{"items": [{"author": "Sarah", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/148420451987545?comment_id=148423501987240", "anchor": "fb-148423501987240", "service": "fb", "text": "For a long time now, I've wanted to create an app that was calibrated to my walking speed so that I could predict whether it would be faster to wait for the bus or walk to my destination. Originally, I was going to have it be part of a watch-like device, but now with the proliferation of smartphones, I think a standalone app could work quite well. I'm sure it could be programmed to tell you exactly where you would intersect the bus and thus take out the guess work of which stop you should walk to. Let me know if you have any interest in developing said app, because I'd like to get aboard the design process but don't have enough coding skills and/or time to make it happen at the moment.", "timestamp": "1362083174"}, {"author": "Molly", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/148420451987545?comment_id=148425351987055", "anchor": "fb-148425351987055", "service": "fb", "text": "I am always nervous that I will be in between bus stops and not make it to the next or the last in time when I se the bus coming! Maybe Boston buses are more timely/have more frequent stops than providence buses.", "timestamp": "1362083783"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/148420451987545?comment_id=148439608652296", "anchor": "fb-148439608652296", "service": "fb", "text": "@Molly: when I've lived on routes with stops farther apart this doesn't work. But most of the buses where I live now stop every block or two and as long as I'm paying attention I'm set. Sometimes I do have to run a bit, though, and it does tend to make Julia nervous.", "timestamp": "1362087680"}, {"author": "Phillip", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/148420451987545?comment_id=148446398651617", "anchor": "fb-148446398651617", "service": "fb", "text": "I did this when I was younger, on the theory that if the bus were really late, I would get there sooner and save the quarter (soda was dime).", "timestamp": "1362089700"}, {"author": "Bryce", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/110073329443149494347", "anchor": "gp-1362093422601", "service": "gp", "text": "This strategy worked very well when I studied abroad in Vienna, since I could outrun the trolleys.", "timestamp": 1362093422}, {"author": "Christine", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/148420451987545?comment_id=148465635316360", "anchor": "fb-148465635316360", "service": "fb", "text": "What about if one does not have a smart phone?
I usually drive the 6 miles to work, private parking lot, in the cold, but take my bike when it's warmer.", "timestamp": "1362095928"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/148420451987545?comment_id=148476811981909", "anchor": "fb-148476811981909", "service": "fb", "text": "@Christine: \"What about if one does not have a smart phone?\"
I used to do this some before I had a phone, but only on straight roads where I'd be able to see the bus coming from far enough off. Or if I was ok risking missing it.", "timestamp": "1362100434"}, {"author": "Danner", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/148420451987545?comment_id=148487918647465", "anchor": "fb-148487918647465", "service": "fb", "text": "I do this too, and did it before having a smart phone. I just trusted the bus schedule to be on time or late, so the most I'd have to do is wait for a bus that's late....and there were times that walking got me where I wanted to go before the delayed bus showed up.
I haven't gotten into using the live bus data yet, I use google maps or just ride the unicycle.", "timestamp": "1362104245"}, {"author": "Steve", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/148420451987545?comment_id=148504191979171", "anchor": "fb-148504191979171", "service": "fb", "text": "One reason is because the traffic in Boston is heavy and you can get hit by a car, just do a google search and youll see lots of newsreports of people pedestrians gettinghit. Boston really isnt very safe whether you drive, walk or take the T - trains catch fire andbuses drive like maniacs.", "timestamp": "1362110367"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/148420451987545?comment_id=148601888636068", "anchor": "fb-148601888636068", "service": "fb", "text": "@Steve: \"Boston really isnt very safe whether you drive, walk or take the T - trains catch fire and buses drive like maniacs.\"
The Boston area is one of the safest places to walk in the country: http://t4america.org/.../dangerousby.../states/worst-metros/
Even then you need to compare the risk of dying in an accident as a pedestrian with the decrease in lifetime from being more sedentary.", "timestamp": "1362142570"}, {"author": "Danner", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/148420451987545?comment_id=148605911968999", "anchor": "fb-148605911968999", "service": "fb", "text": "My experience matches the safety statistics. Boston is safe.", "timestamp": "1362143711"}, {"author": "Sasha", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/148420451987545?comment_id=148608941968696", "anchor": "fb-148608941968696", "service": "fb", "text": "I own a Micro-Scooter, which is great for this strategy. I don't normally even bother checking bus times, since the distance I'm travelling (about 2k) usually ends up being faster to scoot all the way unless the bus is actually at the stop when I arrive, or so close by the time that the bus catches up to me that it's clearly not worth getting on.", "timestamp": "1362144533"}, {"author": "Brice", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/148420451987545?comment_id=149017621927828", "anchor": "fb-149017621927828", "service": "fb", "text": "because when its really cold, you do catch wind. also, the bus occasionally passes by in between schedules and you get to wait for the next one.", "timestamp": "1362236975"}, {"author": "Steve", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/148420451987545?comment_id=149188711910719", "anchor": "fb-149188711910719", "service": "fb", "text": "Jeff Kaufman Boston is probably safer than other cities, let alone MA towns that dont even have sidewalks at all (Needham) and where cars don't stop for pedestrians (Revere), but may point out for your consideration that pedestrian fatalities may not be the best measure of pedestrian safety because it may be skewed by Boston's proximity to hospitals able to treat life threatening injuries and that a political campaign website (nevertheless with a good cause) that doesn't have any footnotes about the statistics may be a biased and not very valid source for research on pedestrian safety. I would suggest a government source from department of transportation over what you have cited.", "timestamp": "1362271232"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/148420451987545?comment_id=149189278577329", "anchor": "fb-149189278577329", "service": "fb", "text": "@Steve: \"I would suggest a government source from department of transportation\"
If you have better numbers I would love to see them. Injuries or fatalities per pedestrian mile is probably the right thing to look at.", "timestamp": "1362271414"}, {"author": "Steve", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/148420451987545?comment_id=149198571909733", "anchor": "fb-149198571909733", "service": "fb", "text": "Your numbers are good, but I found this quote from City of Boston, \"In 1998, EMS responded to 1,160 motor vehicle-struck pedestrian incidents with a transport to the hospital. Upon further analysis it was found that in Boston there was an average of 3.2 motor vehicle incidents every day involving pedestrians transported to area hospitals.\" Everyone looks at pedestrian fatalities as a measure of pedestrian safety, but that makes MA have the same low rate as Alaska which I found hard to believe.", "timestamp": "1362274508"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/148420451987545?comment_id=149210088575248", "anchor": "fb-149210088575248", "service": "fb", "text": "@Steve: \"3.2 motor vehicle incidents every day involving pedestrians transported to area hospitals\"
That does seem high, but you have to divide the number of incidents by the amount of walking.", "timestamp": "1362277063"}]}