FTA: Public Buses Strain Carrying Heavier Riders

WTAE ^ | March 24, 2011

[rightwingintelligentsia]

PITTSBURGH -- The Federal Transportation Administration said buses are feeling the strain of carrying heavier passengers.

Buses in most cities are designed for an average weight of 160 pounds per passenger, based on data collected in 1960.

The average rider today is 175 pounds.

The FTA said that weight matters when considering the wear and tear on public transportation across the country.

Some ideas to help lighten the load is removing seats from public buses or placing a weight limit for riders.

"It's discrimination against overweight people. They can't help the way they are. I think they should make accommodations for them, if anything," North Side resident Greg Rodgers said.

[Dilbert San Diego]

Michelle Obama and “Let’s Move” may have a new issue to talk about. Her people who live in food deserts tend to be in our cities, and such people ride public transportation. There can be some connections made here.

[Mr. Silverback]

Ping!

The public transportation lobby sez, “I like big bus and I cannot lie.”

[KarlInOhio]

"It's discrimination against overweight people. They can't help the way they are. I think they should make accommodations for them, if anything,"

Sorry, we can only pick up fat people every other stop. If you start running now I can pick you up in two blocks.

[Vigilanteman]

[martin_fierro]

	It's a 'Burgh >> PING << Thing.™
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1. Gubmint inserts itself into the mass transportation market
2. Gubmint mismanages program, operates it at a deficit
3. Gubmint uses program as a springboard to regulate other areas
4. Repeat #1

[null and void]

*GROAN*

[End Times Sentinel]

Maybe they should start handing out fruit on buses... or encouraging people to walk.

[Right Wing Assault]

So, if 50 passengers average 15 pounds higher, the bus will have to carry 750 pounds more. That doesn’t seem like such a big deal. It’s like having 5 extra passengers.

[Peter from Rutland]

> “It’s discrimination against overweight people. They can’t help the way they are.”

Bull$*t!!!! They CAN help the way they are. That good old Americans With Excuses Act keeps coming back to bite us.

[SIDENET]

It's discrimination against overweight people. They can't help the way they are.

Yes they can. It may not be easy or fun, but they CAN help it.

[bunkerhill7]

FTA: Public Buses Strain Carrying Heaviest Drivers

[LearsFool]

That’s weightist!

[adorno]

It’s a well-known fact that, overweight people die younger.

So, is early death discriminatory for overweight people? What can government do for those “unfortunate” people?

[red tie]

Install a scale and charge by the pound like meat...

[adorno]

Here’s an idea for a solution:

Charge riders by the pound.

For each rider, have a standard charge, say, $2.00 per rider. And, have a weight scale at the doorway, and, for every pound over 160, charge, say, 5 cents. That could be an incentive to lose weight and save money at the same time.

[Niteranger68]

Easy fix.....end public transportation.

[adorno]

Seems like you and I were thinking somewhat alike at the same time.

Great minds...

[SIDENET]

I think we are dealing with a clear case of widespread “bus abuse”.

[red tie]

Since they will no doubt be doing body scans in the near future they could calculate their mass and determine the charge at the same time. If the machine detects alcohol or bad B.O. they could be directed to the back of the bus as well.