I Love Transit Week 2010: Briana Tomkinson on resisting the call of the car

The SkyTrain crosses the SkyBridge from New Westminster to Surrey.

It’s I Love Transit Week from July 12-16 — because even though there’s things we don’t like about transit, there’s much we do like! All week I’ll be sharing essays, stories, and more to celebrate transit. Come to I Love Transit Night on Thursday July 15 too – full details here!

In this essay, Briana Tomkinson, co-founder of New Westminster blog Tenth to the Fraser, reflects on how transit has shaped her life so far as she comes to a new milestone: getting a driver’s license for the very first time. (This post is cross-posted over at Tenth to the Fraser — make sure you enter their I Love Transit contest!)

Odysseus stopped up his ears with beeswax because he knew he alone would not have the strength to withstand the lure of the sirens’ call. I did the modern green equivalent. 

I never intended not to get my driver’s license. When I was eight years old, my mother bought a new Honda, and I remember asking her to hold on to our old car for me, so that I would have my own car to drive when I turned 16. I remember counting down to the magic day when I’d be allowed to get my driver’s license. But a funny thing happened when I finally did turn 16. Life got busy, and I put off writing my learner’s test. Then, at some point after that, my environmental conscience became activated. Suddenly not driving became a point of pride. 

Thirteen years later, as I come up on my 29th birthday, it looks like I will finally submit to the pressures of my husband, mother, friends and countless busybodies who have nagged me over the years to get my license. It has irked me that people count it as a deficiency not to drive. While there are times when it certainly would have been more convenient for me to drive, in my mind the karmic debt of adding to the plague of single occupant vehicles in the Lower Mainland outweighed the occasional frustrations. Now, with two kids and an increasingly complicated schedule of to-ing and fro-ing, I am forced to admit that the convenience of driving is sometimes a necessity, and that it is unfair for my husband to always play chauffeur. 

Guiltily, I am looking forward to having the freedom to go alone to places not well served by transit. I imagine gaily whisking my children off at the spur of the moment to do wild and wonderful things, singing happy road songs and stopping at a drive-through for cheeky treats along the way. But at the same time, I am fearful of giving in to this perception of ease, forgetting that there is a cost beyond the total at the pump and taking the car for granted. 

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I Love Transit Week 2010: an interview with Jarrett Walker from Human Transit

It’s I Love Transit Week from July 12-16 — because even though there’s things we don’t like about transit, there’s much we do like! All week I’ll be sharing essays, stories, and more to celebrate transit. Come to I Love Transit Night on Thursday July 15 too – full details here!

To give us a different perspective for I Love Transit Week, I asked Jarrett Walker if he would do an interview for the blog. Jarrett is a public transit planning consultant in Australia who writes the fantastic transportation blog Human Transit. Here are his always-thoughtful reflections on why he enjoys transit, how he became a transit planner, and why Vancouver provides some great models for transit planning… plus more!

How did you get interested in transit in the first place?

Jarrett Walker

From a very early age, I had a profound and (to some) disturbing obsession with geography. By age 6 I was drawing maps of imaginary cities. When we moved to Portland when I was 8, my parents papered my room with state and province maps. (Gas stations used to give these away for free, back in the days when they checked your oil for free, too.) When I was about 12, I started riding Portland’s Tri-Met system to school, a trip that involved a transfer downtown. Within a few years I had most of the network memorized, along with most of the geography of the city. It was just a thing my brain did naturally, and still does.

You don’t have to have this obsession to do great work in transit. But some brains do memorize geography and are able to solve problems in geographical space. (Such people are always spatial navigators, capable of visualizing maps but often helpless when confronted with narrative directions.) When the time comes to rethink a complex and interdependent network, you do need one or more of those people at the table.

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I Love Transit Week 2010: Steve Ohearn on West Coast Express

It’s I Love Transit Week from July 12-16 — because even though there’s things we don’t like about transit, there’s much we do like! All week I’ll be sharing essays, stories, and more to celebrate transit. Come to I Love Transit Night on Thursday July 15 too – full details here!

