We Need To Be Talking About Mayor Wu’s Commute With Me Program
For those that may not be on Tik Tok, you may have missed that Mayor Wu has been commuting in with Bostonians to their jobs, doctor’s appointments, and more, transferring between buses, trains, and taking notes all along the way. (She also recently had a baby and still made it to DC only weeks later to testify to a congressional panel!)
Now, the mayor should be lauded for reaching younger demographics via Tik Tok and YouTube, but I want to ensure everyone knows about this program both so they can potentially participate themselves and so you are aware of the work of this mayor when it comes to transportation.
The MBTA, like most public transit in America, especially post-Covid, has faced its share of criticism and was put under federal oversight, a significant move to address serious safety incidents and concerns. It has continually faced funding issues and the strain of power share between state, local, and independent control.
I have been involved or adjacent to 3 major derailments and incidents myself, but do recognize the many improvements made and am still a regular rider and massive fan of the Green Line extensions of the last few years which, among other service additions and adjustments, provide crucial access to different parts of the city and surrounding communities. More can always be done, and I hope that it will be.
Former Governor Dukakis was known to ride the T in to the state house and, security concerns aside, public officials absolutely should be expected to use public transit.
While Mayor Wu cannot do everything to “fix” the T, at the least, her videos are highlighting the real issues facing riders for those who can do more. A recent video included a blind woman and the obstacles she faces from driver failure to activate external communication on a bus to construction along routes.
There are many exciting opportunities cities like Boston and around the country and world are taking advantage of from eliminating parking minimums to committing to Vision Zero to building more and faster public transit as well as cross country rail. These efforts benefit the climate surely, but are boons for the economy, safety, and accessibility as well and deserve attention from those perspectives.
Demand forecasting is already a known imperfect art. Prioritization of construction work or improved speed and access through the creation of new stations or routes has often benefited already well-off communities or missed the mark due to a variety of factors.
Additionally, when a bus or train takes too long or updates are not accurate, riders may seek alternate means of travel whether biking, walking, driving, ridesharing, or taking another train or bus to get “close enough” to their destination. When they do that, they are, in a sense, creating artificial demand for that other means of transport and making their intended, most efficient option - had it been running properly - seem like it has less demand than it really should. This problem exacerbates and leads to an acceptance of issues.
Transit also faces headwinds with many still clinging on to the false belief that building more highways or adding lanes reduces traffic. In fact, it does the opposite while congestion pricing supports public transit and also reduces traffic.
Public transit certainly has environmental benefits, but it also has major health implications from reducing pollution, fumes, noise, and more, and can become a faster option than driving for many. These benefits, among others including economic ones need to be part of our public transit narrative as well as the people and potential riders out there which is exactly what and who Mayor Wu highlights. Public transit is about climate, safety, accessibility, the economy, health, and more!
With these trends taking place, we have many an opportunity. I applaud Mayor Wu for her recognition and embrace of them and I hope all public leaders do the same. Even if these videos were never posted, commuting with riders from across the region serves to increase the knowledge of the mayor (and other public officials) necessary for how to serve their constituents.
Commuters and residents, we too can make a difference through our advocacy, our vote, and our transportation choices. Next time you are stuck on a hot, slow red line, just think, at least I’m not paying for gasoline while staring at a bumper ahead of me!
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Piece originally published on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/we-need-talking-mayor-wus-commute-me-program-kyle-rosenthal-iu59c/
Cover photo courtesy Julio Carballo: https://www.pexels.com/photo/train-station-near-the-city-4093051/
