Dexter
Supreme Poster
Posts: 261
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Post by Dexter on Dec 10, 2013 16:27:14 GMT -5
To Mr. B's point though, wouldn't it make some good business sense to help fund this service if it brings folks to your stores? I'm not sure how many business the bus services (that sounds dirty) but, it has to be a fair number if you account for the boro businesses.
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Post by Venter on Dec 10, 2013 16:59:00 GMT -5
If you are at the mercy of a bus on a schedule, and you are a Tourist on a tight schedule yourself, wouldn't you rather take a Taxi if there is an option?
A bus MAY take you close to your destination, but after that, you'll have to foot it.
A Taxi, or even a Shuttle, can take you where you need to go.
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Post by Mr Blonde on Dec 10, 2013 19:47:42 GMT -5
To Mr. B's point though, wouldn't it make some good business sense to help fund this service if it brings folks to your stores? I'm not sure how many business the bus services (that sounds dirty) but, it has to be a fair number if you account for the boro businesses. Maybe, but I'm guessing in the end the ROI isn't enough to convince most businesses it's worth the investment. Those 12 riders per hour (how many hours a day does it operate?) better be doing a hell of a lot of shopping to make it worth it. |
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Post by Alex Oreilly on Dec 10, 2013 23:39:38 GMT -5
To Mr. B's point though, wouldn't it make some good business sense to help fund this service if it brings folks to your stores? I'm not sure how many business the bus services (that sounds dirty) but, it has to be a fair number if you account for the boro businesses. Maybe, but I'm guessing in the end the ROI isn't enough to convince most businesses it's worth the investment. Those 12 riders per hour (how many hours a day does it operate?) better be doing a hell of a lot of shopping to make it worth it. But if one rider wanted to stop at a pizza place in town at least once a week it would be a small but consistence return on their investment. |
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Post by Venter on Dec 11, 2013 8:46:27 GMT -5
Is this number "12 Riders Per Hour" counting ALL THREE BUSES? Is it 4 riders per bus x 3 buses = 12 per hour? I think they are also counting the bus drivers in the count  |
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Post by gburger717 on Dec 24, 2013 11:21:36 GMT -5
Freedom Transit needs to go and it needs to go now. Its a JOKE and any IDIOT who thought a bus line in Gettysburg would work needs to have there head examined. Why should I have to foot the bill for someone else to ride the bus? We support bus service in Philadelphia and we are 150 miles away. I had to buy a car and pay insurance so should then next person. I seen that the GNMP gave 4,000.00 to FT. They complain that they don't have money and need to charge a fee to get into the VC but they have 4g to hand to a bus service that WONT work. Wake up people!
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davew
Poster Child
Posts: 308
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Post by davew on Dec 27, 2013 15:08:05 GMT -5
I was in town briefly this past week, and I saw two buses. I think I saw one in hanover, too. The two buses in gettysburg had two riders each on them, and the bus in hanover had one person on it.
What a waste.
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Post by lifesaver on Dec 29, 2013 20:45:26 GMT -5
I was in town briefly this past week, and I saw two buses. I think I saw one in hanover, too. The two buses in gettysburg had two riders each on them, and the bus in hanover had one person on it. What a waste. According to a study I remember reading somewhere the ridership for Rabbit Transit exceeds the rural standard. We average 12 per hour, I think 9 was the number the study cited. The system has received a reprieve until June 30. Will still need to figure out where the money will come from to finance this endeavor, which hopefully won't be on the backs of the taxpayer. |
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Post by Venter on Dec 30, 2013 16:19:16 GMT -5
I was in town briefly this past week, and I saw two buses. I think I saw one in hanover, too. The two buses in gettysburg had two riders each on them, and the bus in hanover had one person on it. What a waste. According to a study I remember reading somewhere the ridership for Rabbit Transit exceeds the rural standard. We average 12 per hour, I think 9 was the number the study cited. The system has received a reprieve until June 30. Will still need to figure out where the money will come from to finance this endeavor, which hopefully won't be on the backs of the taxpayer. Oh, we pay for it already. If it is called a "Bus Tax", then maybe people will see it for what it is. |
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davew
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Posts: 308
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Post by davew on Dec 31, 2013 9:18:39 GMT -5
9 riders per hour is pretty anemic. They should drive a mennonite-style club van instead of a bus.