Steve Ohearn sent along this video that he composed while on West Coast Express… it shows off the skills he learned while riding the train, and the lovely views from the window seat :)

I Love Transit Week 2010: Rachel Albang with a song about transit!

It’s I Love Transit Week from July 12-16 — because even though there’s things we don’t like about transit, there’s much we do like! All week I’ll be sharing essays, stories, and more to celebrate transit. Come to I Love Transit Night on Thursday July 15 too – full details here!

I’m pleased to present a song about transit by Rachel Albang! Here’s a bit more about the song and its lyrics, plus you can hear more of her music at her Myspace account.

To listen to the song press play on the player above, or download the mp3 here.

Rachel!

I was reading about your upcoming celebration and was inspired (while riding the bus!) to write you a little song. It’s kinda cheeky but the overall tone is to celebrate/appreciate the offerings of TransLink.

My transit use has really varied over the years – e.g. I’ve done my share of the three hour daily commute North Van to downtown, but currently I am working at home writing a book so my transit use is e.g. for shopping and research in Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby, photo shoots in New West, visiting family in Delta, or friends in North Van. So I utilize the SeaBus, SkyTrain, buses and I love the new Canada line – so spacious and light! (My husband actually worked on the lighting for the Richmond portion of the new line!). My book (almost done!) is actually about stretching the dollar so I have a section where I recommend using transit even if just one day a week to cut costs of parking and to help the environment…

As a singer/songwriter I am recording a CD with more general music but I love writing little songs like the one for TransLink with a touch of cheeky humour and sentiment.

Thank you so much! And I really enjoy reading the Buzzer so keep up your good work!

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I Love Transit Week 2010: win a commuter prize pack (includes a bus pass)!

Some of the prizes included in the commuter prize pack!

It’s I Love Transit Week from July 12-16 — because even though there’s things we don’t like about transit, there’s much we do like! All week I’ll be sharing essays, stories, and more to celebrate transit. Come to I Love Transit Night on Thursday July 15 too – full details here!

As part of I Love Transit Week, our friends at Vancouver Is Awesome and Tenth to the Fraser are each holding contests for a TransLink summer commuter prize pack, including a bus pass and lots of other treats!

Enter the Vancouver is Awesome contest here, and make sure to check out the rest of the blog — it’s a fantastic local blog with killer arts coverage, notes and observations on city life, and more.

Enter the Tenth to the Fraser contest here, and make sure to check out their blog too: it’s a hyperlocal blog about New Westminster, with thoughtful, vivid posts about life in the Royal City!

In case you’re wondering, the pack includes the following:

* TravelSmart tote bag
* TravelSmart water bottle
* Personal hand-held fan
* Travel pillow
* Mini puzzle for passing the time
* A granola bar snack
* Vanity Fair magazine
* 2010 Olympic transportation map
* Transit stickers and buttons
* 3-zone bus pass (available after July 16)

Bonne chance! And thanks so much to everyone at Vancouver is Awesome and Tenth to the Fraser for being a part of I Love Transit Week!

I Love Transit Week 2010: Rob Jones on transit as a hallmark of civilization

SkyTrain at New Westminster Station; a robust transit system is the sign of a real city (Image courtesy of Richard Eriksson). One of the reasons I moved to New West was for its transit system. I have two Skytrain stations (out of six in total here in New West) and four buses to choose from to get me home from downtown Vancouver, and the surrounding area. That enables my choice of a carless lifestyle - and choice is what modern living is all about.

It’s I Love Transit Week from July 12-16 — because even though there’s things we don’t like about transit, there’s much we do like! All week I’ll be sharing essays, stories, and more to celebrate transit. Come to I Love Transit Night on Thursday July 15 too – full details here!

The following essay is by Rob Jones, a resounding champion of transit and a contributor to Tenth to the Fraser, which is a blog about life in New Westminster.

