Public transportation has always been frustrating for me.

As a daily rider, I constantly deal with delay and safety concerns, making it difficult to plan trips and other commitments.

During the Spring 2024 semester, I’d have to leave home 15 minutes early to catch the 11:05 a.m. bus to be on time for my noon research class. 

Even though I’d show up at the bus stop early, I’d be 10 minutes late to class because of an unexpected delay or it just not showing up.  

It has been found that delays in the commute process of using public transportation cause people to be dissuaded into using or relying on it, according to a 2021 study from Frontiers in Psychology.

When I had begun using public transportation, the delays made me feel annoyed.

I already have to wait for the bus to show up, but then having to wait another couple of minutes makes the situation more irritating.

Those extra minutes add up and make a difference especially when I’m on a tight schedule.
When I started using public transportation in 2019, the delays made it hard to rely on the VTA system, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, because I often chose to avoid the hassle. 

Apps like Transit have made it helpful to know when delays but the notifications aren’t always accurate or timely.

There have been times where I arrive at the bus stop to find out the bus had already left earlier than scheduled.

These moments often leave me helpless because there is nothing I can really do.

However, I do take the time to reach out to who I need to and let them know I’m running late.

Along with this are safety issues that cause a change in the schedule.

Back in August, a VTA bus driver was slashed by a passenger who was using the stop request cord and wouldn’t get off, according to an Aug. 21, NBC Bay Area article.

As a rider having safety issues isn’t new, but it is something I can never get used to because it’s always random.

At times it could be someone yelling, other times it’s someone arguing with another passenger.

Safety isn’t guaranteed while using public transportation, but having a situation arise just to commute to my destination is not ideal for me.

There was a time where I was taking VTA’s Route 22 that runs from Eastridge Center to Palo Alto and someone came in with an open alcohol container.
The driver immediately pulled over to tell the man to leave but he continued to refuse to get off. 

After trying to get the situation under control, the bus driver eventually called the police who properly escorted the man off.
Incidents like these don’t only affect people directly involved but it also disrupts and contributes to the sense of unease there is around public transportation. 

If Santa Clara’s public transportation services implement a response system where riders are able to send feedback, it could provide a solution to some of the issues I face when I use public transportation.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency has already implemented a similar system to assist their riders.

The Safety Equity Initiative creates a safe environment for riders and helps San Francisco’s transit system address harassment, according to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency’s webpage.

I think initiatives like this help promote safety to many other riders and also enable riders to continue using public transportation.
Fear of crime is also one of the reasons people often choose to avoid public transportation, according to a study published in 2024 on Taylor & Francis.

It definitely shapes how I feel about the transit system, how comfortable I am while riding and also how much trust I put from relying on it consistently. 

When the system does run smoothly, it does make a difference – it reduces my stress levels and allows me to properly manage the time I have to get to the bus stop on time.

Regardless of these inconsistencies that tend to come up with public transportation, I’ll continue to depend on it.