv Everywhere as part of the Guggenheim Museum exhibition stillspotting nyc.

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Someone please bring this to Washington, DC and offer a bit of comfort during the endless Redline delays!

Image Courtesy: AAA via Grist.com

Found this interesting graphic on Grist in an article titled “How high do gas prices have to get to trigger behavior change? “.  So, do Americans really change their driving habits when the gas prices rise? According to the graph, the answer is an emphatic yes.  The article quotes AAA saying, ” A AAA survey conducted at the beginning of the month found 84 percent of respondents saying they have changed their driving habits or lifestyle in some way in response to recent gas-price increases, and 87 percent would change driving habits further if prices remain this high for long. The most common change adopted so far is combining trips and errands, which 60 percent of respondents say they’ve done. And 16 percent say they’ve purchased or leased a more fuel-efficient vehicle.” Read the entire article here.

Note:  If the gas prices continue to rise with the drum beats of war getting louder and louder by the day, we can expect to see many drivers ditching their cars and opt to taking transit to work and to other places.  I hope the transit agencies do everything in their power to demonstrate the conveniences of riding a bus/train and entice these flocking masses to continue using transit as a primary option for getting around.  Oh, the big question I have in mind – Are the American transit agencies equipped to handle this sudden spike in ridership? Many transit agencies are hobbled by poor funding patterns over the years and it will be hard to meet this new segment of ridership arrives to what is an already exploding demand.  Let’s see what happens.  (Oh, no matter what the scenario is, one can expect to see a decline in VMT numbers again).

(Source: Telegraph)

Hundreds of homeless people travelled on London’s bendy buses at night, finding a safe haven and a place to sleep. But now the buses have been withdrawn, where will they all go? Filmmaker Robert Wilkins spent a week travelling the N29 meeting homeless people who use it as a refuge and a warm place to sleep. As double deckers come back onto London’s streets, it’s expected that fewer people will be able to get on without a ticket.

(Source: WJLA.com)

A local news agency’s investigation shows countless red light violations by Metrobuses plying the streets of Washington, DC.   Some of the incidents caught on camera show how crazy these bus drivers are to do what they do on the roads.  This video below should become an integral part of WMATA’s training for bus drivers, esp. for repeat offenders.

Too bad WMATA’s communications team now looks like a deer caught in the headlights. They really do not have a strategy in place to handle this PR nightmare and could not come up with even a single example of how it reprimands such careless drivers when asked what disciplinary measures they undertook to stem this problem.

(Source: via Pinterest)