Listen: A robust transit system is one of the hallmarks of civilization.

One of the things that the Ancient Romans gave to the Western world is a widespread way to get around the whole of their empire.   Even then, one of the ways to draw their civilization together lay in a transit system to match the times, to suit the cultural paradigms and economic realities of the day, and to grow with a shifting population. They knew that it is the way to the future.

In the ancient world, it meant roads.  And today, it means an affordable, accessible public transit system that runs on clean energy, and stands as a force to change the world for the better.

What?  Change the world for the better?  Isn’t that overstating things just a bit?

No.

I don’t think it is, actually.

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I Love Transit Week 2010: Marian S on 13 years of transit riding

A sunrise over the SkyTrain in New Westminster.

It’s I Love Transit Week from July 12-16 — because even though there’s things we don’t like about transit, there’s much we do like! All week I’ll be sharing essays, stories, and more to celebrate transit. Come to I Love Transit Night on Thursday July 15 too – full details here!

Right after the June Buzzer hit the stands, the following e-mail was sent in by Marion S from New Westminster.

My name is Marian, and since 1997 I have lived in New Westminster, BC, since migrating to Canada with my husband Noel and our 3 children.

I have been riding the SkyTrain ever since 1997, nearly 13 years, mainly to get to work & back. My family of 5 also takes the SkyTrain & buses for their daily commute. On the second occasion of I Love Transit Week, I would like to offer my comments on SkyTrain & TransLink in general.

I must say “Congratulations” to all TransLink staff & all involved in the smooth everyday transit all around BC. I think it is the surest, fastest way to commute safely & comfortably. Transit Police and staff are quick to respond when any issue arise. They efficiently deal with the issue in question & transit keeps moving on as if nothing happened. SkyTrain delays do occur for various reasons, but they are quite rare. Bus drivers are very considerate, kind & patient with passengers, especially the elderly, always waiting until they have been safely seated.

I would recommend the SkyTrain to anyone as opposed to using their car. It is the best, green, quick & fairly comfortable way to travel. Any improvements on timing, convenient routes etc. are most welcome.

Hip, Hip, Hurrah for TransLink – Keep up the good work – we are proud of you!!

Thanks so much for the kind words, Marian!

For everyone else out there: how long have you been riding transit? How has the system served you over the years?

I Love Transit Week 2010: Metro Los Angeles joins in with a poll

It’s I Love Transit Week from July 12-16 — because even though there’s things we don’t like about transit, there’s much we do like! All week I’ll be sharing essays, stories, and more to celebrate transit. Come to I Love Transit Night on Thursday July 15 too – full details here!

Our friends over at The Source, the blog from Metro Los Angeles, are also celebrating I Love Transit Week this week! They’ve kicked things off with a simple poll that I thought we could run too. Here’s the introduction to the poll:

We’ll start things off with an easy one, a simple yes or no: do you love transit?

Hey, it might seem like a loaded question, but it’s perfectly fine if you don’t. Maybe freeways and expensive cars are more your thing. But if transit gets your heart racing, tell us why.

You can see the results from L.A. riders over at The Source’s poll post: they are also taking responses at their Facebook page, and tweets at @MetroLosAngeles, using the #ilovetransit hashtag. Feel free to leave your own responses below, and tweet to @thebuzzer using the same tag too!

I Love Transit Week 2010: Rebekah Mahaffey on finding love on transit

It’s I Love Transit Week from July 12-16 — because even though there’s things we don’t like about transit, there’s much we do like! All week I’ll be sharing essays, stories, and more to celebrate transit. Come to I Love Transit Night on Thursday July 15 too – full details here!

The lovely story that follows was sent in by Rebekah Mahaffey.

Rebekah and her husband Scott!