I suppose they're probably in a mode of trying to run buses for a while to see if ridership increases, but the only way it will is if people absolutely can't afford to drive any car, or population suddenly quintuples in an area.
It's a very poor use of money. Spend part of it on access instead and scrap the buses for the able-bodied and able-minded folks.
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Post by lifesaver on Dec 31, 2013 10:56:02 GMT -5
9 riders per hour is pretty anemic. They should drive a mennonite-style club van instead of a bus. I suppose they're probably in a mode of trying to run buses for a while to see if ridership increases, but the only way it will is if people absolutely can't afford to drive any car, or population suddenly quintuples in an area. It's a very poor use of money. Spend part of it on access instead and scrap the buses for the able-bodied and able-minded folks. I agree if it is taxpayer funded. Considering that tourism is one of the top economic money makers to our area I think that if the service is continued it should be funded by the tourism entities (federal government would still technically be our tax money though) and the services that benefits those it serves (like the Outlets, and a reasonable fee for those to ride) From what I understand a lot has to happen and these businesses etc. will have to pony up for this to continue past June 30. |
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davew
Poster Child
Posts: 308
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Post by davew on Dec 31, 2013 14:57:53 GMT -5
I think your implication that they won't want to come up with the cash is correct (the businesses). When the rubber hits the road, they know most of their people come by car. Trying to get an economically viable (without tax subsidy) public transportation is like perpetual motion.
It sort of reminds me (though this is very indirect) of a problem I have on another forum where people want to go in on group buy items for stuff that is not easy to get a hold of or that requires someone manufacture a batch (something they will only do if they have the money in hand to do it). That is, when you ask if the buy is a good idea, lots of people say yes. When it comes time to actually open the wallet up, probably 80% of those "I'm in" folks are out. Everyone thinks they'll never be one of those types, but ideas in theory and ideas in practice are two different things. When practice costs money, and theory doesn't, practice will always be different.
The other obvious clue is that there isn't a privately financed venture doing the same thing. People will work for not very much money if they get to be in charge. They may not do it for long, but someone will always try. The fact that nobody is trying is pretty revealing.
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Post by Venter on Dec 31, 2013 19:23:50 GMT -5
Is there any truth to the rumor that someone in town owns the rights to have a Taxi Service, but won't implement it?
Evidently, according to the same rumor, it is an Exclusive Right to have the taxi service, which of course, precludes any other competition.
It doesn't really sound right to me, but you never know what some people will do to prevent competition.
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Post by Alex Oreilly on Jan 1, 2014 1:31:59 GMT -5
In January the price of gas in PA goes up .09 cents due to the new transportation law and .28 cents all together in the next three years so more people may not be able to afford to drive around the Burg.
I would like to see the Outlets and Hotels pay for a good portion of the Trolley, it is a true benefit for their guests to use it.
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Post by Venter on Jan 1, 2014 9:44:46 GMT -5
In January the price of gas in PA goes up .09 cents due to the new transportation law and .28 cents all together in the next three years so more people may not be able to afford to drive around the Burg. I would like to see the Outlets and Hotels pay for a good portion of the Trolley, it is a true benefit for their guests to use it. Don't MOST people who stay at the Outlets & Hotels DRIVE CARS to get there? Why would anyone who drives decide to take a bus, and be at the Bus's Schedule instead of their own? I could maybe understand it under certain circumstances, but it is not very practical. In Jersey, while attending a Convention, we would take the Shuttles to the Convention Center. As long as we were going to be in ONE PLACE for a majority of the day, that worked out fine. But, if we were in a town like Gettysburg, where the activities, shops, or attractions are spread out over quite a span, it just doesn't seem like a good use of Vacation Time to jump on a Trolley. |
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Post by Venter on Jan 1, 2014 9:55:05 GMT -5
Talking about the Outlets... I'll bet that MANY People will shop at the Old Navy side, and then Drive to the other end by Totes to shop THAT End! Okay, maybe that's just ME  But if you've got several bags of stuff on your arms, you're not going to walk the entire mall with them. And Grocery Shopping by BUS? I suppose if you MUST, then you must. But can you imagine shopping like many do, once or so a week, and filling the trunks of our cars with foodstuffs and cases of water and soda? If you take the Bus to do Grocery Shopping, it would only be because you HAVE TO - not by choice. |
