Transition Snoqualmie Valley recently conducted a nonscientific survey to gain insight into residents’ use of public transportation.
The group is part of the transition movement, which began in the United Kingdom. The movement focuses on developing local, sustainable communities. Each group is autonomous.
Among the group’s key concerns is peak oil — the theory that oil supplies will reach a maximum point of production. Decreasing production will lead to rising prices, which will significantly hurt the global economy, according to Matthew Simmons, an advocate of peak oil theory and an energy advisor to former Pres. George W. Bush.
With the goal of better understanding local use of public transit, Transition Snoqualmie Valley designed and distributed a survey to Valley residents in September and October.
The survey results consist of voluntary responses and are not scientific.
Of the nearly 70 responses that were returned, 43 percent of respondents said they use public transportation.
A wide range of reasons were given: not having a driver’s license, not wanting to drive, difficulty and expense of parking at the destination, reducing carbon emissions, cost effectiveness, relaxation, allowing for reading and sleeping on the bus, and energy conservation.
The primary reason respondents cited for not riding the bus was inconvenience. Also noted were long rides, limited service and connections, and lack of luggage or bicycle space.
Reasons to drive a personal vehicle included transporting children and having more than one destination.
One respondent objected to public dollars being spent on public transportation altogether.
Most respondents indicated that they would consider using transit during the week. About one-third also said that they would consider using transit on weekends.
Most of the returned survey responses came from residents of Carnation, Fall City and Duvall.
Respondents shared numerous ideas for improving public transit, including increasing services, express routes, better scheduling, building underground walking tunnels between bus stops at major highway intersections, offering coupons to events, installing luggage racks and larger bike racks, and installing additional park & ride and bicycle stops along existing routes.
The committee conducting the survey discussed the possibility of opening park & ride lots in partnership with local churches, and improving bicycle access to existing trails and Metro lines.
Another idea that the committee discussed was establishing special stops for ridesharing, as exist in San Francisco, where riders can be picked up to save money on a toll that is waived for carpools.
The Washington State Department of Transportation manages a related online service, www.rideshareonline.com. The service, available in Washington and Idaho, helps individuals, businesses and groups coordinate trips to reduce the number of cars on roads.
“While Valley residents typically have longer commutes, some can save fuel by traveling all or part of the route by bicycle,” according to a news release from the group.
The Washington Bicycle Alliance has a Bike Buddy program to promote commuting by bike.
“Drivers know that owning and operating a vehicle is expensive. However, the true costs are not always obvious, and certainly not compatible with the interests of the oil, car, road construction, or development industries, all contributing heavily to politicians and commercial media,” according to the release.
These external costs are estimated to be between $558.7 billion to $1.69 trillion per year, according to the International Center for Technology Assessment.
If included in the cost of a gallon of gasoline, the average cost in America could be $15.14 a gallon at the pump.
On the web
- RideShareOnline.com: www.rideshareonline.com
- Bike Buddy: www.bicyclealliance.org/commute/bikebuddy.html
- Transition Snoqualmie Valley: http://transitionsnoqualmievalley.ning.com
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