I love transit because…well…I found love on transit! Sounds cheesy but it’s true. My husband and I met on the #25 bus about four years ago. As sometimes happens in that great ‘third place’ called transit, especially when it’s busy and you are standing VERY close together with lots of other people, we started chatting. We seemed to hit it off immediately and chatted about everything and anything. Eventually I got a seat and, because it was raining, I offered to hold his bag on my lap so that it didn’t get wet on the floor of the bus. After awhile, however, his stop came up and he got off the bus – saying ‘goodbye’ regretfully I thought, but not asking me for my number. 

The next day I was at work and a co-worker of mine burst into my office screaming that I needed to check Craigslist. And what did I see! He had posted a ‘missed connections’ ad for me. I was nervous and so didn’t respond right away but eventually I wrote back and agreed to go on a date. The rest is history – and we got married in February of 2009. You just never know who you can meet on the bus!

ps: true story! My husband Scott Bernstein and I met on the #25 bus in 2006. 

Thanks so much for sharing your story Rebekah!

For everyone else out there: have you ever met anyone on transit who became part of your life? Anything from good friends, future ex-girlfriends, or your next roommate: share it below!

I Love Transit Week 2010: what’s your favourite transit chime?

It’s I Love Transit Week from July 12-16 — because even though there’s things we don’t like about transit, there’s much we do like! All week I’ll be sharing essays, stories, and more to celebrate transit. Come to I Love Transit Night on Thursday July 15 too – full details here!

Transit systems get a rare chance to be musical when they create systemwide audio chimes to get riders’ attention.

The most memorable chime I’ve ever heard is the one from SNCF, the French national railway. Play the video above and you’ll see what I mean! I remember being in Gare du Nord in Paris and hearing that chime go off once every ten minutes—it’s instantly recognizable, totally memorable, and lots of fun to imitate.

It also appears that the tone has been remixed into full length songs and advertising notices too: here’s one song, and here’s the tone remixed for the end of a SNCF TV ad.

Stations in Tokyo also have some fabulous transit chimes: the departing song in Takadanobaba Station is the Astroboy theme! The chimes are different depending on which station you’re in, or so I’m told.

I’d also say the SkyTrain chime is quite memorable too: you can listen to the story behind our chime here.

So to that end: do you have a favourite transit chime? Feel free to post links in the comments: and if you’d like to explore, you can find a long list of subway chimes and announcements at Metrobits.org.

I Love Transit Week 2010: transit haiku on our TV ad screens!

Aha! The two winners from our transit haiku contest are now on TV ad screens on the Expo/Millennium Line!

Congratulations to Peter Brouwer and L. Ryan for submitting the winning haiku. You can see Peter’s haiku in the video above—it reads:

what a rainy day
crazy drivers everywhere
sweet rest on the bus

Read on to see L. Ryan’s haiku and the rest of the entrants!

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I Love Transit Week 2010: Eric Bucad on being a transit enthusiast

Two of Eric's transit-themed mugs! Photo by Eric B.

It’s I Love Transit Week from July 12-16 — because even though there’s things we don’t like about transit, there’s much we do like! All week I’ll be sharing essays, stories, and more to celebrate transit. Come to I Love Transit Night on Thursday July 15 too – full details here!

The Buzzer is proud to present the following essay by Eric Bucad, who blogs over at rickie rambles randomly, and is a longtime transit geek :) This post is cross-posted at his blog!

Eric's typed timetables for the 20!

A few weeks ago, I was attempting to clean up my storage locker when I pulled out some papers that I printed dating back to the mid-1990s. One of them was a bus route guide for Vancouver that I typed myself and have continued to update. Anyone remember the 23 New West Station/Stanley Park? Or the 226 St Patricks/Lonsdale Quay? Those routes existed in 1997!

I also dug up a set of travel-time guides that I’d typed for most of the routes within Vancouver, similar to those still used for SkyTrain. These look a lot older, as I recognize the dot-matrix quality of the printouts. Some of the routes have been re-organized, and most certainly the travel times have lengthened as the city has grown.

Then, as now, I still rely on public transit as my primary mode of transportation. But to me, it’s much more than that. As evidenced by the documents I produced a decade ago, I have been, and still am, a proud transit geek.

