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Comment by cmiles74 | Hacker News Reader

Google, Cisco, etc. can spend their money any way they want, the shuttle busses for their employees apparently make good economic sense. Still, people are upset to the point that they are starting to interfere with traffic. In my experience, this sort of anger doesn't go away if you ignore it.

I suppose once everyone who dislikes the busses have been priced out of the neighborhood and have moved away, the issue will be resolved. Although, at that point, it may make sense for Google, Cisco, etc. to demand better city busses that everyone can use. Which won't be a problem once everyone is in the same class.

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Classism at its finest folks! City buses are there for the people, not just those belonging to the same social-economic group. Tech firms should encourage better public transportation regardless of who takes it because it is there for the citizens of SF which they are directly a part of.

Let's not forget how much mobile devices by Apple, Google, and company assist in navigating public transportation.

They are most certainly encouraging better public transportation. This doesn't excuse blocking the bus. I wouldn't argue that they're doing it out of pure goodwill, but its crazy to ignore how much efficiency and value their apps have added to the system. Not to mention the drastically increased accessibility to people new or too confused to ride prior to this.

> Still, people are upset to the point that they are starting to interfere with traffic.

They've always interfered with traffic -- by removing cars from the road.

Google, Cisco, Apple, etc. are making critical mistake of not investing and engaging more into process of improving community around them (homeless problem, schools, housing, public transportation, etc.).

The philosophy goes like this: the person who takes private buses will eventually have kids, spouses, friends which not will not be able to use private buses. So these talented engineers will move out (and probably find different company) as soon as they are not any more single or DINKY because their quality of life will suck. Then what?

Except there's a big flaw with your entire argument. Most of the big tech companies (with the exception of Twitter) are located in Santa Clara County, rather than in downtown SF. When those engineers get older and start families, they're probably just going to move out to Santa Clara County, where they will be able to get a house and live closer to work (allowing them to spend more time with their families). There will be no reason for them to switch jobs - in fact, their commute will be shortened.

Not sure if that make sense since Bay Area is quite integrated. Great you move to Santa Clara but your kid needs to go to San Francisco since there is a good catholic school there - then what? Or your wife works in San Francisco?

> Great you move to Santa Clara but your kid needs to go to San Francisco since there is a good catholic school there - then what?

That's no different from living in any other metropolitan area. If you refuse to send your child to the local public school, then you're going to have to deal with the difficulty of transportation.

> Or your wife works in San Francisco?

Then it's no different from before you were married, when you were traveling from SF down to the Valley, except in reverse.

Companies not in the city have no use for city buses. They need regional buses.

You can go from downtown SF to Facebook with one bus transfer. KX to 281 or DB1.

I would venture to guess that the Google bus, with all of its amenities, costs less per passenger mile than a MUNI bus. Paying for better city buses would be a waste of money.

101 feels like a death trap too with all thee buses speeding down.

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