Discussion Findings
A crucial part of my project was gaining input from the public eye. In research and discussions, I have determined that individuals ages 20-25 can be considered a "moldable generation". This is important because people in this life stage are experiencing high levels of change and are proven to adapt better to change. Inspired by this discovery, I coordinated two formal discussions with a list of various questions about public transit experiences and ideas. A summary of my findings are shown below from the eight individuals I spoke with this semester. Names are changes for privacy reasons.
Sydney E.
I find the existing public transit in Cincinnati to be inconvenient. I am always in a rush and I cannot take the time to use the bus. I had a positive experience with public transit in New York. I enjoyed the subway and the ease of access. I think I would use public transit more in Cincinnati if it was a subway. I feel that Cincinnati needs to create something new and fresh. While I do not use public transit now in Cincinnati, I do think that our existing transit system will eventually negatively affect our city.
Jacob T.
I have tried to use the bus before but I just dont think it has enough stops. I always end up walking so much. At that point, it is just way faster to take my car. I love Chicago's public transit system. It was easy, accessible, fast, and reliable. I think I would use our public transit more if I had more reasons to be downtown, however, most of my responsibilities are in the outer towns of Cincinnati. I think our public transit is moving in a positive direction. People are beginning to use it more in Cincinnati with sporting events and concerts. However, there is a lack of knowledge being shared about the use of the public transit system.
Kai L.
The bus is dirty and it does not go as far as I need it to go. I have only been on the bus once and I did not enjoy it. I semi-enjoyed public transit in New York when I visited but it was still gross. However, that was my only option for moving about the city because of traffic. I would use public transit in Cincinnati if they designed something new. I do not like the buses. Our public transit is negatively affecting our city. Most of the people I know do not like using the bus because it is slow.
Madison B.
I used the bus a few times a week but not all of the time. It is not the best system I have used but I appreciate that we have access to working public transit. Every time I visit Europe I am encouraged by the possibilities of public transit. I have a good understanding that things function differently in different cities and different countries but it is cool to be reminded of the possibilities of public transit. I would use public transit more frequently if bus arrival times were more reliable and consistent. I think that too many people have an incorrect perception of public transit in our city. We have to figure out how to change the stigma.
Carter V.
I have never used public transit in Cincinnati. I have a car and I just do not have a need for it. I used it once or twice when I was visiting Chicago two years ago. I enjoyed it but it was really dirty. While I do not have experience with public transit in Cincinnati, I wouldn’t even know where to get information on how to utilize it even if I wanted to. One of my roommates tried to figure it out once, but ended up on the wrong bus so I just never even tried. I love the idea of the streetcar in OTR and Downtown. I do not spend much time in those neighborhoods, but if I did, I think I would use it more.
Liliana G.
I used the ride the bus almost every day from my house to campus for class. However, when I was on the bus one time I was approached by a man and verbally harassed. Since then, I have not felt comfortable riding the bus by myself. I know this was one time but it was really scary and uncomfortable so I have just kind of written off the bus as a transit option for me. This is sad because I used to enjoy taking the bus. I think I would utilize public transit more in Cincinnati if I felt safer but I am honestly not sure what measures it would take for me to feel safe. I do appreciate the bus system we have built in Cincinnati but my experiment was traumatic so my story feels different.
Eden P.
I use the streetcar every day. I live in OTR and work downtown, and it is the most efficient way to get to my job. I only walk about a half a mile so its really convenient. I used to not use it as much, but when they made it free it just made so much sense because I parking at work is so expensive. I have looked into using the bus before but just don’t find myself leaving OTR and Downtown often enough to really use it to its full potential. It has been cool to see the positive affects of the streetcar in Cincinnati. Using public transit to travel to work everyday has made me realize the gravity of social interaction among city-goers. I love having the opportunity to communicate with other residents on a day-to-day basis.
Jarred M.
I do not use public transit in Cincinnati. A travel time that would normally take me 20 minutes takes an hour on the bus. I have had wonderful experiences with public transit in London. It is fast, easy to understand on Apple Maps, reliable, and inexpensive. It is cheaper to use than driving a car. I would use public transit more in Cincinnati if there was a bus stop close to my house. If the time spent traveling was more similar to using a car I would ride the bus. I think that Cincinnati's public transit is negatively affecting the city. It feels like a waste of money because so many people do not utilize it. After all, a car is much more convenient.