Why are buses lower-class in the us?

[virgule82]

Moving to the US, I was surprised to discover that many people think of buses as for lower-class people and look down upon people who commute by bus. I was just wondering why that is (I think it's a uniquely American phenomenon) and if anything could change that perception. Buses are great public transportation in all those places light or heavy rail can't go.

[Facial]

The popular perception is a tragedy. When I ride the bus, there are all types of people from all walks of life - young, old, homeless, and rich.

As long as the fossil fuel and automobile industries stay in power, this perception will persist. Part of it I believe comes from constant bombardment in the form of car commercials on TV, and also car magazines that indirectly endorse the inefficient automobile lifestyle.

[Xusein]

It's because most people who ride buses do so because they can't afford a car.
Not because they want to live a more efficient lifestyle.

Only in the larger cities where there are many options will you find many "choice riders".

[bay_area]

Well,
I dont know about buses being perceived as a mode of transportation for the poor, but here in San Francisco, where the ratio of transitriders to population is basically 1:1, I would say that its seen far more as the most convenient way of getting around rather then just as something the poor use to get around. In these parts, parking downtown or just driving downtown is a real hassle for everyone, not just the poor.

[Unionstation13]

I'v heard that, but I ride a bus quiet often here in Indianapolis, and most of the people on the bus seem like your typical person, theres rich, poor, middle, old, young, ya know? Alot of people ride it becuase they dont have to drive, and plus you dont have to pay for gas.

[Northsider]

Depends, in the city even business people take the busses and rails. In the suburbs, almost exclusively lowerclass. Everyone else has a car.

[krudmonk]

There was a great example of a quick turnaround in either Caracas or Bogota where buses quickly became the choice of all demographics when they had previously been treated like they are here. They had grand bus stops and nice new vehicles. It was good to see, but I can't recall where I read the article. I believe it was in US News and World Report.

[mhays]

I don't think Seattleites have this bias, at least not to any great degree, and especially not Downtown. Our transit system is mostly buses -- I think we're by far the highest ridership per capita of any major bus-dominated system in the US, not that this is saying much. Regardless, the more riders a system has, the more middle class people it carries. Even a number of six-figure earners at my firm take buses.

[Universal Soulja]

Its just the way it is. truthfully it depends on the options and of course ur car might be broke at the time. but one thing is universal is that no one likes riding the bus

[rantanamo]

cars are a status symbol in the US starting as early as teenagers. The cool and/or rich kids have cars, poor ones ride the bus to school. We grow up with the same perception. Now that I have a job out in the boonies that I have to drive to, I miss the bus and train. I miss those after work naps.

[icracked]

Honolulu, buses are used heavily for old people and students (elementary/middle/high/college). Of course people who don't have cars use the bus system too and no one looks down at the people who uses public transportation here. It depends on the city.

[Northsider]

Originally Posted by rantanamo

cars are a status symbol in the US starting as early as teenagers. The cool and/or rich kids have cars, poor ones ride the bus to school. We grow up with the same perception. Now that I have a job out in the boonies that I have to drive to, I miss the bus and train. I miss those after work naps.

Man, I took the train to school even when I had a car, I loved it. I got to sleep an extra 30 more minutes on the train. :-]

[arturo]

it's an unfortunate misperception. on a related note: i was riding my bike home from work and at a stoplight an army recruiter asked me if i'd thought about the army. i said "naw, i'm good" and he looked at me and asked- with a straight face- "well then why are you riding a bike?" i was speechless.

i hope these misperceptions disappear soon.

[unvrsty07]

When I ride the red and blue lines in dt indy I see just about every race and social economic status you can think of, not just "poor" people. I do agree that it is seen as a negative thing to ride the bus because it means you are poor in most large cities in America. Sad really, oh well.

[Facial]

Originally Posted by TenRot

It's because most people who ride buses do so because they can't afford a car.
Not because they want to live a more efficient lifestyle.

Only in the larger cities where there are many options will you find many "choice riders".

The observation you point out is likely truth. But here the discussion turns to why Americans in general see such fact as a point in mind to influence their decision of whether to become such a "choice rider."

[Northsider]

Originally Posted by unvrsty07

When I ride the red and blue lines in dt indy I see just about every race and social economic status you can think of, not just "poor" people. I do agree that it is seen as a negative thing to ride the bus because it means you are poor in most large cities in America. Sad really, oh well.

Well, here's the thing. Almost all poor people have to take the bus. Not every wealthy person has to take the bus. That is the difference...poor people have no choice, wealthier people have options.

[CITYofDREAMS]

Originally Posted by arturo

it's an unfortunate misperception. on a related note: i was riding my bike home from work and at a stoplight an army recruiter asked me if i'd thought about the army. i said "naw, i'm good" and he looked at me and asked- with a straight face- "well then why are you riding a bike?" i was speechless.

i hope these misperceptions disappear soon.

That's cute... I used to ride my bike to work too. It was a great exercise a lot of fun.

[mhays]

Mindsets could change fairly quickly. Nearly every US city is developing a significant amount of downtown and infill housing, and city living is much more widely seen as desirable by the middle-class and affluent. So many more, or most, people will know others of their financial strata who walk, bike, or use transit. Just like New Yorkers would never look down on transit riders, who could very well have 1,000 times the net worth they do, neither will residents of any other misc city. This will take a while, and it won't be total, but you get what I mean.

[gladisimo]

It's not necessarily that way.

down where I am (in the suburbs) buses are so infrequent you've got to drive, whether you're poor or rich.

If you're really poor, I guess you wind up taking a bike. Taking a bus is just impractical.

However, people (rich) do take the transbay express if it fits their schedules to get to and from work.

[mgk920]

One of the problems, too, is that typical post-WWII suburban development patterns in the USA often make any kind of public transit service impractical.

Mike