One usually gives the matter of transportation little thought. You walk, bike or drive to wherever you need to go and that's about it. However, I'm willing to bet many of us have wondered if there was a better public transportation system available, instead of the buses run by the Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC). In fact, some have already had the thought; and they envisioned light rail, subway, and commuter rail systems that would make Richmond much more accessible.
When Richmond announced their plans for a bus rapid transit (called the Pulse), it was likely that most of us were underwhelmed, even disappointed. Regardless of how glorified the service would be, most saw it as a gas-guzzling, slow, clunky bus. A good way to put it is: imagine your siblings have Lamborghini's, and you're careless. Christmas comes, and you're promised a nice car, but that car turns out to be a new Volvo. It's still nice and it does the job, but given the circumstances, most would be mildly disappointed.
In reality, Richmond is getting bus rapid transit (instead of the sexy light rail alternative). We can't live in denial, and ignore it while hoping something better will come our way. We must support it now, and take it from here.
Still not convinced? Here are 10 reasons why you should support the GRTC Pulse:
1. It could potentially lead to light rail
In essence, a bus-rapid transit line has the same features as light rail, minus the steel tracks. Elevated platforms, spread-out stations, and off-board fare collection lay the perfect template for any future implementation of a light rail system.
2. It will create better access around Richmond
No transit system is finished overnight, but this is the intended layout for many more BRT (and maybe even light rail) transit lines.
3. No need to worry about parking
A major strain of living in a car-dependent city like Richmond is parking. Often, one ends up paying a large sum in order to park in a garage that's out of the way, or wasting time searching for an open parking spot. With the Pulse, you simply hop on and off and walk to wherever you need to go-- without having to worry about the car.
4. It's cheap
Sure, some of you are screaming "UBER! UBER! UBER!" in response to the previous point. But are you going to regularly travel downtown, uptown or anywhere in the city via Uber? Not unless you're raking in the big bucks. And unless you're a college student making a healthy salary, or you just don't care how you spend your money, you know it is not feasible to spend 15-20 dollars a day on transportation. With the Pulse, you'll most likely pay a mere fraction of that total for fare, and the ride will take nearly the same amount of time, if not less.
5. Much faster than a normal bus
Buses are slow. Why are they slow? They run in mixed-traffic and stop at literally every block. And let's not forget how you have to meander through your wallet for change as you climb up the stairs. The Pulse operates more like a metro system, in that it runs in its own lane and stops only every couple blocks. It also contains pre-paid stations and elevated platforms, making the trip as much as three times faster than a conventional bus.
6. Less stressful than a normal bus
A reason I hesitate to take buses is the confusing time schedule and complex route system. The Pulse's line is simplistic, straightforward, and buses will come every 10 minutes, making it incredibly flexible.
7. Direct connection with other GRTC buses and Amtrak
Perhaps your journey extends past the Pulse line. Not a problem! This system will have integration with existing GRTC lines and the Main Street Amtrak station.
8. Avoid traffic congestion
As previously mentioned, the bus runs in its own lane. To emphasize how big that can be, I'll let this photo do the talking:
9. More personal time saved
While driving, you spend your time focusing on the road. So much of our time is wasted doing this task. But if you're taking alternative transportation, you reclaim that time. You can then spend it reading a book, surfing the web, getting some homework done or what have you.
10. It supports the city
One of the most appealing things about Richmond is the pride the residents and students have for the city. We want to see the city succeed. Well, in due time, this system will be part of the city's fabric, just like the Metro is in Washington, the Subway in New York, the Tide in Norfolk, and so on and so forth. If we support it, in theory it will generate tax revenue for the city, helping us better maintain the services in Richmond.
