Re:Ford CEO says the company 'overestimated' self-driving cars
by jrockway on Thursday April 11, 2019 @12:25PM
(#19636235)
> Busses and subways have no "first class" or "business class" section.
It depends. New York City has "express buses" that are basically long-distance buses repurposed for commuting. You pay an additional fare and are more comfortable. Commuter trains are of course more comfortable than subway trains. (This is why I usually fly out of JFK. Taking LIRR to the airport is much nicer than taking the bus to LGA.)
Japan's rail systems have higher-tier options on some route. JR has "home liners" that are long-distance passenger trains basically repurposed for commuters (actually very similar to the default commuter train in the US, whereas the normal commuter trains are very similar to metros). Tobu has the "TJ Liner" which is similar. The demand does exist.
I think the reality is that public transportation is too popular to reduce capacity by having more seating. Everyone in NYC would pay for a more comfortable subway, but there wouldn't be enough trains to carry them all. The completely-packed-at-rush-hour is a byproduct of the fact that cars just aren't faster in NYC, so you might as well pay $2.50 to get home faster but in less comfort. (I've looked into it. There were many times when I was running late and thought, "maybe I'll just take an Uber to work today". But the delayed subway would take 20 minutes and the private car would take 30 because of traffic. It only made a difference in the middle of the night when the subway was running on 30 minute headways and there was no traffic. Even then, still close to 20 minutes to drive. The subway is just that efficient, despite everyone's complaints.)
It depends. New York City has "express buses" that are basically long-distance buses repurposed for commuting. You pay an additional fare and are more comfortable. Commuter trains are of course more comfortable than subway trains. (This is why I usually fly out of JFK. Taking LIRR to the airport is much nicer than taking the bus to LGA.)
Japan's rail systems have higher-tier options on some route. JR has "home liners" that are long-distance passenger trains basically repurposed for commuters (actually very similar to the default commuter train in the US, whereas the normal commuter trains are very similar to metros). Tobu has the "TJ Liner" which is similar. The demand does exist.
I think the reality is that public transportation is too popular to reduce capacity by having more seating. Everyone in NYC would pay for a more comfortable subway, but there wouldn't be enough trains to carry them all. The completely-packed-at-rush-hour is a byproduct of the fact that cars just aren't faster in NYC, so you might as well pay $2.50 to get home faster but in less comfort. (I've looked into it. There were many times when I was running late and thought, "maybe I'll just take an Uber to work today". But the delayed subway would take 20 minutes and the private car would take 30 because of traffic. It only made a difference in the middle of the night when the subway was running on 30 minute headways and there was no traffic. Even then, still close to 20 minutes to drive. The subway is just that efficient, despite everyone's complaints.)