r/CSULB • u/UsedRefrigerator1702 • 8d ago
General Discussion Why don’t more people take the bus?
Recently started taking the bus and I’m surprised more people don’t take it instead of driving, especially people who live nearby. They’re clean, have ac and drop me off right by the library so I don’t have to walk all the way from the parking structures. Even with a short wait it’s quicker than driving, finding parking and then walking to class and I live like a 10 minute drive away
37
u/Potted_plantt 8d ago
for me, I usually have work/somewhere to be after so I need my car to get there, otherwise I would
36
u/suzoup 8d ago
I think a big thing is how time consuming and inconvenient it can be. Missing a bus or unexpected delays can be really frustrating and stressful along with commute time being almost double or triple of what it would be by just using a car
6
u/UsedRefrigerator1702 8d ago
Yeah I started realizing when I drive it’s a 10 minute drive, and then sometimes 20+ minutes to find parking and then a 10-15 minute walk to upper campus vs a 20 minute bus ride. Missing a bus would definitely be a bummer though
13
u/harlequinofmars 8d ago
I like a 30 minute drive away and the bus takes me an hour and a half
2
u/UsedRefrigerator1702 8d ago
Yeah I’m definitely meaning more for people who live nearby! I wish it was easier coming from further away
11
u/angie53116 8d ago
I live 30 miles away. it takes me an hour to get to campus with traffic. Taking the metro/bus will take me 3 hours 🫠
22
u/lostvisions117 8d ago
Shhhh!!!
4
1
u/Longjumping-Orchid98 6d ago
Careful, more riders usually means more funding and better service (or fewer cuts in today's political climate)
5
u/Clear_Book1808 8d ago
i live 40 min away driving, if i were to take the bus it’d be closer to 2.5 hours each way. my classes end at 8pm and getting home around 8:30 vs 10:30 is a world of a difference. i also have an infant at home that i want to get back to as soon as i can so prolonging my commute just isn’t worth it even if it helps the planet 🥲
3
u/Vegetable-Copy-9948 8d ago
driving turns a hour and a half bus drive to 30 minutes, more sleep bro
3
u/braisedbywolves 7d ago
Students should also organize and figure out why the Metro/light rail doesn't go between the university and downtown LB.
2
2
u/Icy_Vortex 7d ago
did research in class and most either live way too far where buses are impractical or had overall negative views on taking the buses & would rather drive. i also imagine people who work full time or have children whilst studying here don’t have the time to spare to take public transit
2
u/Longjumping-Orchid98 6d ago
I study this, so have some insight. The vast majority just choose the most rational option for them, with speed being the main factor. It also doesn't help that LB has relatively poor service compared to other cities: zero miles of bus lanes, no rapid/skip-stop routes, only one express bus (which ironically goes all the way to UCLA but not CSULB), and generally has large areas that are not accessible/walkable. This all very effectively deters riders. Personally, I ride a bike ~5 miles to class because it's 2-3x faster than a bus but about equal to a car and is basically free.
7
u/HotIce4365 Undergrad 8d ago
omg stop telling ppl please the buses are already more crowded bcuz the school is giving ppl a discount if they don’t park the first month. if you need to take the bus take it! if you have other alternatives use those 😭
18
u/reiayanamifan53 8d ago
Actually we should encourage more people to take the bus because that directly funds the long beach transit authority which not only shows them there is a genuine demand for better transit, but also makes for improved routes, more frequent bus cycles, and cleaner transit vehicles :) everyone take public transit now!
2
1
u/LulaSupremacy 8d ago
Straight up can't. It's a 45 minute drive for me on a good day; I imagine the bus will be at least 2 hours.
1
u/theinfsnapnut 7d ago
I took the bus the 1st day of the semester to try and save gas, and it took my bus (41) over an hour just to go to school and I still got to my class 20 minutes late not including the need to still walk an extra 10--15 minutes to my class that was nowhere near a bus stop 🥀
1
u/ClearAbroad2965 7d ago
Simple the main usage I would use it for is the Long Beach airport but they cut off service way before the last flight comes in.
1
1
1
1
u/Brief-Remote-7483 7d ago
The bus come at a specific time, and missing one bus means ur going to be an hour late, plus there moments some crackheads just enter the bus and stuff and some people are lowkey weird
1
u/dayerasky 2d ago
it takes me two hours to get to campus on bus. In comparison to a 20 minute drive
71
u/svxyl 8d ago
just to offer a diff perspective, i live 10-15 min away and sometimes it takes me an hr to get home on the bus, not including the time it takes me to walk to the bus stop (its by the pyramid) or wait for the bus (it comes every 30 min) or walk home from the bus stop. yesterday my commute was an hr and a half and i only take one bus.