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Welcome to I Love Transit Week 2010!

This week is the second ever I Love Transit Week 2010, July 12-16!

Why? Because while there are things we don’t like about transit, I know there are many things that we do like about the system. And there just hasn’t been an official opportunity to celebrate what we like – until now!

So all this week on the blog, I’ll be sharing essays, stories, discussion posts and more, encouraging everyone to reflect on what you like about transit. Plus I’ll cram the August 6 print Buzzer as full as I can with your contributions.

As well, I Love Transit Week will also have a live meetup: I Love Transit Night, on Thursday July 15! Make plans to join us for fun, food, and silly transit games: see the full details here.

Hope you enjoy I Love Transit Week — I know I will!

All the details for I Love Transit Night, Thu July 15!

Come to I Love Transit Night, a live meetup on Thursday July 15!

It’s all part of the second annual I Love Transit Week, which takes place from July 12-16. It’s our yearly chance to celebrate transit—because while there are many things we don’t like about transit, there are still many things that we do like!

So come out for some food, fun and games during I Love Transit Night, and look out for some lovely rider-submitted essays and photos in the blog next week and in the August Buzzer.

This year’s I Love Transit Night will take place in New Westminster—see the full details below. I hope it’s just as much fun as last year!

The main event: the Heritage Grill, New Westminster

The Heritage Grill, 447 Columbia Street!

Come join us in the back room of the Heritage Grill in New Westminster, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday July 15!

The Heritage Grill is located at 447 Columbia Street, just steps away from Columbia Station on the Expo and Millennium Lines. Here’s a Google Map for directions!

We’ll provide the food, and you’ll be responsible for your own drinks. I’ve organized three games, and they’ll start at 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30! Feel free to come by!

Come to Edmonds Station early for a short hybrid bus ride to the event!

A hybrid Nova bus!

Also, if you can make it earlier, I’ve arranged for a Nova hybrid bus to take us on a short ride to the event!

Meet me at Edmonds Station bus loop at 5:30 p.m. and you can hop aboard. The bus will leave at 5:45 p.m. so don’t be too late! I’ll hold a sign up so you can find us :)

Update: The bus will be stopping at bus bay 5! I’ll still wave the sign around so you can find us though.

Send in an RSVP, SVP!

Just one thing: if you are planning to come, do send me an RSVP so I can get a good idea of the numbers! It’ll help with ordering food, etc.

I Love Transit Week 2010: reminder to get your haikus in!

Just a note to remind you to get your transit haikus in!

As I wrote last week, I’m doing a transit haiku contest for I Love Transit Week.

I’ve managed to get space for two haiku on our TV advertising screens during I Love Transit Week, July 12-16: so write and send your haiku about transit to thebuzzer@translink.ca by the end of Sunday, July 4, and I’ll pick two winners to be displayed! The rest will be published on the blog and in the August Buzzer for all to enjoy.

If you don’t know, haiku is a form of Japanese poetry that’s three lines long. Here’s 10 tips for writing haiku—you might be surprised to learn that 5-7-5 syllable structure isn’t a given, although I certainly don’t mind you entering such haiku in the contest.

Again, the brief rules:

• * One entry per person!!!!
• * Include how you want your name to show up on the screen
• * This draw is only open to those in Metro Vancouver

Remember: submit your transit essays, photos, and more

Last year's I Love Transit Night featured enormous transit cutouts -- this year will be no different! (This is David Lam of Trans-Continental photos fame, btw.)

I’m still looking for your transit essays, photos and more to be published during I Love Transit Week, for both the blog and the print Buzzer. See this post for more info:

* A call for submissions: I Love Transit Week, July 12-16

You are also hereby ordered to make plans to come to I Love Transit Night on the evening of Thursday July 15: there’ll be free food, transit games, buttons, and more! We’re still ironing out the details, but it will be easily accessible by transit, will involve a hybrid bus, and will also involve plenty of fun. Here’s more about last year’s I Love Transit Night, for reference!