Halifax Transit

[Citizen_Bane]

Well, I guess the best any of us can offer is personal opinion and/or a bit of anecdotal evidence, unless of course we're knee deep in the actual research involved in problems and potential solutions. Strongly worded opinion can come across to some as an emotional tirade where others will nod approvingly as they read. But really, in the absence of facts isn't it all just supposition?

Anecdotally, I can offer that I've used either/or or both bus and rail transit in all of the Americas and a fair number of European countries too and I can't say that Halifax Transit bus service is any worse than others I've experienced. But I do hate bus transit in general. I find that buses stink and I also suffer motion sickness. Riders are often bad mannered. I will say that the riders I've encountered in Halifax smell better than those in some other places I've been.

I'm a fan of light rail. I believe cities should put transit where they want people to be. I've been suggesting for years that this city would benefit from light rail surrounding the basin and coming onto the peninsula. I had written off ferries as a possibility. In this regard I'd like to congratulate Transit management and council for putting forward a plan that utilizes a grand natural feature of our city and should encourage residential growth in a manner that can be dealt with, from a transit perspective, with incremental equipment and staff increases but reduced need of road infrastructure and the continual fix it costs. ie. the freeze thaw cycles ain't gonna hurt the basin.

Anyway, I'll finish by saying that during the 20 plus years I've walked/bused to work here in Halifax I've always made it there and back. I sympathize greatly with the drivers whom I have many times witnessed their abuse by horrible passengers. I personally just couldn't do it. They deserve respect.