Do It Ourself
26/07/07 13:33 Filed in: Activism
We pay taxes
for things, like mass transit. We expect (or at least
hope for) a good return on our money.
SEPTA is a big, complicated mass transit system. Their job is a difficult one, and sometimes they don’t do such a good job. Of course, there are some great watchdog organizations keeping a critical eye on SEPTA. But that’s not the mission of this website.
SEPTA is a big, complicated mass transit system. Their job is a difficult one, and sometimes they don’t do such a good job. Of course, there are some great watchdog organizations keeping a critical eye on SEPTA. But that’s not the mission of this website.
We pay taxes
for things, like mass transit. We expect (or at least
hope for) a good return on our money.
SEPTA is a big, complicated mass transit system. Their job is a difficult one, and sometimes they don’t do such a good job. Of course, there are some great watchdog organizations keeping a critical eye on SEPTA. But that’s not the mission of this website.
This project is about helping ourselves. Sure, we can’t lower fares or change routes and schedules. But we, as ordinary riders, can help each other. By providing information.
Now, this seems to me like a simple, sensible idea. But some people don’t like it. I’ve received an email from a civic organization which HAS arranged for some great signs with mass transit information to be put up.
They wanted us to stop.
They asked me to "not encourage the public to tape homemade transit signs to shelters". I told them that when and if they put up signs that make ours redundant, we would certainly stop. Shortly after this email exchange, some of our signs were taken down. I don’t know who did it.
I’ve also been asked if the purpose of this project is to embarrass SEPTA, to get THEM to put up better informational signs for riders. It isn’t. While I would welcome better signs, whether from a civic association, SEPTA, or any other source, I don’t see why riders should wait for them. Or depend on them.
If it happens, great! But ordinary people—including SEPTA riders—aren’t helpless. We can and should help ourselves, and each other.
SEPTA is a big, complicated mass transit system. Their job is a difficult one, and sometimes they don’t do such a good job. Of course, there are some great watchdog organizations keeping a critical eye on SEPTA. But that’s not the mission of this website.
This project is about helping ourselves. Sure, we can’t lower fares or change routes and schedules. But we, as ordinary riders, can help each other. By providing information.
Now, this seems to me like a simple, sensible idea. But some people don’t like it. I’ve received an email from a civic organization which HAS arranged for some great signs with mass transit information to be put up.
They wanted us to stop.
They asked me to "not encourage the public to tape homemade transit signs to shelters". I told them that when and if they put up signs that make ours redundant, we would certainly stop. Shortly after this email exchange, some of our signs were taken down. I don’t know who did it.
I’ve also been asked if the purpose of this project is to embarrass SEPTA, to get THEM to put up better informational signs for riders. It isn’t. While I would welcome better signs, whether from a civic association, SEPTA, or any other source, I don’t see why riders should wait for them. Or depend on them.
If it happens, great! But ordinary people—including SEPTA riders—aren’t helpless. We can and should help ourselves, and each other.
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