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Post by lifesaver on Jan 1, 2014 10:50:46 GMT -5
Talking about the Outlets... I'll bet that MANY People will shop at the Old Navy side, and then Drive to the other end by Totes to shop THAT End! Okay, maybe that's just ME But if you've got several bags of stuff on your arms, you're not going to walk the entire mall with them. And Grocery Shopping by BUS? I suppose if you MUST, then you must. But can you imagine shopping like many do, once or so a week, and filling the trunks of our cars with foodstuffs and cases of water and soda? If you take the Bus to do Grocery Shopping, it would only be because you HAVE TO - not by choice. I try to park in the middle and only have to travel halfway to unload.  Or, park at the outside near Going Postal. And agree, those that would ride the bus to grocery shop would do it because they have no other means of transportation. Doubt they would "load up" as most of them are probably retirees and don't buy a lot at one time. As far as loading your goodies you ought to see the haul some people take back on the shuttle buses at Apple Harvest every year.  |
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Post by Alex Oreilly on Jan 1, 2014 18:51:18 GMT -5
In January the price of gas in PA goes up .09 cents due to the new transportation law and .28 cents all together in the next three years so more people may not be able to afford to drive around the Burg. I would like to see the Outlets and Hotels pay for a good portion of the Trolley, it is a true benefit for their guests to use it. Don't MOST people who stay at the Outlets & Hotels DRIVE CARS to get there? Why would anyone who drives decide to take a bus, and be at the Bus's Schedule instead of their own? I could maybe understand it under certain circumstances, but it is not very practical. In Jersey, while attending a Convention, we would take the Shuttles to the Convention Center. As long as we were going to be in ONE PLACE for a majority of the day, that worked out fine. But, if we were in a town like Gettysburg, where the activities, shops, or attractions are spread out over quite a span, it just doesn't seem like a good use of Vacation Time to jump on a Trolley. A tourist can ride the Trolley to save money on gas and to let somebody else do the navigating for them, They check into their hotel, leave their car set their whole trip and when it is time to check out of their hotel they drive home, they could easily save a tankful of gas. |
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Post by diogenes on Jan 1, 2014 22:05:11 GMT -5
Reply to Venter's 31 Dec query re taxi service...several years ago I was personally involved with an effort to establish taxi service in Adams/Gettysburg and at that time there was no mention of an "Exclusive Right." Does not mean such a bird does not exist but during the 30-45 day trial effort nothing was mentioned about such a thing...the Chamber pushed the effort to include a public discussion I chaired but an overall lack of interest "killed" the taxi service.
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davew
Poster Child
Posts: 308
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Post by davew on Jan 2, 2014 8:13:23 GMT -5
Is there any truth to the rumor that someone in town owns the rights to have a Taxi Service, but won't implement it? Evidently, according to the same rumor, it is an Exclusive Right to have the taxi service, which of course, precludes any other competition. It doesn't really sound right to me, but you never know what some people will do to prevent competition. What happened to the taxi service that was headquartered at the airport? I think it was just a "yellow cab" branded taxi. |
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Post by churchill on Jan 11, 2014 16:32:51 GMT -5
If anyone is interested, this is a joke:
"The transportation model, which began in 2009 as a demonstration project, needed a local contribution of $65,264 in order to receive state and federal grants to sustain its services. The company will receive $12,000 from the Adams County Commissioners and $2,000 from the Cumberland Township Board of Supervisors, based on their tentative budgets."
Adams County and Cumberland Township simply wasted their taxpayers dollars. "Local contribution" can be almost anything except federal dollars can not be used to get federal dollars. Motels, The Outlets, and the Gettysburg Foundation put up the money to continue service for all buses until June 30, 2014. The Park Service and Foundation got this all started with a Paul Sarbanes Transportation in the Parks grant. They are the
ones that want it so they do not have to put in more parking at the new museum. If there are no other funds put forth, the Gettysburg Foundation can simply put up the $65,264 and get over $900,000 in fed and state matching funds. And taxpayers thought they had a say! lol!!!
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Or, park at the outside near Going Postal. And agree, those that would ride the bus to grocery shop would do it because they have no other means of transportation. Doubt they would "load up" as most of them are probably retirees and don't buy a lot at one time. As far as loading your goodies you ought to see the haul some people take back on the shuttle buses at Apple Harvest every year. 
